Field Note

MNHS  Local History Services staff visited the McMichael Grain Elevator in Harmony to see progress on Legacy-funded stabilization work. Built in 1879, the elevator used horse power to operate its machinery and served the region’s farmers.

The Harmony Area Historical Society and the City of Harmony are leading the project with support from community partners. Work includes strengthening the frame, repairing siding, restoring the stone foundation, and repairing or replacing windows and doors. Stabilization is the first step toward opening the elevator as a historic site.

Heritage Preservation Grants

MNHS Announces July Round of Legacy Small Grants
Recipients received 21 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants ($20,000 and less) totaling $349,104 in 11 counties. Learn more »

State Capital Grants-in-Aid Program
This grant opportunity supports capital preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, building systems, and accessibility projects at publicly owned historic properties. Sites must be National Register-listed or determined eligible for listing by SHPO, and applicants must provide a 1:1 match. Pre-applications are due January 22, 2027. Learn more »

Heritage Partnership Grant Program
Once a year, the Heritage Partnership Grant Program supports two or more Minnesota organizations to collaborate on history-oriented projects. Pre-applications for this grant round (requests over $10,000) are due Friday, January 22, 2027. Contact the Grants Office with questions. Learn more »

Small Grant Deadline
Applications for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants quarterly small grant round (requests of $20,000 and less) will be due Friday, January 8, 2027. Contact the Grants Office with questions. 

NOVEMBER Grants Open House
November 5 - Online: The Grants Office will hold a virtual Grants Office Open House using Google Meet from 2 to 3:30 pm in order to provide additional grants support to our communities. We encourage people to RSVP to Gillian with a short summary of what you want to talk about and she will try to ensure that someone helpful will be available. Learn more »

Grants Office YouTube Playlist »

From the Blog

This week's blog post is from the St. Vincent Memories. Have a blog? Let us know!

Historical Essay Feature: "Trains of the Past”
Today, there are actually some people who have never ridden on a train. These people have missed many happy experiences that were common to the pioneers. Trains are becoming more and more uncommon every day. Now people drive their cars or take a plane when they are going somewhere. They miss seeing all the different people on the trains and the many sights along the way.

Today, the residents of St. Vincent could sleep all day and never be bothered by the noises of a train. In the pioneer days it wasn't that way at all. Many people were awakened every morning at 5:30 by the cheerful Choo-Choo of a train rolling into town.

The train that came into St. Vincent at 5:30 am was known as the Great Northern Flyer. It started coming to St. Vincent in 1897. This train was the passenger train. At that time St. Vincent was the end of the line so the train stayed at the roundhouse all day. The roundhouse was located at the west end of St. Vincent. Since the train stopped there, many passengers also stopped at St. Vincent for awhile. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Robbinsdale Schools on Regent - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• R.H. Dahl Antique Cookbook - Brandon History Center
• The Search for Flight 419 - Trident Sciences
• Finding a Soldier in the National Archives - Chaska Historical Society
• Erickson Wagon Train part 3 - Roseau County Historical Society

From the Tube

This week's post is from the Pipestone County Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• Dan Patch Electric Line Remnants – Minnesota River Southward - Minnesota Bricks
• Gone to the Movies, Part 1 - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• October Artifact Spotlight - Paisley Park
• AMM 2026 Groundbreakers Award: Minnesota Museum of American Art - Association of Midwest Museums
• 2026 Kerlan Award with Betsy Bowen - U of MN Libraries
• Interview with Gene & Marlene Tschida - Browerville Legacy Museum

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.

MNHS

• Major Gifts Officer - MN History Center

• Program Assistant, Visitor Services - Mille Lacs Indian Museum & Trading Post

LOCAL

• Education & Outreach Coordinator - Rice County Historical Society, Faribault, MN

• Social Media & Marketing Coordinator - The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis, MN

• Bookkeeper/HR Generalist - The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis, MN

REGIONAL

• Financial Controller - Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Decorah, IA

• Digital Library Associate - South Dakota State Library, Pierre, SD

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Graphic Arts Designer - Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL

• Groundskeeper - White River State Park, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN

• Cataloging & Archival Support Librarian - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN

• Assistant Reference Librarian - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN

• Digital and Media Podcast Producer - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN

• Video Producer and Editor - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN

• Coordinator, Digital Media - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN

• Maintenance Assistant - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN

• Collections Manager - Denison University Private Liberal Art University, Granville, OH

• Programs Coordinator - Impression 5 Science Center, Lansing, MI

• Executive Director - Steam Railroading Institute, Owosso, MI

• Director of Strategic Initiatives (Administrative Officer 3) - Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA

• Museum and Historic Site Administrator 2 - Drake Well Museum & Park, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, Titusville, PA

• Archivist - Monastery & Monastic Congregation, Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, KS

• Gallery Host - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB

• Development Director - Estonian Museum Canada, Toronto, ON

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• Intern - Information and Library Science, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago, IL

• Museum Education Assistant Internship - State Historical Museum of Iowa, Des Moines 

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

William Weppler, owner of Weppler’s Grocer, poses with the safe from his store that burglars tried to crack.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Nobles County Historical Society.

FAQ: How Can I Share My Event for the Local History News E-Newsletter?

Victorian Séance at LeDuc
October 29 and 30 @ 6 pm, 7:30 pm, and 9 pm - Hastings: LeDuc Historic Estate, Dakota County Historical Society - Join entertainer and educator Michael Callahan for a recreation of a Victorian-era séance, similar to those held by the LeDuc family in the early twentieth century. This educational presentation explores historical practices and is not intended as an actual spiritual experience. A brief house tour follows each séance. Location: Cost: $35 members; $40 general public. Learn more »

Ofrenda Viewing
October 29 – 31 @ 10 am to 3 pm - Minneapolis: Hennepin History Museum and Minnesota Latino Museum - Experience the museum’s first Days of the Dead ofrenda, created by Mexican culture bearer Margarita Sandoval with marigolds, folk-art skulls, and offerings of food and drink. The altar honors the 56 members of the Mexican Band of 1886 and complements the museum’s exhibition about their cultural legacy in Minnesota. Location: Hennepin History Museum. Learn more »

Twin Cities Ukulele Orchestra at Norway House Happy Hour
October 29 @ 6 to 7 pm - Minneapolis: Norway House - Enjoy an uplifting performance by the Twin Cities Ukulele Orchestra and sing along with lyrics provided. Come early for happy hour from 4 to 8 pm, featuring $2 off a glass of beer or wine and the full Kaffebar menu available for purchase. Learn more »

Death, Victorians, and Spiritualism
October 30 @ 6 to 7 pm - Stillwater: Warden’s House Museum, Washington County Historical Society - Explore Victorian beliefs about death and the spirit world, including séances, mourning rituals, and death photography. Researched and presented by museum volunteer Elsie, this program brings nineteenth-century traditions to life in the atmospheric Warden’s House. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Victorian Ghost Stories at the Bunnell House
October 30 @ 2 pm and 3 pm - Homer: Bunnell House, Winona County Historical Society - Join Lacey Korb in the Bunnell House parlor for Victorian ghost stories and an exploration of how spiritual beliefs, scientific curiosity, and mourning traditions shaped the era’s fascination with ghosts. Enjoy a self-guided house tour before or after the program. Cost: Free members; $5 general public. Learn more »

Museum Trick or Treat: Harry Potter Scavenger Hunt
October 31 @ 10 am to 2 pm - Fergus Falls: Otter Tail County Historical Society - Follow an OTCHS Marauder’s Map through the museum to find magical creatures and objects from the Harry Potter books, then uncover their real-world history with help from Muggle historians. Costumes are welcome for this Halloween adventure. Cost: $10 ages 12 and up; $5 ages 5–11; free ages 4 and under. Learn more »

Victorian Funeral
October 31 @ 1 pm and 3 pm - Faribault: Alexander Faribault House, Rice County Historical Society - Explore Victorian-era funeral rituals and mourning customs in the historic Alexander Faribault House, built in 1853. Discover how these traditions took shape nationally and in early Faribault. Guests are welcome to wear Victorian funeral attire. Each tour is limited to 10 participants; tickets are required. Location: Alexander Faribault House. Cost: $10 members; $15 general public. Learn more »

Preserving Your Family Treasures
October 31 @ 11 am to 12 pm (CT) - Mankato and Online: Blue Earth County Historical Society - Learn practical ways to preserve family treasures at home with BECHS Communications & Events Manager Heather, featuring archival examples and items from her own collection. Suitable for all experience levels. Attend in person or via Zoom; online registration includes access to the recording for one week after the program. Advance online registration opens two weeks before the event and closes October 31 at 10 am Central. Location: History Center or online via Zoom. Cost: $5 members; $10 general public; $10 per household online. Learn more »

Exhibit: From Silent Films to the Romanian New Wave
November 1, 8, and 22 @ 1 to 3 pm - Saint Paul: Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota - Explore Romanian cinema’s evolution from silent films and filmmaking under communism to the internationally acclaimed Romanian New Wave. This self-guided exhibit features film stills, posters, timelines, and viewing recommendations that highlight influential directors and how their films examine history, society, identity, and everyday life. Location: Landmark Center, Room 319. Learn more »

America250 November Open House: National Deviled Egg Day
November 2 @ 1 to 4 pm - Morton: Renville County Historical Society - Celebrate National Deviled Egg Day with coffee, treats, and deviled eggs while enjoying fellowship and reflecting on our history. Bring your favorite family deviled egg recipe to share at this America250 open house. Cost: Free will donation. Learn more »

Pages of the Prairie: A Community Art Junk Journal
November 3 and 5 @ 6 to 8 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Historical Society and SJMiller Arts - Create collage and mixed-media journal pages inspired by your memories, experiences, and community connections. Artist SammyJo Miller will assemble and hand-bind participants’ contributions into a shared community journal for the museum. No art experience is necessary; all materials are provided. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Heritage, Heroes, and History! Southeast Minnesota in the Vietnam Era
November 4 @ 10 to 11 am - Rochester: History Center of Olmsted County - Explore Southeast Minnesota during the Vietnam era in a welcoming program designed for adults ages 55 and older, with opportunities for meaningful conversation and community connection. Cost: Free members; donations accepted. Learn more »

Timelines for Organizing, Analyzing, and Breaking Down Brick Walls
November 4 @ 7 to 8:15 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Genealogical Society - Learn how to create and use timelines to organize an ancestor’s information, identify gaps and conflicting evidence, and overcome genealogical research roadblocks. Instructor Karen Fortin leads this webinar for researchers of all experience levels. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Romantic Sensation: Author Conversation
November 5 @ 6 pm - Minneapolis: University of Minnesota’s Liberal Arts Engagement Hub - Join author Lizzie Ehrenhalt, editor of the Minnesota Historical Society’s MNopedia, for a conversation with Myra Billund-Phibbs celebrating the launch of Ehrenhalt’s new book, Romantic Sensation: The Queer Lives of Leon A. Belmont, 1853–1927. Explore how Belmont’s life illuminates changing American understandings of gender and sexuality during the Gilded Age and beyond. Books will be available for purchase. Location: 120 Pillsbury Hall, University of Minnesota. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Celebrating Ojibwe Language and Culture Through Games
November 5 @ 6 to 8:30 pm - St. Paul: Minnesota Humanities Center - Celebrate National Native American Heritage Month with Tony Drews and Nashke Native Games at an intergenerational evening exploring Ojibwe language, stories, and values through play. Enjoy a light dinner from an Indigenous caterer, prize drawings, and an Ojibwe game for each household to take home. K–12 educators receive two clock hours. Cost: $15 adults; $10 children ages 10 and under; complimentary registration available with code FEEWAIVER. Learn more »

The Declaration of Independence and Liberty, Then and Now: A Community Conversation
November 5 @ 6 to 8 pm - Litchfield: Minnesota Humanities Center and Meeker County Historical Society - Mark the United States’ 250th anniversary with a community conversation about the Declaration of Independence, its relevance to daily life, shared values, and hopes for the country’s future. Dinner is provided; registration is required. Location: Meeker County Museum at G.A.R. Hall. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Film Series: Choctaw Code Talkers
November 5 @ 2 to 3 pm - St. Peter: Nicollet County Historical Society and Saint Peter Community & Family Education - Discover the story of Choctaw soldiers who used their Native language to transmit secure military messages during World War I, pioneering code talking despite not being recognized as U.S. citizens. This 60-minute documentary combines archival footage with perspectives from descendants, Tribal leaders, linguists, and historians. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Stories of WWII: A Veterans Day Program
November 6 @ 6:45 pm - Luverne: Rock County Historical Society and Historic Palace Theatre - Join Deacon Kevin Aaker as he portrays Father Francis Sampson, the priest whose wartime story helped inspire the plot of Saving Private Ryan, followed by a screening of the film. Location: Historic Palace Theatre. Cost: Freewill donation. Learn more »

Keeping the Weather Out: Homeowner How-Tos
November 7 @ 9 am to 12 pm - St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum - Prepare your older home for winter with renovation specialist Eric Cheever. Learn practical techniques for sealing cracks and drafts, repairing doors and windows, and improving energy efficiency, with topics including energy audits and tuckpointing. Registration is required; space is limited. Location: The 1886 Queen Anne-style home built by the founder of Fandels Department Stores. Cost: $25 members; $30 general public. Learn more »

Into the Cook County Historical Society Archives
November 7 @ 2 to 4 pm and November 10 @ 4 to 6 pm - Grand Marais: Cook County Historical Society - Join CCHS Board President Margaret Hedstrom for an introductory volunteer workshop on processing and organizing historical collections. Learn how archival materials—including documents, photographs, and manuscripts—differ from objects such as artifacts, textiles, and tools, and discover how volunteers can help organize recent donations and historical records. Open to the public; no archival experience required. Learn more »

Andrzej Wajda Centennial Tour at the Trylon Cinema
November 8 through December 1 @ various screening times - Minneapolis: Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota - Celebrate filmmaker Andrzej Wajda’s centennial with a series exploring the personal and political dimensions of Polish history. Featured films include Kanał, Ashes and Diamonds, Man of Marble, and Landscape After the Battle, plus a Trylon Club members-only screening of The Promised Land. Part of “Wajda 100 Tour – North America,” organized by DI Factory with support from the Polish Film Institute. Location: Trylon Cinema. Learn more »

Harsh Legacy: How Did We Get to This Moment in America’s Immigration History?
November 9 @ 4 to 6 pm - Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Immigration History Research Center and partners - Attend a screening of Harsh Legacy, a documentary examining the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act and its lasting effects on immigration enforcement, detention, and deportation. Filmmakers Phyllis Coven and Yael Schacher will discuss the law’s impact on Minnesota, followed by a reception. Location: University of Minnesota Law School, Room 25, Mondale Hall. Learn more »

Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: Museums & Galleries | Culture & Heritage | Attractions & Entertainment
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Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Goodhue County History Center, Red Wing, MN.
Photograph by Jonathunder, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

MALHM Virtual History Happy Hour
November 5 @ 4 to 5 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums - Chat with colleagues about how you've been doing this fall & what you're looking forward to before the end of the year. This will be an informal get-together. Cost: Free. Learn more and RSVP »

TrendsWatching: To Live or Die in AI
November 5 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: American Alliance of Museums - Elizabeth Merritt, AAM’s vice president for strategic foresight and founding director of the Center for the Future of Museums, will explore AI’s potential benefits and risks and how museum professionals can make values-informed decisions about its use. The webinar includes live closed captioning, with a recording and transcript available afterward to members. Cost: Free members; $40 nonmembers. Learn more »

Handling and Maintenance of Historic House Collections
November 10, 13, 16, and 20 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) - Explore strategies for preserving movable collections on display and in storage at historic house museums. This four-part webinar series covers architectural preservation, assessing and mitigating risks, balancing interpretation with collections care, and emerging challenges and opportunities for historic house museums. Registration includes all four sessions and access to recordings; attendance at every session is not required. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Event Planners Incubator
November 10 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - Connect with fellow nonprofit event planners to share ideas, troubleshoot challenges, and find inspiration in this lightly facilitated gathering. Co-led by Jen Manthey, Development and Communications Manager at Our Saviour’s Community Services, and Pele Le, Program Manager at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, this session is designed for staff actively planning nonprofit events or programs. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Assessing the Financial Health of Your Nonprofit Organization
November 10 @ 9 am (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - Join trainers Sarah Bauer Jackson and Beth Mammenga for a two-hour workshop exploring 10 indicators of nonprofit financial health. Learn to analyze financial trends, plan cash flow and reserves, strengthen board oversight, and align financial decisions with long-term sustainability. Includes practical tools, examples, and templates for nonprofit leaders, finance staff, and board members. Cost: $70. Learn more »

The University and the Museum: Objects, Questions, and the Space Between
November 13 @ 3 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Edition, hosted by Zakros InterArts - Sarah Chicone and Lori Beth Finkelstein will explore how university museums use objects, teaching tools, and curatorial practice to invite better questions rather than definitive answers. The conversation will examine the distinctive role of university museums as spaces for inquiry. Cost: Free. Learn more »

AI Governance, Ethics and Expectations
November 13 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Open Copyright Education Advisory Network (OCEAN) - Join Adam Purvis, Senior AI Solutions Architect at the National Gallery of Art, and Rosalyn Metz, Chief Technology Officer at Emory Libraries and Museum, for a discussion of AI policies, ethics, and intellectual property in collections stewardship, management, and access. Explore expectations for libraries, archives, and museums engaging with AI, intentionally or otherwise. Learn more »

HOPE Crew Coffee Conversations: Historic Masonry
November 17 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: National Trust for Historic Preservation - Join the Hands-On Preservation Experience (HOPE) Crew for a conversation about historic masonry with independent expert craftsman David Gibney and Washington National Cathedral stone carver and mason Brianna Castelli. Explore Gibney’s work at the Threatt Filling Station on Route 66, Castelli’s experience caring for the cathedral, and how preservation trades are taught and evolving. Open to all; no technical background is required. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Basics of Archives Management – Virtual Workshop
November 18 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Join Bradley J. Wiles, Head of Special Collections and Archives at Northern Illinois University’s Founders Memorial Library, for a three-hour introduction to managing documents, photographs, and digital materials. Designed for staff and volunteers with little or no archival experience, the workshop emphasizes practical policies and procedures for small organizations with limited budgets and staff time. Includes presentations, discussion, and Q&A; the workshop will not be recorded. Cost: $100 members; $150 nonmembers. STEPS participants receive a 10% discount with the promo code available in the online STEPS Community. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Museums in Minnesota Serving as Polling Places - Local History Services

UPCOMING EVENTS & CONFERENCES

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

MALHM Conference Scholarships
Deadline - December 18: For the second year, Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums is offering scholarships to its Annual Meeting & Conference in St. Cloud from April 13 - 15, 2027! Three total scholarships will be available — 2 for first-time attendees and 1 for folks affiliated with all-volunteer organizations. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

Vintage Museum Photo: Goodhue County Museum, Red Wing, MN (1986). View additional photos on Instagram »
This section features slides taken of Minnesota history museums from the 1970s through the 1990s by David Nystuen, the MNHS Field Services Coordinator, and other Field Services representatives during that time period.

Rice County Historical Society celebrates centennial before undergoing renovation
Southernminn.com - The Rice County Historical Society Museum is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary until December, when it plans to close its doors until April for renovations. The historical society was founded in 1926 by a combination of the Old Settlers Association of Rice County and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Continue reading »

Pioneer log home in Clay County headed to Rollag after making way for flood diversion
Fargo-Moorhead InForum - The 1875 log home was moved from a farm near Comstock to Clay County's Steamer Hill, where it will become part of a pioneer village. Continue reading »

Featured Book Museum Mercenary: A Handbook for Independent Museum Professionals, by Rebecca Migdal Bloomsbury Publishing/AASLH.	Featured Article Minnesota History Alfred T. Andreas and His Minnesota Atlas Volume 40, Issue 3, 1966	Featured Article MNopedia Laura Jeffrey (1915–2003) Featured MNopedia Article	Inclusion & Community Engagement News, Resources & Events  Featured story: Descendants retrace African American family history in Fergus Falls Fall edition

Minnesota History Organizations Directory  • County, Chapters, and Local • Statewide/Topical Historical • Regional History Coalitions • Professional Organizations	Minnesota Main Streets Reinvigorate your community's commercial district.	2026 Exhibits To Go! MNHS Traveling Exhibits Now accepting applications.	Preservation Specialists Directory Look up products or services.

Local History News is produced by the Minnesota Local History Services Office, a service of the Minnesota Historical Society since 1916, which helps local historical organizations in preserving and making accessible Minnesota history and cultural heritage.
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