Field Note

From August 18–26, MNHS Local History staff member John Beaty led five Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps corpsmembers in repairing stone monuments at Lake Itasca State Park's east entrance. Through the MNHS–NBHPC partnership, Beaty taught traditional masonry techniques and materials, including working with glacial cobbles. Corpsmembers documented the masonry, removed and labeled stones, mixed mortar, split replacement stones, reset stones, and finished joints. The team stands before a completed monument after gaining hands-on restoration experience.

Heritage Preservation Grants

State Capital Grant 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 of $10,000 or above) 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, October 9, 2026. Contact the Grants Office with questions. 

Grants Office Webinar: First Steps Toward State Capital Projects Grants-in-Aid (2027) 
October 15 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: The State Capital Projects Grants-in-Aid program offers funding for the upcoming 2027 round. This webinar is designed for public entities (units of state and local government) that own National Register or National Register–eligible properties.

We’ll cover program opportunities, project requirements, timelines, and how to get started—registration for grants portal access, the application process, and what the Capital Projects program can fund. This session is ideal for first-time applicants and anyone who wants a refresher. Presented by Grants Specialist Gillian Maguire & Design Reviewers Ryan Maciej and John Beaty.
Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: ‪(US) +1 386-361-3086‬  PIN: ‪420 891 978‬#

Grants Office YouTube Playlist »

From the Blog

This week's blog post is from the U of MN Libraries. Have a blog? Let us know!

Explore the newly relaunched BTAA Geoportal
The University of Minnesota Libraries, member and manager of the Big Ten Academic Alliance Geospatial Information Network (BTAA-GIN), joins 18 partner institutions in announcing the relaunch of the BTAA Geoportal. Rebuilt on a new modular, API-first architecture, the redesigned Geoportal continues BTAA-GIN’s commitment to making geospatial data, maps, and GIS resources easy to find and use. The Geoportal provides access to well over 100,000 downloadable GIS datasets across hundreds of government agencies as well as scanned historical maps from university library collections. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools on September 30 - Genealogy by Paula
• October Friday History: Kraus-Anderson at Augsburg University - Kraus-Anderson
• From the President - October 2026 - Danish American Center
• Triple Twin Lake - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• An Insatiable Colonial Appetite: The Rise and Fall of the Passenger Pigeon in Ramsey County and Environs - Ramsey County Historical Society

From the Tube

This week's post is from the Linden Hills History Study Group. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• Memorial Crosses - Stevens County Historical Society
• A River Relic: History of the Pike River Dam and Tower’s Hydroelectric Plant - Tower-Soudan Historical Society
• The Original Crash Test Dummy: Prof James ‘Crash’ Ryan’s work and advocacy for automobile safety - MinneCulture
• Purple Rain Artifact Spotlight - Paisley Park
• The Battle of Wood Lake - Brown County Historical Society
• How it Was - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• Interview with Jeff Becker - 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

REGIONAL

• Research Historian - State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck, ND

• Museum Collections Manager - Neville Public Museum, Green Bay, WI

• Education Program Coordinator - Wade House Historic Site, Wisconsin Historical Society, Greenbush, WI

• Director of Collections & Registration - John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI

• Archives & Collections Manager - Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Director - Flagg Township Museum, Rochelle, IL

• Museum Curator - Wilmette History Museum - Wilmette, IL

• Executive Director - KidsWork Children's Museum, Village of New Lenox - New Lenox, IL

• Assistant Registrar for Exhibitions - Newfields, Indianapolis, IN

• Archives & Collections Manager - Hancock Historical Museum, Findlay, OH

• Marketing Content Strategist - Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH

• Processing Archivist - Private business and family archive, Birmingham, MI

• Planetarium Coordinator - University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NE

• Guest Curator - Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University, Athens, OH

• Media Relations Specialist - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB

• Executive Director - Juno Beach Centre, Guelph, ON

• Exhibit Designer - Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, AB

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• Membership Intern - Missouri History Museum, Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO

• Library Research Assistant Intern - Library and Research Center, Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Main Street, Kasson, Minnesota, ca. 1950s.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Dodge County Historical Society.

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

The 1837 Ioway Map
October 8 @ 12 to 1 pm - Austin: Mower County Historical Society - Historian and author William Green discusses his book, This Is the Route of My Forefathers, and the 1837 map created by Ioway leaders to document tribal history and defend land claims during the Indian removal era. The presentation explores nearly 200 years of Ioway history, diplomacy, relationships with neighboring nations, and resistance to dispossession. Cost: Free members; free general public. Learn more »

Afrocontigbo: West African Dance and Performing Arts
October 10 @ 6 pm - Roseau: Roseau County Historical Society - Experience an evening of West African dance, music, movement, and storytelling with Afrocontigbo. The performance celebrates cultural traditions, community, and connection through energetic dance and the performing arts. Cost: Free members; free general public. Learn more »

The Immigrant’s Trunk: Ole Olesen
October 10 @ 10:30 to 11:30 am - Minneapolis: Norway House - Re-enactor Roger Hellesvig portrays Norwegian immigrant Ole Olesen, sharing stories of Norwegian culture, a few Norwegian words, and the decisions an immigrant family faced while packing a single trunk for an 1800s voyage to the United States. Admission includes access to the Saga Center, an interactive exhibit on modern Norway and its connection to the United States. Cost: $20 members; $25 general public. Learn more »

SUPERIOR: A 50-Year Photographic Journey with Craig Blacklock
October 10 @ 2 to 3 pm - Grand Marais: Cook County Historical Society - Wilderness photographer Craig Blacklock shares stories and photographs from five decades documenting Lake Superior, including kayak expeditions to the Slate Islands and Michipicoten Island and images of North Shore landmarks such as Palisade Head and Artists Point. The program accompanies his 20th book, SUPERIOR: A 50-Year Photographic Journey. Location: Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery. Cost: Free; donations accepted. Learn more »

Hubbard House Flashlight Tours
Saturdays, October 10 through 31 @ 7 pm, 8 pm, 9 pm, & 10 pm - Mankato: R.D. Hubbard House - Visit the Historic R.D. Hubbard House for Special Flashlight Tours. Tours will explore Victorian Mourning Customs and Superstitions while visiting restricted areas in the Carriage House and Hubbard House Attic and Basement. Featuring an array of entertainers and area musicians who will be busking to entertain you before and after tours. Cost: $30. Learn more »

Lacey Fontaine—Benton County Historical Society, Past, Present, and Future
October 14 @ 9 to 10 am - St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum - Benton County Historical Society Executive Director Lacey Fontaine discusses the history of the museum’s new Sauk Rapids home, recent changes, and plans ahead for the Central Minnesota institution. Location: Stearns History Museum. Cost: Free members; $7 general public. Learn more »

History Revealed: Oakland Cemetery Walking Tour—North
October 14 @ 1 to 3 pm - St. Paul: Ramsey County Historical Society - Join historian and tour guide Denise Dunnell Wells for an outdoor exploration of the north section of Oakland Cemetery. Discover the cemetery’s history and legends, along with the final resting places of notable and notorious Saint Paul residents. Oakland is the Midwest’s oldest operating cemetery and includes burial areas for Civil War and Spanish-American War veterans, firefighters, diverse immigrant communities, and members of the Hmong community. Location: Oakland Cemetery. Cost: $10. Learn more »

Clay County X-Files: Early UFOs in the Area 
October 15 @ 3 pm - Moorhead: Clay County Historical Society 
Presented by Markus Krueger. What do these fascinating events tell us about mass hysteria and popular culture? Learn about two early UFO incidents, the 1897 Barnesville Airship and the 1947 Flying Saucer dogfight over Fargo. For more information email levi.magnuson@hcsmuseum.org

5th Anniversary of the Washington County Heritage Center
October 16 @ 10 am to 4 pm - Stillwater: Washington County Historical Society - Celebrate five years of exhibits and Washington County history at the Washington County Heritage Center, with free admission throughout the day. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Victorian Funeral at the Alexander Faribault House
October 17 @ 5:30 to 7 pm & October 31 @ 1 to 3 pm - Faribault: Rice County Historical Society - Step into the Victorian Era at the historic Faribault House and learn about death customs of the 19th century. Space is limited to 10 per tour. Cost: $10 members; $15 nonmembers. Learn more »

Back Alley Walking Tour
October 17 @ 10 to 11:30 am - Red Wing: Goodhue County Historical Society - Explore downtown Red Wing’s early history through its alleyways, uncovering remnants of the city’s past and learning about the people and historic businesses behind today’s familiar buildings. Location: John Rich Park. Cost: $20. Learn more » 

A Supernatural Conversation 3
October 17 @ 12 to 2 pm - Buffalo: Wright County Historical Society - The Supernatural Investigators of Minnesota return to explore spirits, cryptids, UFOs, and cold cases—including investigations rooted in Wright County. Learn the basics of paranormal investigation in a hands-on primer, then share your own ghost stories, Bigfoot encounters, or UFO sightings. Cost: Free members; free general public. Learn more » 

Low German, High German, and the Shift Toward English: Kansas Mennonites and a Changing Culture
October 17 @ 9:30 am to 12:30 pm - St. Paul: Germanic-American Institute - Explore how a Kansas Mennonite community’s traditional use of Plautdietsch, High German, and English has evolved as English becomes dominant. The presentation examines heritage-language change, shifting social and religious values, and the cultural effects of multilingualism in German American communities. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Drinking in History: Section 106 at a Crossroads
October 19 @ 6 to 8:30 pm - St. Paul: Rethos - Rethos Deputy Director Erin Hanafin Berg explains Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, proposed regulatory revisions that could limit public and community participation, and what the changes could mean for historic places in Minnesota and nationally. The program will also cover the federal rulemaking process and ways the public may engage. Location: Waldmann Brewery. Learn more »

Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: Museums & Galleries | Culture & Heritage | Attractions & Entertainment
Register for an Account »

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: County Store Museum operated by the Goodridge Area Historical Society in Goodridge, MN
Photograph by Andrew Filer distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.

MALHM History Happy Hour
October 8 @ 5:30 to 7:30 pm  - Marshall: Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums - Tour the Lyon County Historical Society, chat about what's going on at your organization, and enjoy food & drinks while networking with colleagues! Cost: Free. Learn more and RSVP »

An Introduction to Tabletop Exercises for Cultural Heritage: Building Emergency Response Skills Through Scenario-Based Training 
October 8 @ 10:30 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: TX-CERA - Learn how scenario-based tabletop exercises strengthen emergency preparedness for cultural heritage organizations. Topics include incident assessment, safety briefings, response roles, and developing an Incident Action Plan. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Mold in Collections: A Panel Discussion
October 13 @ 10 to 11 am (CT) - Online: Conserv - Three experts will discuss mold identification, growth, treatment, and emergency response, including practical steps for the first 24 hours of an outbreak. Learn about active versus inactive mold, cleaning different materials, and deciding when to seek outside help. Designed especially for collections staff with limited conservation resources, the session concludes with a live Q&A. Learn more »

When Resources Fall Short: Supporting Museum Security Teams Through Technology
October 15 @ 1 to 2:30 pm (CT) - Online: International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection - Explore how technology can help museum security teams address staffing shortages, budget constraints, difficult gallery sightlines, and visitor concerns. Representatives from Art Sentry and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts will share practical lessons for strengthening collection protection without compromising the visitor experience. Includes a Q&A and open forum. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Build Your Own Clamshell Box Workshop
October 15 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: Gaylord Archives - Conservator Rebecca Elder will demonstrate how to create an archival clamshell box from corrugated board. Learn when to use this storage enclosure, how to take metric measurements and transfer a template, and techniques for safe, accurate cutting. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Planning for Recovery: Understanding Insurance for Historic Buildings and Collections
October 15 @ 11 am (CT) - Online: Foundation for Advancement in Conservation - Learn how to incorporate insurance into emergency planning for historic buildings and collections. Using examples and case studies, this webinar will examine policy types, coverage and exclusions, contract terms, and insurance transactions. Participants will also learn how to work with insurance agents to secure advice and support for disaster recovery. Cost: $20. Learn more »

Nothing About Us Without Us: Engaging Authentically with Marginalized Communities
October 19 @ 9 to 10 am (CT) - Online: Ohio Museums Association - This Empowering Museum Voices Fellowship-led panel explores how museums can collaborate authentically with marginalized communities. Learn approaches to amplifying community voices without speaking over them, avoiding tokenizing or extractive practices, and incorporating diverse perspectives into respectful, relevant interpretation and programming. Cost: $15 members; $20 nonmembers. Learn more »

Practical Steps for Getting Started with Digital Preservation
October 21 @ 12:30 pm (CT) - Online: Pennsylvania State Archives Archives and Records Management - Explore introductory digital preservation concepts and achievable steps for launching an initiative at your organization. Topics include assessing current practices, inventorying digital materials, setting up a workstation, documenting workflows, and managing storage for preserved files. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Deaccessioning Deep Dive
October 21 @ 12 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Explore the deaccessioning process from inventory and evaluation through documentation, processing, and final object transfer. Drawing on the Valentine Museum’s collection-refinement project, this workshop offers practical guidance for organizations of all sizes, budgets, and timelines, with time for questions and discussion. Limited to 30 participants; the workshop will not be recorded. Cost: $100 members; $150 nonmembers. STEPS participants receive a 10% discount with the community promo code. Learn more »

So…You Want a Museum Career? Part II
October 21 @ 10 to 11 am (CT) - Online: Southeastern Museums Conference - Hear candid insights from a museum career coach and professionals at different career stages about building and sustaining a museum career. Explore practical strategies for navigating the job market, developing essential skills, and growing your professional network, whether you’re entering the field or planning your next step. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Interpretive Planning for Museum Programs: Creating Meaningful Visitor Experiences Course
October 21–November 11 @ 1 to 3 pm (CT), Wednesdays - Online: American Alliance of Museums - This four-week course helps museum professionals design programs that align institutional goals with visitor needs. Through case studies, collaborative exercises, and practical tools, participants will learn to develop interpretive themes, understand audiences, and incorporate evaluation into planning. Participants will gain skills to draft an interpretive plan for their institution or project. Limited to 30 participants. Cost: $349 members; $449 nonmembers. Learn more »

NAGPRA Essentials for History Organizations
October 22 @ 12 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Bernstein & Associates NAGPRA Consultants will introduce the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, its updated 2024 regulations, and practical steps toward compliance and repatriation. Through case studies and discussion, participants will explore how to apply NAGPRA principles and build ethical, authentic partnerships with Native organizations. Limited to 30 participants. Cost: $100 members; $150 nonmembers. STEPS participants receive a 10% discount with the community promo code. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Creating an e-Newsletter for your Local History Museum - Local History Services

UPCOMING EVENTS & CONFERENCES

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

It's History Awards Season - SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS! As you reflect on 2026, consider what great history projects you and your colleagues have accomplished. Consider nominating notable history work for either a Minnesota History Award or an AASLH Leadership in History Award. Great work deserves recognition; recognition inspires and informs others.
MINNESOTA History Awards Nominations are open and accepted until January 13, 2027. Nominate projects accomplished from July 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026 for the 2027 Minnesota History Awards program. Since 2009, the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums has recognized outstanding history work by local organizations at its Annual Meeting. A formal nomination process is conducted and reviewed by a panel of peers to determine award recipients. There are two award programs: the Minnesota History Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Awards. Learn more » Award Categories: Behind the Scenes Collections Civic Engagement & Public Celebrations Publications Interpretive Programs Lifetime Achievement History Award Program Guidelines and Instructions »	AASLH Leadership in History Awards Nominations are open and accepted until March 1, 2027. Nominate accomplishments occurring within the eighteen months prior to the March 1 deadline (i.e., September 1, 2025 through March 1, 2027). Publications must be published within two years prior to January 1 of the year of the competition. American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) bestows the Leadership in History Awards in recognition of excellence in the field of state and local history. Learn more » AASLH recognizes EXCELLENCE in the following areas:  Community Engagement Exhibits Multimedia Public Programming Special projects Studies Individual Lifetime Achievement Publications Best Large Press Local History Book Best Small Press/Independent Author Local History Book

Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Fellowships                
Deadline - October 26, 2026: Gilder Lehrman Institute - Provides annual short-term research fellowships to doctoral candidates, college and university faculty at every rank, and independent scholars working in the field of American history. Learn more »

Margaret T. G. Burroughs and Charles H. Wright Fellowships
Deadline - January 15, 2027: Association of African American Museums - Supports attendance at the 2027 AAAM Conference in Philadelphia. Covers registration, hotel, travel, and two-year AAAM membership. Awards for one senior-level student and one first-year museum professional. Learn more »

The Eric DeLony Industrial Heritage Preservation Grant Fund
Deadline - March 1, 2027: Society for Industrial Archeology - Grants from $1000 to $3000 for the study, documentation, recordation, and/or preservation of significant historic industrial sites, structures, and objects. Awards are made to nonprofit organizations and qualified individuals. Learn more »

Humanities in Place
Deadline - Rolling: The Mellon Foundation – Supports institutions and organizations advancing fuller exploration of community histories and sites in the U.S. through place-based projects, including work with history museums, heritage spaces, and public storytelling. Grants encourage innovative approaches to documenting, interpreting, and engaging with underacknowledged histories and communities. Proposals accepted by invitation only. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

Vintage Museum Photo: Red Eye Townhall-Schoolhouse, Sebeka, 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.

What's New in Archival Cataloging September 2026
Over 200 films in our Sound & Visual collection are now available to watch in the MNHS online catalog! These range from home movies to amateur works to educational & industrial films. MNHS Media archivists Joe Larsen & April Rodriguez digitized this material over the last several years, and catalogers Dave Ehasz & Rowan Wildberg made them accessible online. 

Collections with additions or added digital content include the Health Department: Official Hearings on Rules and Regulations; the International Polar Expeditions, Inc. Trans-Antarctica Expedition Records; and the Washington County: Grey Cloud Island Township Records.
In addition, many newly encoded finding aids are now available online for the first time.
The A-Z index lists all of our current digital finding aids and included digital content. 
View a full list of movies and newly available and updated finding aids »

A new steward for Otter Tail County history
Fergus Falls Daily Journal - Scott Brantner, a historian and educator who moved to Fergus Falls in 2023, is the new executive director of the Otter Tail County Historical Society. Brantner succeeds Chris Schuelke, who retired in March after more than three decades leading the organization. Continue reading » 

Rice County cuts 10% to libraries and nonprofits, causing concern for leaders
APG State News - ...Impacted agencies include the Soil and Water Conservation District, the Historical Society, the Ag Society, Southern Minnesota Initiative Fund, Southern Minnesota Tourism, the Northfield Library, the Faribault Library, the Lonsdale Library, the Faribault Area Senior Citizens, FiftyNorth, the HOPE Center, SEMAC, SEEMs and Prairie’s Edge Humane Society... Continue reading »

Featured Book Exit, Miss Saigon: An American Memoir, by David Mura University of Minnesota Press. Book Launch Event Date: October 7 @ 7 to 8:15 pm Location: Theater Mu, St. Paul, MN	Featured Article Minnesota History The Long Shadow of Harvey Ellis Volume 40, Issue 3, 1966	Featured Article MNopedia Charles Thompson Memorial Hall, St. Paul 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.
Services include: On-site, online, phone, and e-mail consultation; Professional development; and Grants.

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