ST. PAUL, Minn (January 12, 2023) – With generous funding from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, the Minnesota Historical Society is pleased to present a free resource full of activities and information for kids and adults alike to learn and celebrate all things Minnesota!

Published by MNHS Press, Making Minnesota is an activity book geared to children in third through fifth grades, although it is appropriate for students—and adults—of all ages. More than 20,000 copies have been distributed since the book first became available in October 2022. It can be ordered free online at www.mnhs.org/MakingMinnesota and is available at libraries, MNHS sites, and other landmarks across our great state.

Making Minnesota invites readers to learn about the many communities, both human and animal, who call Minnesota home while educating readers on the unique parks, waterways, and cultural institutions within our borders. Young readers can use the book to create their own maps, poems, and drawings of their favorite places to visit. It is the perfect accessory to any Minnesota adventure in 2023.

Making Minnesota was written and illustrated by Patricia Bauer and David Geister, who have been involved with Minnesota Historical Society sites and events for three decades. They were even married at Historic Fort Snelling in 2002! Pat shared her love for history, literature, and learning with her students during her nearly 40 years teaching in elementary and middle school classrooms. She is the author of B Is for Battle Cry: A Civil War Alphabet, illustrated by her husband.

Dave is the illustrator of more than 20 picture books and has also created numerous paintings focused on historical events and landscapes. The two of them were honored to be artists-in-residence at the Gettysburg National Military Park in 2019.

“We’re thrilled to have been able to do this project. We love our state and want to share that love and knowledge with children and the general public,” Pat said. “It’s crucial that all our citizens understand how important it is to take care of the natural and cultural resources that we are so lucky to have here.”

Pat and Dave are holding a series of author/illustrator events at schools and public sites across Minnesota. You can find more information at www.mnhs.org/calendar. If you’d like to contact Pat and Dave directly to schedule an event, outreach information is available on their website. 

About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves, and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories, and connects people with history.

About the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment
Funding provided by the State of Minnesota's Legacy Amendment, through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008, and our generous donors and members.