July 2015
Events, Classes and Exhibits

Wednesday, July 1

Adventures in Nature: Atlatl
Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey 
Learn about the atlatl, or spear thrower, an ancient hunting device used by people of this area before the bow and arrow. A symbol of power, it was used for thousands of years and there are many atlatl petroglyphs carved into the Sioux Quartzite rock at the site. During this program, learn how to use an atlatl while trying to “hunt” a life-size buffalo target. While at the site, view the rock carvings and learn more about the people who created them with the new guided tour at 10:30 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. 
Phone: 507-628-5591 
Time: 2 p.m. 
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members. 
Also July 2-6 

Arts on the River Day Camp
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Play music, get creative, bake bread and construct books while exploring the rich culture along the Minneapolis riverfront district. Children will explore a new experience each day at four arts centers, including Mill City Museum, the Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Center for Book Arts and MacPhail Center for Music. The Mississippi River and the wonders of water will inspire camp activities this year. Campers will start each day at Mill City Museum and will walk with camp leaders, less than three blocks, to each art organization. For ages 9-11.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 9 am to 3:30 pm 
Fee: $250/$225 for MNHS members
Reservations: required, call 651-259-3015 or register online
Also July 2 

History HiJinx: Hmong Bag
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Cloth bags with intricate hand-stitched patterns, colorful pom poms, beaded fringe and silver coins are traditional and symbolic accessories worn by men and women, girls and boys for the Hmong New Year’s celebration. Design and color your own cloth bag. Discover what the symbols represent in Hmong culture and wear your finished creation with pride. This activity is free with museum admission. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 11 am to 3 pm Tuesday through Friday 
Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members. 
Also Every Tuesday through Friday, through Aug. 14 

Thursday, July 2
Hennepin Island Hydropower Tours
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Mill City Museum and Xcel Energy will partner on a series of weekday walking tours highlighting the story of waterpower at St. Anthony Falls, including rare access to an operating power plant.
During the early 20th century, more than two dozen mills and hydroelectric plants used the water power from St. Anthony Falls. Today there is just one left: Xcel Energy’s Hennepin Island Hydroelectric Plant. On this tour, a Mill City Museum guide will lead participants to Hennepin Island and Father Hennepin Bluffs Park including special access to the power plant. Along the way, participants will learn about the historic uses of waterpower at the falls for flour milling, sawmilling and hydroelectricity, the role of hydroelectricity in Xcel Energy’s green energy and energy efficiency initiatives and the future of waterpower on the Minneapolis riverfront. 
Tours depart from 125 Main Street SE (at the green awning between Pracna on Main and the Aster Café). The tour includes about 1.5 miles of moderately-paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. Tours are held rain or shine. Please dress accordingly. Hennepin Island Hydropower Tours are presented by Xcel Energy.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 to 2:30 pm
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children age 6-17 and MNHS members. Tour includes a voucher for Mill City Museum admission. 
Also July 30 

Saturday, July 4

Time Capsule for Families: Civil War, 1861
Alexander Ramsey House, 265 S. Exchange St., St. Paul 
Discover why 1861 was an important year for the United States and for the Ramsey family in this one-hour children's program. Use a timeline map to explore the Ramsey House and collect time capsule tokens along the way. Learn about the Civil War and the new inventions of the era, help make hardtack in the kitchen and sample gingerbread cake. Children can create their own time capsule to take home. 
Phone: 651-296-8760 
Time: Noon, 12:30 pm and 1 pm
Fee: $10 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $7 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members
Reservations: recommended; call 651-259-3015 or register online

Living History: Meet the Lindberghs
Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, 1620 Lindbergh Dr. S., Little Falls 
Learn what life was like for Charles Lindbergh growing up on a farm during the First World War. Costumed characters portraying Lindbergh family members and neighbors will provide insights into young Charles’ interests in aviation, technology and nature. Hear inside stories about the Lindbergh family and have the chance to try some of the chores Charles did around the farm. Experience the life of this ordinary boy who grew up to do extraordinary things. 
Phone: 320-616-5421 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm; last tour leaves at 4 pm
Fee: $8 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members
Also July 18 

America's Flags
Fort Ridgely, 72404 County Road 30, Fairfax 
Learn about the history of Old Glory, and how the current flag came to be the symbol of the United States. View nine flags from the past and join a presentation at 1 pm about the changes the flag has gone through since the Revolutionary War. 
Phone: 507-934-2160 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm 
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 children 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members. State Park vehicle permit required.

1899 Independence Day Celebration
Historic Forestville 21899 County Road #118, Preston 
Experience Independence Day as it was celebrated in Historic Forestville in 1899. Take part in a grand ceremony, listen to a local glee club and political speeches, including a reading of the Declaration of Independence, and watch an old-time 1860s baseball game featuring the Rochester Roosters and the Lanesboro Excelsiors. Guests can also enjoy pie- and watermelon-eating contests and sack and three-legged races for the kids. The Friends of Forestville will provide a concession stand. 
Phone: 507-765-2785 
Time: Noon to 4 p.m. 
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members. State park vehicle permit required.

Independence Day Celebration
Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul 
Celebrate our nation’s independence with activities that showcase what life was like in the early 1800s. Hear the roar of cannon salutes, watch a War of 1812 "mock battle" on the parade ground celebrating Colonel Snelling's victory at the Battle of Oak Woods, witness a military dress parade, hear patriotic and military fife and drum music, and try your hand at historic games. Visit the Dred Scott quarters to explore the history of slavery in Minnesota and the part Fort Snelling played in the great debate over freedom during the 1800s. 
Phone: 612-726-1171 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm 
Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members

Summit Avenue Walking Tours
James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul 
Take a 90-minute tour of the Summit Avenue neighborhood, named one of America's "Great Streets" in 2008. The walking tours highlight the Gilded-Age mansions that line the elite avenue and the people who owned them and built them. Guides will talk about the architecture, social history and current preservation issues of the historic neighborhood. 

The tour covers 1.5 miles starting at the James J. Hill House, proceeding west on Summit Avenue, returning via side streets and alleyways and concluding outside the Cathedral of St. Paul. All areas are handicapped accessible, but some side streets are cobblestone and have historic stone curbs. The popular tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday, May through September. Call for group tour information.
Phone: 651-297-2555 
Time: 11 am and 2 pm Saturdays; 2 pm Sundays 
Fee: $12 adults, $10 seniors and college students, $8 children ages 6-17; $2 discount for MNHS members
Reservations: recommended; call 651-259-3015 or register online
Also Every Saturday and Sunday, May through September 

American Indian Survival Skills
Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey 
Explore some of the survival skills used by early American Indians. Throughout the afternoon visitors can try to start a fire using primitive methods and view a display of atlatls (spear thrower); from 1 to 3 pm they can make an atlatl and then learn how to throw a spear at a bison target; and from 3 to 5 pm they can observe a flintknapper demonstrate how to create stone projectile points (arrowheads) and then try making one themselves. 
Phone: 507-628-5591 
Time: 1 pm to 5 pm
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members

Minneapolis Riverfront Tour
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Walk the Minneapolis riverfront and learn about its dramatic past and bright future. Participants will visit the historic district at St. Anthony Falls, which was once the milling center of the world and is now a growing cultural, recreational and residential neighborhood. A guide from Mill City Museum will lead visitors onto the Stone Arch Bridge for a spectacular view of the falls, the historic buildings surrounding it and downtown Minneapolis, and tell stories of the people who have worked and lived in the area and how it has changed over the years. The tour includes one mile of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The tour will begin and end at Mill City Museum. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm 
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Includes museum admission
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online

Fourth of July Fireworks
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Visit Mill City Museum on July 4th from 10 am to 5 pm, then head outside for family fun and entertainment with the Minneapolis Riverfront 2015 Red, White and Boom celebration. A limited number of tickets will be available to view the fireworks display from the museum’s Koch Observation Deck. Tickets include museum admission. Entrance to the Observation Deck begins at 9:30 pm; fireworks begin at 10 pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm; fireworks at 10 pm 
Fee: $35/$30 MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 612-875-5544 or register online

Kids Crafts: Dream Catchers
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, 43411 Oodena Dr., Onamia 
Children can learn how to weave a dream catcher and make one to take home. The dream catcher is a woven web believed to protect the dream world of the person who sleeps beneath it. The cost for the dream catcher kit is $5 and includes materials and an instructional handout. Please allow an hour to make the craft. This project is recommended for children ages 8 and up. 
Phone: 320-532-3632 
Time: 11 am to 3 pm 
Fee: $5 per kit (museum admission not included)

Farmer's Fourth of July
Oliver H. Kelley Farm, 15788 Kelley Farm Rd., Elk River 
Celebrate the Farmer's Fourth of July at the Kelley Farm. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the lawn and watch the spring lambs and calves prance about. Visitors can also join in 19th-century games such as town ball, the precursor to modern baseball, and participate in an oratory and debate from the front porch. Enjoy the company of family and friends along with the farm's costumed staff and celebrate the most important holiday in America in the 19th century. 
Phone: 763-441-6896 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members.

Sunday, July 5

Independence Day
Harkin Store, Nicollet County Highway 21, New Ulm 
Celebrate Independence Day at the Harkin Store, where a piece of the 19th century remains preserved. Visit the general store, play checkers and relax on the front porch. The New Ulm Battery will fire their 1862 cannon every half hour. 
Phone: 507-354-8666 
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members

Railroad History Tour
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Beginning with the arrival of Minnesota’s first rail line in 1862, Minneapolis boomed in population and flour milling, lumber production and warehousing took off. Take a guided tour of railroad landmarks, including the Stone Arch Bridge, Milwaukee Road Depot and the Minneapolis Eastern Railway engine house and trestle. Along the way, find clues to the vanishing railroad landscape and learn about the future of Twin Cities rail. The tour includes 1.5 miles of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The tour will begin and end at Mill City Museum. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Includes museum admission
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online
Also July 26 

Tuesday, July 7

Tours for People with Memory Loss
James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul 
Take a sensory-based tour designed for people with memory loss and their caregivers. Each themed tour highlights three rooms in the James J. Hill House and is followed by an optional social time with pastries and coffee. Tours are offered the first Tuesday of every month. Tours are made possible through funding by the Bader Foundation. 
Phone: 651-297-2555 
Time: 10 am to 11:30 am
Fee: Free 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online
Also First Tuesday of every month

Nooks and Crannies Tour
James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul 
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the back staircases, dust chutes, silver vault and more on this 90-minute tour of the Hill House. Visitors will see the top-floor attic with original theater, take the back stairs to the basement, view storage areas not on the regular tour, and take a peek inside the gatehouse overlooking Summit Avenue. Guides will also discuss the technological innovations present in the house at the time of its construction in the late 19th century, and the difficulties of preserving such a building today. The 6 pm and 7:30 pm tours are led by a costumed interpreter portraying a construction worker or house servant. 
Phone: 651-297-2555 
Time: 6 pm, 6:30 pm, 7 pm and 7:30 pm
Fee: $12 adults, $10 seniors and college students, $8 children ages 6-17; $2 discount for MNHS members. 
Reservations: recommended; call 651-259-3015 or register online
Also Every Tuesday evening, June through August

Minneapolis History Pub Crawl: Old Saint Anthony
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Discover Minneapolis' oldest neighborhood along the east bank of the Mississippi River. The town of St. Anthony began in 1849, several years before its neighbor Minneapolis across the river. Although annexed by Minneapolis in 1872, the area's unique character and history remained distinct. Hear about the people who lived and worked there and about the flour mills, churches, red light districts, Victorian homes, pubs, immigrant enclaves, commercial centers, breweries and more. The tour is on an air-conditioned bus and includes stops at a number of sights, including two watering holes housed in historic buildings. The tour includes three blocks of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. Tours are held rain or shine. Ages 21 and up only. Drink purchases are not included in the tour price. Drink specials will be made available at participating locations. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 6:30 pm to 9 pm
Fee: $25/$20 for MNHS members. 
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online
Also July 23 

9 Nights of Music: Orkestar Bez Ime
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Orkestar Bez Ime means "Orchestra without a name" in Bulgarian. Join the six-member group for an evening of festive party music from the Baltic. "9 Nights of Music" is offered every Tuesday in July and August. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction at 6:30 pm. Live music starts at 7 pm. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. No outside alcoholic beverages allowed. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 pm to 8 pm. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances move indoors. Call 651-259-3000 for rain updates at 4 pm. "9 Nights of Music" is presented by Xcel Energy. Additional support is provided by MPR and Tapestry Folkdance Center. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 6:30 pm dance instruction, 7 pm live music 
Fee: Free

Davy Crockett Day Camp
Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul 
Davy Crockett was a living legend during the early 1800s, and tales of his adventures spread across the world. Campers will learn the skills Crockett and others like him used on the frontier including tracking animals, using flint and steel and 1800s soldiering. Campers will also learn about American Indian history and much more. Space is limited to 14. For ages 9-12.

Session I: July 7-10, SOLD OUT
Session II: July 21-24

Phone: 612-726-1171 
Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm 
Fee: $250/$225 for MNHS members 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online

Little House in the Big Forest Day Camp
Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul 
Phone: 612-726-1171 
Experience the life described in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s "Little House" books. Campers will sing the songs, play the games and make the food and crafts that Wilder learned while growing up on the western frontier in the 19th century. Sessions I, II and III focus on the books "Little House in the Big Woods," "Little House on the Prairie," "Farmer Boy" and "On the Banks of Plum Creek." Sessions IV, V and VI focus on the books "Shores of Silver Lake," "The Long Winter," "Little Town on the Prairie," and "These Happy Golden Years." Space is limited to 16. For ages 7-11.

Session III: July 7-10 SOLD OUT
Session IV: July 14-17 SOLD OUT
Session V: July 28-31 SOLD OUT

Phone: 612-726-1171 
Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm 
Fee: $250/$225 for MNHS members 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online

Wednesday, July 8

Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War Exhibit Opening
Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul 
Explore how Lincoln used the Constitution to confront three intertwined crises of the Civil War: the secession of Southern states, slavery and wartime civil liberties. The exhibit will provide a more complete understanding of Abraham Lincoln as president and the Civil War as the nation’s most serious constitutional crisis. The exhibit is presented by the American Library Association and National Constitution Center, and funded by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Phone: 612-726-1171 
Time: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday, noon to 5 pm
Fee: Free 
Also On view July 8 through Aug. 21

Adventures in Nature: Winter Count
Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey 
Learn how American Indians kept track of history by recording symbols representing memorable events in their lives on hides called winter counts. Create a winter count symbol to take home. While at the site, view the rock carvings and learn more about the people who created them on guided tours at 10:30 am, 1 pm and 3 pm.
Phone: 507-628-5591 
Time: 2 pm 
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members
Also July 9-13 

History Pub Crawls: Downtown St. Paul
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Unearth the secrets behind downtown St. Paul's transformation from wild prairie to modern power center. Find out how it grew from rough river port where soap was scarce to become a Gilded Age gem built by robber barons, impresarios and crime bosses to rival Chicago and New York. Stop for drinks at Christos’ inside the newly-revitalized Union Depot and at the St. Paul Hotel, whose legendary scotch menu has been enjoyed by moguls, rock stars and presidents. Ages 21 and up only. Drink purchases are not included in the tour price. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 7 pm to 9:15 pm
Fee: $25/$20 for MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online
Also July 15, 22, and 29 

Friday, July 10

Ramsey After Dark: Victorian Secrets
Alexander Ramsey House, 265 S. Exchange St., St. Paul 
Mental illness, addiction, sexuality and birth control all were a part of Victorian life, but were rarely spoken of in public. Discover the "secrets" of the Victorian era in this 90 minute adult-themed program. Hear excerpts from Ramsey family letters and journals that provide glimpses into the private lives of the Ramsey family, their friends and neighbors. Learn about the issues they faced, what cures they used and what was really discussed behind closed doors. This program is intended for ages 18 and over. 
Phone: 651-296-8760 
Time: 7 pm and 8:30 pm
Fee: $10 adults, $9 seniors and college students; $2 discount for MNHS members. 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online

Farm Fresh Fridays
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, 43411 Oodena Dr., Onamia 
The Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post hosts Farm Fresh Fridays during select Fridays this summer. Local farmers and growers are invited to set up booths to sell fresh fruits, vegetables, honey and other regionally grown food products.
Phone: 320-532-3632 
Time: 4 pm to 7 pm 
Fee: Free 

Mendota After Hours: Music and Jazz in Mendota
Sibley Historic Site 1357 Sibley Memorial Highway, Mendota 
Have a drink with your friends at the Sibley House while learning about Mendota's long history with music and jazz. Join Minnesota's own jazz great, Butch Thompson, as he discusses the early foundations of jazz music in the area near and around Mendota's Hall Brothers Emporium of Jazz. Cash bar provided by Lucky’s 13 Pub in Mendota. This program is for guests aged 21 years and older.
Phone: 651-452-1596 
Time: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Fee: $15/$12 MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online

Saturday, July 11

The Great Minnesota Pie Extravaganza
Forest History Center, 2609 County Road 76, Grand Rapids 
There is more to pie than meets the eye. A good cook and plenty of food held a logging camp together. While meat, potatoes and beans were the cook shack staples, it was the pies the men loved most. Cooks worked with ingredients they had on hand to make delicious and wholesome pies. This event allows visitors to compare and contrast pies served in the logging camps with modern-day creations. Visitors are encouraged to bring a recipe to share. 
Phone: 218-327-4482 
Time: Noon to 3 pm 
Fee: $15 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $11 children ages 6 to 17; $5 for MNHS members
Reservations: recommended; call 218-327-4482

Soldier One-Day Camp
Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul 
Attention all recruits! Enlist in the 5th Regiment for an afternoon of fun at Historic Fort Snelling. "New recruits" will learn about the lives of soldiers during the 1820s at Fort Snelling. Campers will learn to march and drill, watch musket and cannon firings and much more. Space is limited to 12. For ages 8-12.
Phone: 612-726-1171 
Time: Noon to 4 pm
Fee: $50/$45 for MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online
Also July 25 

Engineering the Falls Tour with History Player William de la Barre
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Take a walking tour of St. Anthony Falls led by costumed History Player William de la Barre, the Austrian engineer who spent half a century developing Minneapolis flour milling and waterpower. Participants will visit the Minneapolis Riverfront, the west-side milling district and the Stone Arch Bridge, and hear about the many ways the falls has changed over the years. The tour includes one mile of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The tour will begin and end at Mill City Museum. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm 
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Includes museum admission
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online

Mill City Summer Opera: The Daughter of the Regiment
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Mill City Summer Opera returns for its fourth season in the museum’s dramatic Ruin Courtyard with Gaetano Donizetti’s brilliant comedy "The Daughter of the Regiment."

This two-act opera centers on Marie, the “daughter” of a regiment of soldiers who adopted her when she was a young girl and raised her as one of their own. Set to a French libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jean-François Bayard, this opera is known for its lighthearted, catchy music that captures the story’s humor with its playful yet challenging vocals. The opera’s dialogue will be in English and all music and arias are in French. Supertitles will translate the French into English. In the event of rain, performances will move indoors. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 8 pm to 10:30 pm
Fee: $35-$195 (discounts for MNHS members)
Reservations: required; call 612-875-5544 or register online
Also July 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 

History Architecture Crawls: Mid-Century Modern
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Explore hallmarks of mid-century modern design by the likes of Ralph Rapson, Close Architects, Eliel Saarinen and more. The tour is on an air-conditioned bus and includes up to two blocks of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The bus departs from the Minnesota History Center. Guests are asked to arrive by 8:45 am.
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 9 a.m. to noon 
Fee: $25/$20 for MNHS members 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online

Family Art Day and Open House
Sibley Historic Site, 1357 Sibley Memorial Highway, Mendota 
In the 1890s, Minnesota artist Burt Harwood taught a summer art school at the Sibley house. On Family Art Day, visit the site and get creative. Try different kinds of art inspired by history and nature at art stations around the site. Have a picnic, play old-fashioned games on the lawn and stay in Mendota for the Mendota Day festival. Plus, take a peek at the historic buildings on the site. 
Phone: 651-452-1596 
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Fee: Free

Sunday, July 12

Christmas in July
Harkin Store, Nicollet County Highway 21, New Ulm 
Celebrate a Scottish "Christmas in July" in honor of Alexander Harkin's native country. Visitors can sample Scottish goodies and admire the decorations, including a trimmed tree set up in the gift shop. At the Harkin Store a piece of the 19th century remains preserved. Visit the general store, play checkers and relax on the front porch. 
Phone: 507-354-8666 
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members

Lac qui Parle Mission Sunday
Lac qui Parle Mission, Montevideo 
Join Missionary and Dakota descendants for worship and to celebrate the Lac qui Parle Mission during this annual event held the second Sunday in July. Worship service begins at 10:30 am with a guest pastor. The Dakota Ascension Choir will sing several hymns from the Dakota Odowan, and the entire congregation will sing the Dakota hymn "Lac qui Parle," written by Joseph Renville. A potluck picnic will follow at noon near the Lac qui Parle dam. Bring a dish to share, serving spoon and your own plate and utensils. Coffee and juice will be provided. At 1 pm, speakers will lead a program of reflection. For more information visit www.chippewacohistory.org. 
Phone: 320-269-7636 
Time: 10:30 am
Fee: Free

Washburn A Mill Tour
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Take an in-depth look at the historic Washburn A Mill complex and the award-winning Mill City Museum building. A museum interpreter will take visitors into the building’s many nooks and crannies, highlighting the lives of the men and women who worked there, how the building functioned during its peak flour milling years and the many changes to the building over time. This is the only opportunity for a guided tour through the entire museum building and the only chance to see some of its non-public spaces. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Tour includes museum admission
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online
Monday, July 13 

Finishing School for Young Ladies 
Alexander Ramsey House, 265 S. Exchange St., St. Paul 
In this one-of-a-kind day camp, young ladies will dress up in Victorian-inspired costume, enjoy a tea party on the porch and learn popular dances of the 1870s. Each day features a historical theme, and participants learn about Victorian fashion, music, art and etiquette through hands-on activities and games. For girls ages 9-12.
Phone: 651-296-8760 
Time: 8:30 am to 4 pm 
Fee: $220/$200 for MNHS members 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online
Also July 14 and 15

Huck Finn Day Camp
Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul 
Phone: 612-726-1171 
The classic book "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" serves as the basis for this camp for the adventurous and active child. Campers will explore the book and its themes of adventure and childhood fun through hands-on activities in the unique setting of Historic Fort Snelling. Activities include fishing, hiking, cooking outdoors, canoeing and much more. Space is limited to 14 each week. This camp has received Nickelodeon's Parent's Choice Award. For ages 9-12.
Tim
Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm 
Fee: $250/$225 for MNHS members
Also July 15, 16 and 17

Tuesday, July 14

History Film Series: Minnesota: A History of the Land: Out of the Ashes
Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, 1620 Lindbergh Dr. S., Little Falls 
In this episode of "Minnesota: A History of the Land," watch never-before-seen historic footage that brings to life the beginnings of conservation in Minnesota. Discover why Minnesota is at the forefront of conservation in the United States and the key role that women play. See what happens to the Mississippi River as the population of the Twin Cities explodes. Animations help viewers imagine the results of one man’s plan to flood the boundary waters region. Then, get to know the fascinating character who helps to save the region from destruction. In the series’ most ambitious historic recreation, find out which prominent Minnesota conservationist begins his career promoting the destruction of wolves. Film starts at 7 pm. The museum and gift shop will be open for a short time before and after the film screening. 
Phone: 320-616-5421 
Time: 7 pm
Fee: Free

Minneapolis History Pub Crawl: Washington Avenue
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Discover Minneapolis' rich history and satisfy your thirst with a history pub crawl along Washington Avenue. Travel down this busy thoroughfare and hear about the importance of railroads, warehousing, flour milling, immigration, entertainment and vice to the story of Minneapolis. An air-conditioned bus will take participants through the neighborhoods along Washington Avenue from 35W to Plymouth Ave. N, with stops at a number of historic sites, including two watering holes housed in historic buildings. The tour includes two blocks of moderately paced walking. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. Tours are held rain or shine. Ages 21 and up only. Drink purchases are not included in the tour price. Drink specials will be made available at participating locations. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 6:30 pm to 9 pm 
Fee: $25/$20 for MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online

Seniors in Mind: Vanishing Landmarks with Photographer Doug Ohman
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Travel the back roads and small towns with photographer Doug Ohman as he explores the stories of Minnesota through historic buildings. Through vibrant photography, Ohman will share his own experiences and the history of a variety of sites from Minnesota’s oldest courthouse to the last Civil War recruiting station. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 10:30 am to 11:30 am 
Fee: $2. Does not include $9 senior admission to the History Center
Reservations: recommended; call 651-259-3015 or register online

9 Nights of Music: Bruce Henry Band
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Join the Bruce Henry Band for an evening of Motown. At intermission show off your favorite chapeau and win prizes in the Fashion Flair Hat Contest inspired by the History Center exhibit "Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair." "9 Nights of Music" is offered every Tuesday in July and August. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction at 6:30 pm. Live music starts at 7 pm. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. No outside alcoholic beverages allowed. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 pm. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances move indoors. Call 651-259-3000 for rain updates at 4 pm. "9 Nights of Music" is presented by Xcel Energy. Additional support is provided by MPR and Tapestry Folkdance Center. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 6:30 pm dance instruction, 7 pm live music 
Fee: Free

Wednesday, July 15

Adventures in Nature: Travois
Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey 
Discover how American Indian families packed up a travois to move their belongings on the prairie. Reproduction items will be available for hands-on use. While at the site, view the rock carvings and learn more about the people who created them on guided tours at 10:30 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. 
Phone: 507-628-5591 
Time: 2 pm
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members
Also July 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 

Friday, July 17

Starry Night, Prairie Night
Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey 
Explore the Jeffers Petroglyphs when the carvings are best seen in this special twilight tour. Gaze at the sky and learn about constellations from astronomers. Hear stories from cultures around the globe. Bring your own telescope or use one provided. 
Phone: 507-628-5591 
Time: 6 pm to midnight 
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members
Also July 18 

Saturday, July 18

Be A Naturalist Family Day
Forest History Center, 2609 County Road 76, Grand Rapids 
Join naturalists for an exploration of plants and animals surrounding the Forest History Center. Inside, get an up-close look at amphibians, reptiles, mammals, soil creatures, birds, raptors, spiders and insects. Learn about the roles of various wildlife species within forest and wetland ecosystems. Expect creeping, crawling, slithering, climbing, screeching, chirping, hissing and other wild behaviors throughout the day. 
Phone: 218-327-4482 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm 
Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6 to 17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members

Causes of the U.S.- Dakota War of 1862 and Battlefield Tour
Fort Ridgely, 72404 County Road 30, Fairfax 
At 1 pm, independent historian John LaBatte will examine the causes of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, drawing on personal stories from his Dakota and settler ancestors. At 2:30 pm, LaBatte will lead a tour of the parade grounds. 
Phone: 507-934-2160 
Time: 1 pm program, 2:30 pm tour 
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 children 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members. State Park vehicle permit required

Historic Main Street Tour
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Stroll through Minneapolis’ oldest neighborhood with a Mill City Museum guide, and learn about the rich past and exciting future of historic Main Street. The tour will highlight life in the village of St. Anthony, changes along Main Street throughout the years, and such landmarks as the 1855 Upton Block, 1858 Martin and Morrison Building, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, the Pillsbury A Mill and the Chalybeate Mineral Springs. This tour begins and ends at 125 Main Street SE (at the green awning between Pracna on Main and the Aster Café). The tour includes one mile of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Includes museum admission.
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online

St. Paul’s Brewing History Tour
Summit Brewing, 910 Montreal Circle, St Paul 
Seek out a new go-to brew and learn about Saint Paul’s hoppy past. New breweries springing up around St. Paul are a powerful testament to today’s fascination with the sudsy stuff, but St. Paul’s first brewery dates back to 1849. Today, remnants of St. Paul’s historic brewing past include the imposing old Hamm’s and Schmidt breweries. This meandering three hour bus tour features samples, conversation and hidden gems along the way. The tour starts and ends at Summit Brewing, 910 Montreal Circle, St. Paul. It takes place on an air-conditioned bus and includes up to two blocks of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. Ages 21 and up only. 
Phone: 
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm 
Fee: $35/$30 MNHS members 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online

Archaeology for Kids One-Day Camp
Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul 
Grab a trowel and get ready for an archeological dig at Historic Fort Snelling. Campers will spend the day with archeologists and historians who will help them learn how to do archeological work including research, digging and sifting at a recreated dig site and working with scientific equipment in a lab. Space is limited to 10 per camp. For ages 10-14.
Phone: 612-726-1171 
Time: 10 am to 4 pm
Fee: $65/$60 for MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online

Sunday, July 19

Shopping with Laura Ingalls
Harkin Store, Nicollet County Highway 21, New Ulm 
On your way back from the Little House on the Prairie reunion in Walnut Grove, stop at the Harkin Store to see what Laura and her family would have purchased at Oleson Mercantile. The Harkin Store, which was open in the 1870s when Laura lived in Walnut Grove, has 40 percent of the original merchandise still on the shelves. Explore the store and meet costumed interpreters who will share a unique bit of history. Old-fashioned egg coffee, lemonade and samples of "store goods" will be available. Extra checker boards will be set up. 
Phone: 507-354-8666 
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members

Disasters of the Riverfront Tour
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
The rise and fall of the St. Anthony Falls milling district led to some of the most tragic disasters in Minnesota history. On this tour, hear the stories of fires, floods, explosions, collapses and other calamities; explore the consequences for the people involved; and learn what these tales reveal about Minneapolis history. Stories include the Eastman Tunnel Collapse in 1869, the Great Conflagration of 1893, bridge collapses in 1859 and 2007, numerous fires and massive landscape changes.  The tour includes 1.5 miles of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The tour begins and ends at Mill City Museum. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Includes museum admission.
Reservations: recommended; call 612-341-7555 or register online

Monday, July 20

History Detective Camp
Alexander Ramsey House, 265 S. Exchange St., St. Paul 
Search for clues, sift through evidence and solve mysteries of the past in this three day camp. Young sleuths will solve real and fictional mysteries (and even create their own) by exploring the historic Ramsey House and its unique collection of original artifacts. Activities include a mock investigation, historic games and exploration of Victorian-era forensics. For ages 11-13.
Phone: 651-296-8760 
Time: 8:30 am to 4 pm
Fee: $220/$200 for MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online
Also July 21 and 22 

Tuesday, July 21

9 Nights of Music: Salsa del Soul
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Enjoy an evening with Salsa del Soul, a nine-piece orchestra performing dance music from the Spanish-speaking regions of the Caribbean. "9 Nights of Music" is offered every Tuesday in July and August. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction at 6:30 pm. Live music starts at 7 pm. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. No outside alcoholic beverages allowed. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 pm. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances move indoors. Call 651-259-3000 for rain updates at 4 pm. "9 Nights of Music" is presented by Xcel Energy. Additional support is provided by MPR and Tapestry Folkdance Center. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 6:30 pm dance instruction, 7 pm live music 
Fee: Free

Wednesday, July 22

Adventures in Nature: Prairie Animals
Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey 
Learn about the animals that live on the prairie by examining animal pelts and making plaster animal tracks to take home. While at the site, view the rock carvings and learn more about the people who created them on guided tours at 10:30 am, 1 pm and 3 pm.
Phone: 507-628-5591 
Time: 2 pm.
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members
Also July 23-27 

Old Man River Day Camp
Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, 1620 Lindbergh Dr. S., Little Falls 
Before he was a famous aviator, Charles Lindbergh spent summers as a boy on the banks of the Mississippi River fishing, learning to swim, building forts and playing with his dogs. This one-day camp will show Charles’ lifelong passion for the river and the environment through activities such as a scavenger hunt, composting projects, artwork and more. Space is limited to 15. Pre-registration and pre-payment is required. A minimum of seven campers is necessary.
Phone: 320-616-5421 
Time: 9 am to 3 pm 
Fee: $30/$25 for MNHS members 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online

Thursday, July 23

Two-Part Trail Tour: The Prairie and The Big Woods
Traverse des Sioux Historic Site St. Peter 
Join naturalist Scott Kudelka for a two-part tour of the Traverse des Sioux trails to learn about two very different landscapes on either side of the Minnesota River—the prairie and the Big Woods. In July, take a prairie tour to learn how the tall grass prairie dominated the landscape throughout the Minnesota River basin before European-American settlers arrived. Hike through a restored prairie to learn how the grasses benefit the environment, how people and animals have used the grasses, and which animals make their home on the prairie. In August, take a tour of the Big Woods to examine how the forests formed, discover some of the rare animal species that live in the woods and how the woods have changed over time. The dense forest dominated by maple and basswood once covered 3,000 square miles across southern Minnesota reaching to present-day Mankato. Called "Bois Grand" or "Big Woods" by early French explorers, it was recognized as a distinct area from other hardwood forests. Trail tours start at the Treaty Site History Center. 
Phone: via MHS historic sites, 507-697-6321 
Time: 7 pm
Fee: Free. Treaty Site History Center: $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 children ages 6-17; Free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members
Also Aug. 20

Saturday, July 25

Children’s Games and Craft Day
Fort Ridgely, 72404 County Road 30, Fairfax 
Families can play games on the parade grounds including field ball, stilts and graces. Inside the commissary building make a hanky doll or a catapult to take home. 
Phone: 507-934-2160 
Time: Noon to 4 pm
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 children 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members. State Park vehicle permit required

Riverfront Quest Family Tour
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Try questing with a tour of the Minneapolis riverfront. A quest is a treasure hunt that guides people through, and teaches them to see, a unique part of their community. This quest includes solving rhyming riddles and searching for hidden boxes with pictures to place in a quest journal that participants can make before the tour. Journal materials and admission to Mill City Museum are included in the tour cost. The tour is designed for ages 6-11, but can be enjoyed by all ages. Adults and seniors must accompany a child. The tour includes one mile of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The tour will begin and end at Mill City Museum. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm (Bookmaking 1 to 1:30 pm, Tour 1:30 to 2:30 pm) 
Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $10 children ages 6-17; $7 MNHS members ages 6-17, free for adult and senior MNHS members 
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online

Appliqué Porcupine Quill Workshop
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, 43411 Oodena Dr., Onamia 
Learn to apply porcupine quills using the appliqué method, which applies quills directly to craft material, birch bark and leather. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. A minimum of five participants is required. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required three days prior to workshop. Discount hotel rooms available on Saturday night for workshop participants at Grand Casino Mille Lacs.
Phone: 320-532-3632 
Time: Noon to 4 pm Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm Sunday 
Fee: $60/$55 for MNHS members; Additional supply fee of $15. 
Reservations: required; call 320-532-3632 
Also July 26 

Henry Sibley: Minnesota's Controversial Founding Father
Sibley Historic Site, 1357 Sibley Memorial Highway, Mendota 
In this 60-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the controversial life and career of Minnesota's first governor, Henry Hastings Sibley. Sibley was a national politician, a founder of the Minnesota Territory and leading architect of its constitution. He was also a newly arrived fur trader in 1834. Join a walking tour of the Sibley Historic Site as guides lead a discussion about the many views of Sibley, including his reputation as a leader who bridged Dakota and European-American cultures, but also his role in controversial treaty negotiations, as well as in battles and trials against the Dakota, the exile of Dakota people and the punitive expeditions against them after the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. 
Phone: 651-452-1596 
Time: 11 am, noon, 1 and 2 pm
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online

Sunday, July 26

Old Games Day
Harkin Store, Nicollet County Highway 21, New Ulm 
Visit the Harkin Store for games from the "old days" such as pick-up sticks, tic-tac-toe, checkers, dominoes, graces and rolling hoops. Many of the games can be purchased at the gift shop, along with toys, books, 10-cent candy and handcrafted items. 
Phone: 507-354-8666 
Time: 1 to 4 pm
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members

25 Years of the ADA, Free Family Day Celebration 
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
The Minnesota State Council on Disability and MNHS are hosting a family day with free admission for all, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the groundbreaking Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Activities include live music, dancing, performances, film and video, and make-it take-it art activities designed to be accessible for all. In addition, hear from individuals who were present in Washington, D.C. for the signing of the ADA in 1990 and what this legislation has meant to them. ASL interpreters, audio describers, deaf/blind interpreters and open captioning will be available. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: Noon to 4 pm
Fee: Free

Tuesday, July 28

9 Nights of Music: Red Rock Swing Band
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Take in non-stop jumpin' jivin' and wailin' with the jazz stylings of the Red Rock Swing Band.  "9 Nights of Music" is offered every Tuesday in July and August. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction at 6:30 pm. Live music starts at 7 pm. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. No outside alcoholic beverages allowed. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 pm. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances move indoors. Call 651-259-3000 for rain updates at 4 pm. "9 Nights of Music" is presented by Xcel Energy. Additional support is provided by MPR and Tapestry Folkdance Center. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 6:30 pm dance instruction, 7 pm live music 
Fee: Free

Wednesday, July 29

Adventures in Nature: American Indian Games
Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey 
Play games popular among American Indians of the past, including the bone and pin game, moccasin game, awl game and the double-ball game. While at the site, view the rock carvings and learn more about the people who created them on guided tours at 10:30 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. 
Phone: 507-628-5591 
Time: 2 pm
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MNHS members
Also July 30 and 31 

Kids Day: Star Knowledge
Lower Sioux Agency, Morton 
Children will get to hear about Dakota star knowledge and stories related to the stars. They will get do a hands-on activity related to the Dakota constellations. This event is free admission. There will be refreshments available. 
Phone: 507-697-6321 
Time: 5 to 7 pm
Fee: Free

Thursday, July 30

History Happy Hour: Martinis
Alexander Ramsey House, 265 S. Exchange St., St. Paul 
Have a drink with friends at the Ramsey House while discovering the story behind a cocktail classic: the martini. Join Jesse Held, bar manager at Parlour and Coup d' Etat in Minneapolis and founder of the North Star Bartenders Guild, as he prepares handcrafted martinis. Learn about the history behind this cocktail, the resurgence it has seen in recent years and the art of creating this elegant classic. This program is for people 21 years and older. Admission includes two drinks, snacks, presentation and time to mingle in the mansion. 
Phone: 651-296-8760 
Time: 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm 
Fee: $25/$20 for MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online

Grandparent's Day
Oliver H. Kelley Farm, 15788 Kelley Farm Rd., Elk River 
Grandparents and grandchildren are invited to spend the day together engaged in 19th-century farming. Share stories with each other and the farm hands while experiencing the garden, meeting animals and helping with the cooking. 
Phone: 763-441-6896 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 ages 6-17, $5 grandparents; free for ages 5 and under and MNHS members

Ongoing Exhibits
Minnesota History Center
345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 

Through Aug. 16, 2015	Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair View 40 garments from the Ebony Fashion Fair including pieces from Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, Christian Dior, Stephen Burrows, Bill Blass, Patrick Kelly, Bob Mackie and others. “Inspiring Beauty” explores how a world-renowned traveling fashion show, with works from the icons of the fashion world, became a vehicle for African American empowerment, pride and achievement. This exhibit was organized by the Chicago History Museum in cooperation with Johnson Publishing Company. For more information visit www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/ebony	
Through Nov. 29, 2015	We Are Hmong Minnesota November 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the Hmong migration to Minnesota following the war in Southeast Asia. Today, the Twin Cities metro area is home to 66,000 Hmong, the largest urban Hmong population in the United States. Developed in partnership with the Hmong community, the new exhibit "We Are Hmong Minnesota," will commemorate the anniversary and celebrate the significant political, social and economic contributions the Hmong have made to Minnesota and the nation. For more information visit www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/exhibits/we-are-hmong-minnesota.	
Ongoing	Then Now Wow Designed primarily for children, visitors of all ages will enjoy exploring Minnesota’s distinctive places from the prairies and forests to the cities. Along the way they'll meet the people who have made their homes here. Step inside a prairie sod house; board a Twin Cities streetcar; don a headlamp to venture underground in an Iron Range mine; hitch a ride on a boxcar; sit in a modern tipi; and encounter artifacts and images unique to Minnesota’s diverse people and historic events. “Then Now Wow” is made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. For more information visit www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/thennowwow.	
Ongoing	Minnesota’s Greatest Generation: The Depression, The War, The Boom
Explore interactive displays and innovative multimedia experiences that reveal the lives and stories of the men and women who came of age during the Depression and World War II and went on to create the postwar “boom.” The exhibition relies substantially on first-person narratives drawn from oral history interviews, published memoirs, reminiscences and letters. For more information visit www.mngreatestgeneration.org.	
Ongoing	Open House: If These Walls Could Talk This interactive exhibit uses a single, existing house in the Railroad Island neighborhood on St. Paul’s East Side as a window into the daily lives of people of the past. Stories of families, from the German immigrants who built the home through the Italians, African Americans and Hmong who succeeded them, are told through rooms representing different eras of the house. For more information visit www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/openhouse.	
Ongoing	Weather Permitting Minnesotans learn to cope with extreme temperatures, watch for signs of storms and generally enjoy the outdoors, whether boating on a summer’s day, skiing down a hill or snowmobiling across snowdrifts. Visit the multimedia tornado exhibit, “Get to the Basement,” named the best museum exhibit in the Twin Cities by City Pages. For more information visit www.mnhs.org/weather. 	

James J. Hill House
240 Summit Ave., St. Paul
Through Nov. 29, 2015	Paj Ntaub: Hmong Textiles from the Permanent Collection View 60 highly colorful and intensely intricate pieces of Hmong textile art created by Hmong women who settled in St. Paul. The exhibit showcases appliqué, reverse appliqué, embroidery and cross stitch in traditional art forms, called Paj Ntaub or flower cloth, as well as commercial tourism items including pillowcases, tablecloths, coin purses and clothing. The exhibit draws on the collection of Corrine Pearson who operated the Hmong Handwork consignment store in St. Paul from 1981 to 1999. Labels will be in both Hmong and English. www.mnhs.org/hillhouse.	

Historic Fort Snelling
200 Tower Ave., St. Paul
Closes July 5, 2015	Japanese Americans in the Military Intelligence Service During WWII This unique photo exhibit shares the stories of Japanese Americans who became "secret weapons" for the U.S. military during WWII by training to be intelligence workers at Fort Snelling. View a set of 30 photographs on display at the Historic Fort Snelling visitor center. A new set of 30 photographs will go on display when the exhibit returns in August. 	
Opens July 8 	Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War Explore how Lincoln used the Constitution to confront three intertwined crises of the Civil War—the secession of Southern states, slavery, and wartime civil liberties. The exhibit will provide a more complete understanding of Abraham Lincoln as president and the Civil War as the nation’s most serious constitutional crisis. The exhibit is presented by the American Library Association and National Constitution Center, and funded by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. This exhibit runs through Aug. 21.