MN HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCES LATEST LEGACY GRANT RECIPIENTS

ST. PAUL (JUNE 2, 2014) – The Minnesota Historical Society announces 63 recipients of Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants (up to $10,000 each) totaling $320,046 in 39 counties, and five new Heritage Partnership Awards (external partnerships) totaling $212,025 in four counties. The grants are awarded to help non-profit and educational organizations, government units and tribal organizations preserve and share Minnesota history.

A number of small grants in this cycle were awarded to support scholarships to attend this fall’s national meeting of the American Association of State and Local History, which will be held in St. Paul.

"Building organizational capacity was one of the expressed outcomes of legacy funding," said David Grabitske, manager of outreach services and grants. "Scholarships for Minnesota organizations and city staff to attend the nation's premiere history training provider, the American Association for State and Local History, while it is in St. Paul this fall will spread best practices to every part of the state."

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. The Legacy Amendment supports efforts to preserve Minnesota land, water and legacy, including Minnesota history and cultural heritage.

Heritage Partnership Program Award Recipients
The Minnesota Historical Society awards Legacy-funded partnership grants to organizations working together to preserve and share knowledge and resources related to Minnesota history. The partnership grants extend the reach of Legacy history funds across the state.
Hennepin County, AirSpace Minnesota, $24,200
To develop formal partnerships with other aviation and aerospace history organizations statewide to engage in long-range, strategic planning for coordinating future projects.
Ramsey County, Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, $80,310
To develop the Southeast Minnesota Preservation partnership, a program that will increase awareness of the role of historic preservation in building communities, promoting shared values and developing local economies.
Rice County, Northfield Historical Society, $17,303
To increase the capacity of the Northfield History Collaborative by adding four to six new partner organizations and to continue to digitize materials for current partners.
Rice County, St. Olaf College, $67,616
To develop NorthfieldHistorical [stet], a mobile device application and website, as a nexus for the cultural heritage of Northfield.
St. Louis County, Northern Bedrock Conservation Corps, $22,596
To develop a memorandum of understanding and strategic plan to identify the historic west trail system of the Chester and Clara Congdon Estate (Glensheen), listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Small Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant Recipients
Recipients of small grants (up to $10,000) from the April 11, 2014, deadline cycle are listed by county, in alphabetical order below.
AASLH conference scholarships are listed as a group below. Each project will preserve and enhance Minnesota’s cultural and historical resources.
Blue Earth County, Minnesota State University, Mankato--Department of Anthropology, $9,995
National Register Evaluation and Archeological Interpretation of the Nelson Site: To hire qualified project personnel to evaluate the Nelson Site, a Late Woodland archaeological site, for possible inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Chisago County, City of Taylors Falls, $10,000
National Register Nomination Update for Angel's Hill Historic District: To hire a qualified historian to complete an updated nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for Angel's Hill Historic District.
Clay County, City of Barnesville, $10,000
Old City Hall Opera House Ceiling Restoration: To hire qualified professionals to repair plaster in the 1899 Barnesville City Hall, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Clay County, Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County: $3,277
Acquiring Moorhead Daily News Microfilm: To add 40 rolls of microfilmed newspapers to broaden public accessibility to primary records.
Goodhue County, City of Red Wing: $9,498
Red Wing Fire Department Ahrens-Fox Fire Apparatus Preservation: To hire qualified conservators to restore a significant historical fire engine.
Goodhue County, Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC), $10,000
Geophysical and Archaeological Assessment of the PIIC Burial Mound Group: To hire a qualified consultant to conduct an archaeological survey of burial mound groups on the PIIC reservation.
Goodhue County, Friends of St. Rose, Inc., $8,800
Church of St. Rose of Lima Historic Building Conditions Assessment: To hire a qualified architect to conduct a conditions assessment of the Church of St. Rose of Lima (Kenyon), listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Hennepin County, City of Osseo, $6,564
Osseo Water Tower Intensive Level Survey and Evaluation for National Register Eligibility: To hire qualified consultants to evaluate the Osseo Water Tower for possible inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Hennepin County, Linden Hills Neighborhood Council, $7,000
Evaluation of Linden Hills Commercial Nodes for National Register or Local Designation Eligibility: To hire qualified consultants to evaluate the Linden Hills commercial nodes for local designation or possible inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Hennepin County, Minneapolis Jewish Federation, $9,950
Tolerance & Inclusivity: The Formation and History of Mount Sinai Hospital and Women���s Auxiliary, 1942-1992: To hire a qualified historian to research the history of Mount Sinai Hospital and Women's Auxiliary.
Hennepin County, Regents of the University of Minnesota (Bell Museum of Natural History), $7,802
Collection Storage Case Replacement and Upgrade: To improve collections care and management through proper storage.
Hennepin County, Regents of the University of Minnesota (Institute on Community Integration), $10,000
Polish the Evelyn Deno Anthology on the 1957 State Law Requiring Special Education: To hire qualified professionals to produce a manuscript on Evelyn Deno and the history of special education in Minnesota's public schools.
Hennepin County, Rockford Area Historical Society, $6,000
Shorthand Language Translation of the Florence Stork Diaries and Letters: To hire qualified professionals to produce a translation of Florence Stork's shorthand language diaries and letters.
Houston County, City of Hokah, $2,690
Microfilmed Newpaper Collection: To add 33 rolls of microfilmed newspapers to broaden public accessibility to primary records.
Houston County, Houston County Historical Society, $9,385
Library Digital Microfilm Reader/Printer: To purchase a microfilm reader/printer to broaden public accessibility to microfilmed records.
Mille Lacs County, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe: $9,694
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Archives Mold Remediation: To provide appropriate mold remediation for collections items.
Mille Lacs County, Mille Lacs County Historical Society, $5,800
Great Northern Depot HVAC System Evaluation: To hire a qualified and experienced HVAC engineer to evaluate the current system in preparation for better control of the Mille Lacs County Historical Society museum environment.
Nobles County, Nobles County Historical Society, $9,760
Nobles County Pioneer Village Inventory & Assessment Phase 2: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.
Polk County, Polk County Historical Society, $10,000
Historic Carnegie Building: Restoration Planning: To hire a qualified architect to conduct a conditions assessment of the Crookston Carnegie Public Library, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Ramsey County, American Aviation Heritage Foundation, $10,000
Manuscript: History of Northwest Aeronautical Corporation: To hire a qualified professional to produce a manuscript on the history of the Northwest Aeronautical Corporation.
Ramsey County, Hmong Cultural Center, $10,000
Hmong Minnesota History Exhibit Implementation Project: To install an exhibit on Hmong history in Minnesota.
Ramsey County, Ramsey County (Parks and Recreation Department), $10,000
Preserving and Sharing the Rich History and Tradition of Keller Golf Course: To hire consultants to develop and install an exhibit on Keller Golf Course in Ramsey County.
Ramsey County, Ramsey County Historical Society, $9,945
Phase II: From Exile to Resettlement: Elderly Bhutanese Refugee Women in Minnesota: To document in oral history interviews the history of Bhutanese refugee women in Minnesota.
Ramsey County, Rondo Avenue, Inc., $10,000
Research for Book on Rondo Society Columnist: To hire a qualified historian to conduct primary source research on the history of Estyr Peake, Rondo society columnist.
Red Lake County, Minnesota's Historic Northwest, $1,697
Small Museums Tool Kit Book Discussion & Review: To provide professional development opportunities to northwestern Minnesota historical organizations using the Small Museum Toolkit.
St. Louis County, Minnesota Discovery Center, $8,883
Minnesota Discovery Center's General Assessment and Long-Range Plan: To hire professional conservators to assess historically significant collections and write a long range preservation plan.
Stevens County, Stevens County Historical Society, $8,350
Men and Women of the Land Research and Script Writing: To hire qualified professionals to research and write an exhibit script on the history of Stevens County residents.
Washington County, Afton Historical Society and Museum, $9, 944
Final Cataloging and Partial Rehousing: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.
Washington County, City of Stillwater, $6,900
Bergstein Shoddy Mill and Warehouse Reuse Study: To hire qualified consultants to conduct a reuse study of the Moritz Bergstein Shoddy Mill and Warehouse, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Washington County, City of Stillwater (Fire Department), $10,000
Fire Station History Exhibit Plan: To hire a qualified consultant to write an exhibit plan for a history of the City of Stillwater Fire Station.
Wadena County, Wadena County Historical Society: $10,000
Microfilm Reader/Printer Scanner: To purchase a microfilm reader/printer to broaden public accessibility to microfilmed records.
Winona County, Polish Cultural Institute, $9,800
Inventory of Museum Collections: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.
Wright County, Cokato Historical Society, $8,000
Akerlund Glass Plate Scanning, Phase VII: To digitize part of a large collection of glass plate negatives in order to broaden public accessibility.
Small Legacy Grants were provided to the following organizations for staff member professional development scholarships to attend the American Association for State and Local History National Conference in St. Paul, September 17-20, 2014.

• Beltrami County, Beltrami County Historical Society, $1,402
• Clay County, City of Moorhead, $1,440
• Clay County, Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, $2,306 (2 staff)
• Dakota County, City of Farmington, $575 (2 staff)
• Goodhue County, Goodhue County Historical Society, $679 (2 staff)
• Hennepin County, City of Eden Prairie, $375
• Hennepin County, City of Eden Prairie, $300
• Hennepin County, City of Excelsior, $920 (2 staff)
• Itasca County, Itasca County Historical Society, $3,497 (2 staff)
• Kandiyohi County, Kandiyohi County Historical Society, $2,130 (2 staff)
• Koochiching County, Koochiching County Historical Society, $3,387 (2 staff)
• Lake of the Woods County, Depot Preservation Alliance, $1,475
• Meeker County, Meeker County Historical Society, $575
• Morrison County, Morrison County Historical Society, $1,361 (2 staff)
• Mower County, Hormel Historic Home, $1,586 (2 staff)
• Nicollet County, Nicollet County Historical Society, $1,357 (2 staff)
• Pine County, Pine City Library Foundation, $415
• Ramsey County, Minnesota Museum of American Art, $1,365 (2 staff)
• Ramsey County, Ramsey County Historical Society, $1,600 (2 staff)
• Redwood County, Redwood County Historical Society, $1,795
• Redwood County, Redwood Falls Public Library, $1,326
• Rice County, Rice County Historical Society, $602
• Roseau County, Roseau County Historical Society, $1,700
• Sherburne County, Sherburne County Historical Society, $550 (2 staff)
• Stearns County, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, $460 (2 staff)
• Stearns County, St. Cloud State University, $575 (2 staff)
• Stevens County, Stevens County Historical Society, $3,249 (2 staff)
• Washington County, City of Afton, $980 (2 staff)
• Winona County, City of Winona, $1,165
• Winona County, City of Winona, $1,165

German Culture Day Sept 28 at Hjemkomst Center

Moorhead, Minn.,-- More than just beer and brats, German Culture Day is a brand new event for the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, September 28 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Hjemkomst Center.  The day event is free and open to the public. German Culture Day celebrates German cultural heritage of past immigrants and of contemporary Germany with a combination of traditional music and dance, children’ ;s activities, and folk traditional crafts. Authentic German food will be available to savor as it is complimented with a selection of German imported beer and German-American brews sponsored by Schell’s Brewery and Bergseth Brothers Co. The food and beer are available for purchase.

Musical performers include Dale Dahmen & the Polka Beats from Buffalo, Minnesota, The Flemming Fold from Twin Cities and Amy Klein of Fargo/Moorhead. Dale Dahmen, a composer as well as a musician, was inducted into the Concertina World Congress Hall of Fame in 2012. He has eight albums, composed several original scores and plays in two other bands, one being the New Jolly Brewers.

The Flemming Fold is a versatile family music group composed of four members: Troy Flemming, his wife Sandra and their two daughters. Originally from Southern Minnesota, the Flemming Fold has performed over 600 concerts. Troy, a.k.a “The Yodelmeister,” is a free-style guitarist and yodeler. Along with Sandra on the accordion and their daughters on mandolin, fiddle and base, it is not surprising that the Flemmings have been hailed as one of the most talented musical families in the Twin Cities.

Artisans, demonstrators and vendors will fill the halls with booths about various aspects of German Culture. Karen’s Kuchen, Prairies Home Brewers, Red River Volkswagon Club, and Germans-from-Russia iron wo rks are just a few featured booths you will see at this year’s event.

German Culture Day is made possible by grant funding provided by The Arts Partnership, Moorhead Public Service and The North Dakota Council on the Arts. This event is also made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Lake Region Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

In the evening, the HCSCC is hosting a German Rhineland dinner as a fundraiser for the museum. This four-course meal celebrates the food, wine and beer of the Rhineland region. A fine selection of the best German beers and wines will be available for purchase to complement each course and to entice the palette. This contemporary German dinner is perfectly orchestrated for a tantalizing gastronomic experience that any foodie will rave about. Dinner is served at 6 pm. Tickets are $50 per person and are on sale now through September 21. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.  Contact Tim Jorgensen at 218-299-5511, Ext 6737 or email tim.jorgensen@ci.moorhead.mn.us for more information. The Rhineland Dinner is sponsored by Shell’s Brewery, Happy Harry’s Bottle Shop, and Bergseth Brothers, Co.

The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County collects, preserves, interprets, and shares the history and culture of Clay County, Minnesota. HCSCC also provides interpretation of the Hjemkomst Viking Ship, Hopperstad Stave Church Replica, and hosts traveling exhibits in 7,000 s q. feet of temporary exhibition space. The Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County is a community resource for 210,000 people in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area and serves an average of 30,000 visitors a year from all over the world.

For more information, call 218-299-5511 or visit www.hcscconline.org. The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County is located in the Hjemkomst Center at 202 First Avenue North in Moorhead.

Photographer Dan Francis to kick off TMI Hospitality artist in residence program

Fargo, N.D. - In a recent project called “Fargo: Past and Present,” photographer Dan Francis deftly acknowledged the history of downtown Fargo buildings, blending old and new images to compare and contrast past and present.

Francis’ sense of a place and its history made him a perfect first participant in a new resident
artist series at TMI Hospitality (TMI), who will feature work from the “Past and Present” series in their Fargo headquarters. The exhibition will be on display this summer. An opening reception date will be announced in the coming weeks.

TMI CEO Lauris Molbert stressed how important it is for a strong business community to make room for artists.

“TMI is dedicated to playing an active role in our community. We believe we should support where we live and work, and we think the expression of art makes Fargo-Moorhead a better place for us all to live in and work in. It’s important to us to have a thriving community, and a very important part of that is having art and places for artists to be successful. It’s a nice way to help the community at the same time multi-tasking with the idea that art is correlated
with the art of hospitality," Molbert said.

The TMI resident artist program is unique to the area for a couple reasons. Private businesses often purchase and display local artists’ work, but rarely do they offer an artist resident status, offer a public reception, or commission work, as the TMI program does. Also, the program’s collaborator, The Arts Partnership (TAP), is assisting in the program by pulling together artists and local independent curators. This collaboration, said TAP Director Dayna Del Val, benefits the entire local arts community as a result.

“It’s a really wonderful thing when a business like TMI supports and values the role the arts play in creating a thriving community for their employees to work and live in. We are honored to be a partner in this collaboration,” Del Val said.

For this inaugural exhibition, TMI will display about a dozen of Francis’ works, including an artwork commissioned by TMI. 

Three artists will be chosen for the residency annually, and all artists in the Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo area are eligible to apply. For more information on the program, contact Del Val at dayna@theartspartnership.net, or to apply, visit www.theartspartnership.net.

Clay County Historical Society Elects Board

Moorhead, Minn.,-- Hawley Elementary 5^th-grade teacher Jennifer Tjaden was elected to the board of directors of the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County at the annual meeting May 2. Tjaden is an enthusiastic promoter of local history in her classes and will share curriculum ideas for the exhibits at the Hjemkomst Center museum.

Re-elected to a final term was Dale White, a Hitterdal native who is retired from the MN CTC. At the May 15 board meeting, Gloria Lee of Georgetown was elected president, John Dobmeier of Barnesville was elected Vice-President, Gail Blair, West Fargo, was elected treasurer, and Vogel Law attorney Jade Rosenfeldt, Moorhead, was re-elected secretary. Other board members include Mark Altenburg of Moorhead, Les Bakke of Moorhead, Clay County Commissioner Jon Evert, Gene Prim of Barnesville, Duane Walker of Moorhead, and Jim Saueressig of Fargo.

Helen Olson of Hawley retired after two terms and Neil Jordheim retired after serving for twelve years. Another board member from Fargo is needed. Fargo residents with an interest in local history and/or cultural heritage preservation should contact executive director Maureen Kelly Jonason at Maureen.jonaon@ci.moorhead.mn.us or 218-299-5511, Ext. 6732.

The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County collects, preserves, interprets, and shares the history and culture of Clay County, Minnesota. HCSCC also provides interpretation of the Hjemkomst Viking Ship, Hopperstad Stave Church Replica, and hosts traveling exhibits in 7,000 sq. feet of temporary exhibition space. The Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County is a community resource for 210,000 people in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area and serves an average of 40,000 visitors a year from all over the world.

For more information, call 218-299-5511 or visit www.hcscconline.org. The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County is located in the Hjemkomst Center at 202 First Avenue North in Moorhead.

MN Historical Society Legacy Grant Recipients

ST. PAUL (Jan. 3, 2012) – The Minnesota Historical Society today announced 48 recipients of Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants of up to $7,000 each and four new Partnership Grants totaling $155,410. The grants are being awarded in dozens of counties across the state to help local organizations preserve and share Minnesota history.

The Society also reminds interested applicants that the next grants deadline is January 11, 2013, which may be the final deadline for this 2012-2013 biennium depending upon available funds. The Grants Manual is available at legacy.mnhs.org/grants. Applications are accepted only through the Society’s grants portal at grants.mnhs.org.

“Every year, we receive hundreds of grant proposals for the cause of history and historic preservation,” said David Grabitske, manager of outreach services for the Minnesota Historical Society. “We review each proposal to ensure the project meets established criteria and will preserve and enhance Minnesota’s cultural and historical resources. This latest round of grants wisely uses the power of history to transform lives and communities, while building a legacy for Minnesota.”

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. The Legacy Amendment supports efforts to preserve Minnesota land, water and legacy, including Minnesota history and cultural heritage.

 

The Minnesota Historical Society has also awarded Legacy-funded partnership grants to organizations working together to preserve and share Minnesota history. The partnership grants promote the sharing of knowledge and resources among historical organizations and extend the reach of Legacy history funds across the state.

Grant Recipients:
All grants are administered through a competitive process using professional standards and criteria. The latest round of recipients of “Fast Track” Grants (up to $7,000) are listed in alphabetical order by county below. Partnership grants are listed below the “Fast Track” Grants.

Anoka County, Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society, $1,670
Madeira Hull Section Display
To fabricate and install an outdoor exhibit of a hull section of the Madeira, a shipwreck listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Becker County, Becker County Historical Society, $6,830
Photo Collection Digitization
To digitize and make publicly accessible 14,835 photographs in the collection.

Brown County, Township of Milford, $2,500
District #50 School (Milford Town Hall) National Register Evaluation
To have the District #50 School, currently serving as Milford Township Hall, evaluated for possible inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

Carver County, Carver County Historical Society, $7,000
Peterson Barn Construction Preparation Work
To preserve wood components of the north barn, a contributing feature of the Andrew Peterson Farmstead, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Cook County, Schroeder Area Historical Society, $1,629
StEPs Program Assessment
To grow the capacity of the organization to preserve and interpret history through a national training standard.

Dakota County, Caponi Art Park, $6,775
Development of Institutional Photo Archives
To process photographs documenting Caponi Art Park in order to increase public access to them.

Fillmore County, Rushford Area Historical Society, $6,693
Cataloging the Collections of the Rushford Depot Museum
To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust using PastPerfect Museum Software.

Goodhue County, City of Red Wing, $1,200
South End Residential Historic District (Proposed) Local Designation Form
To hire a qualified historian to prepare the local designation of the South End Residential Historic District.

Goodhue County, Red Wing Public Library, $7,000
Writing a History of the Red Wing Public Library
To hire a qualified historian to draft a manuscript on the history of the Red Wing Public Library.

Grant County, Grant County, $7,000
Preservation of Decorative Elements
To prepare a condition report and treatment proposal for murals in the Grant County Courthouse, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Hennepin County, Eden Prairie Historical Society, $5,341
General Conservation Assessment and Long Range Plan
To hire professional conservators to assess historically significant collections and write a long range preservation plan.

Hennepin County, Field Regina Northrop Neighborhood Group, Inc., $4,200
Arthur and Edith Lee House National Register Evaluation
To have the Arthur and Edith Lee House evaluated for possible inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

Hennepin County, Hennepin County Library, $7,000
Acquire Microfilm/fiche Reader/Printer/Scanner
To make accessible primary records through a new microfilm reader/printer/scanner.

Hennepin County, Hennepin Medical History Center, $2,000
“World Within Our Walls” exhibit
To research and draft exhibit text concerning the history of departments and units of the Hennepin County Medical Center.

Hennepin County, Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association, $6,190
Lowry Hill East Bryant Avenue Research Project Phase I
To research and assemble historical data concerning residents along Bryant Avenue in South Minneapolis.

Hennepin County, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, $7,000
Grand Rounds Historic District - National Significance and Cultural Landscape Analysis
To hire a qualified historian to research and prepare a historic context study of the national significance of the Grand Rounds park system landscape.

Hennepin County, Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation, $190
Microfilm Duplication, Miller Collection
To add two rolls of microfilmed records from World War II to broaden public accessibility to primary records.

Hennepin County, Minnesota Air National Guard Historical Foundation, $2,140
MNANG Museum Archives Processing
To address, through basic processing, the backlog of archives in order to increase public access to Minnesota Air National Guard history.

Hennepin County, Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, $7,000
Oral History for Phyllis Wheatley, Urban Coalition Minnesota Ombudsman for Corrections
To document in four interviews the history of inter-racial urban history from the 1960s-1990s.

Hennepin County, Regents of the University of Minnesota (Bell Museum of Natural History), $7,000
Interpretive Maps Illustrating History of Landscape Change in Minnesota
To increase public access to historically significant dioramas through handheld devices.

Hennepin County, Regents of the University of Minnesota (Institute on Community Integration), $7,000
An Anthology of the 1957 MN Law Requiring Special Education
To compile an anthology of the history behind the 1957 Minnesota law requiring special education for children with disabilities.

Hennepin County, Richfield Historical Society, $2,238
Creation and Implementation of Family Programming for Richfield Historical Society
To increase accessibility to Richfield history for K-12 audiences.

Itasca County, Itasca County Historical Society, $5,900
HVAC Evaluation for Collections Storage
To provide an engineering assessment of the museum’s environmental systems.

Lake of the Woods County, Depot Preservation Alliance, $7,000
“Take a Ride on the Rails” Exhibit
To fabricate and install “Take a Ride on the Rails,” an interpretive exhibit about rail service in the 1930s.

Le Sueur County, City of New Prague, $7,000
New Prague’s Historic Context Study
To hire a qualified historian to conduct a historic context study for the City of New Prague.

Lake of the Woods County, Lake of the Woods County Historical Society, $4,950
Microfilm Acquisition and Storage
To add 51 rolls of microfilmed newspapers to broaden public accessibility to primary records.

Lyon County, Marshall-Lyon County Library, $6,872
Microfilm Aquisition for Marshall-Lyon County Library
To add 76 rolls of microfilmed newspapers to broaden public accessibility to primary records.

Morrison County, Morrison County Historical Society, $6,500
Evaluation of Upgraded Weyerhaeuser Museum Mechanical System (HVAC)
To provide an engineering assessment of the museum’s environmental systems.

Nobles County, Nobles County Historical Society, $7,000
National Register Evaluation for War Memorial Building
To have the Nobles County War Memorial Building evaluated for possible inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

Olmsted County, Olmsted County Historical Society, $4,770
HVAC Evaluation for History Center
To provide an engineering assessment of the museum’s environmental systems.

Otter Tail County, Otter Tail County Historical Society, $7,000
Interpretive Exhibit Plan for Natural History Exhibit
To hire a qualified museum consultant to develop a thematic concept plan for a woodland diorama.

Ramsey County, 1006 Summit Avenue Society, $7,000
Governor’s Residence Video: Production Phase
To produce a short video introduction about the history, architecture and use of the Horace Irvine House (Minnesota Governor’s Residence), which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Ramsey County, 1006 Summit Avenue Society, $7,000
Governor’s Residence Booklet: Writing and Design
To write and design a site guide for improved public access to the Minnesota Governor’s Residence (Horace Irvine House), which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Ramsey County, Bethel University Digital Library, $3,800
Bethel University Student Newspaper Digitization
To digitize The Clarion, Bethel University’s student newspaper, 1983-2007, for increased public access.

Ramsey County, Maritime Heritage Minnesota, $6,990
USS Essex Log Book Project III: Editing/Transcription
To prepare RAW digital images of log books from the USS Essex, a shipwreck listed in the National Register of Historic Places, for public access via the Internet.

Ramsey County, Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, $6,872
The Clothesline Project/Exhibit Preservation
To preserve through proper museum storage a collection of 650 textiles documenting victims of domestic violence.

Ramsey County, Ramsey County Historical Society, $6,900
“They Played for the Love of the Game: Adding to the Legacy of Minnesota Black Baseball” Research and Writing
To complete the research and writing of a manuscript documenting the history of black baseball in Minnesota, 1940s-1960s.

Red Lake County, Minnesota's Historic Northwest, $7,000
Minnesota’s Historic Northwest Consortium: Interpretive Exhibit Plan for Traveling Exhibits
To hire a qualified museum consultant to create a detailed exhibit concept for a traveling exhibit about Northwestern Minnesota’s fur trade history.

Scott County, Scott County Historical Society, $6,171
Oversize Storage/Rehousing Project
To improve care and management of oversize and flat file collections through proper storage.

Sibley County, City of Gaylord, $7,000
City of Gaylord’s Historic Preservation Plan
To prepare a Historic Preservation Plan for the City of Gaylord.

St. Louis County, Hibbing Public Library, $7,000
Acquire Microfilm Reader/Printer
To enable public access to primary records through a new microfilm reader/printer.

St. Louis County, Laurentian Arts and Culture Alliance, $2,500
Repair Water Leakage at Sprinkler Service Main
To rehabilitate the sprinkler system protecting the Lyric Theater, a contributing feature of the Virginia Commercial Historic District which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

St. Louis County, Laurentian Arts and Culture Alliance, $7,000
Reinstall Emergency Exit Door on Lyric Building
To rehabilitate an egress door on the Lyric Theater, a contributing feature of the Virginia Commercial Historic District which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

St. Louis County, Proctor Area Historical Society, $7,000
Interpretive Exhibit Plan for the Car Shop Superintendent’s Office
To hire a qualified museum profesional to develop an interpretive plan for a railroad history gallery.

Stearns County, Stearns History Museum and Research Center, $7,000
Acquire Microfilm Reader/Printer/Scanner
To enable public access to primary records through a new microfilm reader/printer/scanner.

Swift County, Upper MN Valley Regional Development Commission, $7,000
Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway 2013 Interpretive Plan
To hire a qualified interpretive specialist to develop an interpretive plan for the history along 287 miles of the Minnesota River Valley National Scenic Byway.

Waseca County, Waseca County Historical Society, $7,000
Interpretive Exhibit Plan for Timeline Exhibit
To hire a qualified interpretive specialist to develop a comprehensive interpretive plan for Waseca County history.

Wadena County, Wadena County Historical Society, $6,990
“Reaume’s Leaf River Post” Survey Project: Remote Sensing and Archaeological Investigation
To conduct an archaeological survey of the Reaume Leaf River Post Site using ground-penetrating radar.

Legacy-Funded Partnership Grants

Hennepin County, Adath Jeshurun Foundation and the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, $19,140
L'Dor V'Dor... Archival Processing Project
To make accessible to the public 127 years of archival materials documenting the history of Minnesota’s oldest Jewish Conservative Congregation.

Hennepin County, Friends of Christ Church Lutheran and Christ Church Lutheran, $78,250
Christ Church Lutheran Accessibility Project
To bring the elevator of Christ Church Lutheran, a National Historic Landmark, up to code to continue access to the entire building.

Olmsted County, Olmsted County Historical Society and Zumbro Watershed Partnership, $33,020
Zumbro River Watershed Environmental History Research
To collect and research historical and environmental data on the Zumbro River watershed preparatory to producing an environmental history.

Ramsey County, Preservation Alliance of Minnesota and Thorstein Veblen Farmstead, $25,000
Thorstein Veblen Farmstead Master Plan for Restoration and Rehabilitation
To undertake a comprehensive re-use study for the Thorstein Veblen Farmstead, a National Historic Landmark.

About Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants
The Society received a 2011 legislative appropriation to award a total of $10.5 million in Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants during the 2012 and 2013 fiscal years. The grants provide an unprecedented opportunity for non-profit and educational organizations, government units and tribal organizations to preserve and share the state’s history and cultural heritage.

Grants are available for history and historic preservation projects in three tiers: “Fast Track” Grants of $7,000 or less, Mid-Size Grants between $7,001 and $50,000, and Large Grants of more than $50,001. For more information on the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants program, including application deadlines, visit legacy.mnhs.org.

About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. The Society 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, the Society preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history.

MN Legacy Destination Weekends

Five Minnesota communities are holding Legacy Destination Weekends, one each in May through September, featuring arts, history and outdoors activities to showcase projects funded through the Legacy Amendment.  In 2008, Minnesota’s voters passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment that provides funding to natural resources, arts and culture, and parks and trails projects across the state.  The Legacy Destination program is a collaboration of Explore Minnesota Tourism, Conservation Minnesota, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and the host communities.

The events include an eclectic mix of activities, such as art exhibits, concerts or theater performances, naturalist programs, historic site events and exhibits, or guided hikes, bike rides or canoe trips.  Each Legacy Destination has designed its own weekend to highlight local cultural and outdoors assets, including those that received Legacy Amendment support. 

“Legacy Destination Weekends are a fun, creative way to show Minnesotans the results of their support,” said John Edman, director of Explore Minnesota Tourism. “The events are designed to draw visitors to communities, as well as engage area residents.”

This is the second year of the Legacy Destination program.  The participating communities applied to participate in the program, which required that at least three Legacy Amendment funded projects be included in the weekend event.  Funding through the Legacy Amendment has been awarded statewide to clean up rivers and lakes, create trails, protect historical items, and fund art and history projects across the state.

“Minnesotans voted to dedicate funds to our state’s great resources,” said Paul Austin, executive director of Conservation Minnesota, “and they can see the results first-hand at these Legacy Destinations.”

“These five fun weekends let Minnesotans enjoy the great things that are happening in the arts and outdoors because of the Legacy Amendment,” said Sheila Smith, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.

The 2012 schedule for Legacy Destination Weekends:

May 17-19, Detroit Lakes

June 11-15, Bemidji

July 19-22, St. Cloud

August 17-19, Willmar Lakes Area (New London, Spicer, Willmar)

September 8-16, Cook County (Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail and area).

For more details on the Legacy Weekends, check out www.exploreminnesota.com/legacy. 

‘We the People: The First Official Printing of the U.S. Constitution' Opens Tues, April 3

The Minnesota History Center in St Paul will have on display a rare, early published version of the U.S. Constitution and an even more rare draft of the Bill of Rights, along with the original editions of the two state of Minnesota Constitutions. The exhibit runs April 3 - July 4, 2012.

This exhibit is presented by Thomson Reuters. The U. S. Constitution and Bill of Rights are on loan from the Dorothy Tapper Goldman Foundation. The exhibit is made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Legacy Amendment through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008.

The Minnesota History Center is located at 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul, MN 55102

MN Historical Society Announces Dec Recipients Of Grants

ST. PAUL (Dec. 20, 2011) Just in time for the New Year, the Minnesota Historical Society awarded history and historic preservation grants to dozens of organizations across the state. The Minnesota Historical Society today announced 46 recipients of 48 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants of up to $7,000.

The Society also announced the next deadlines for Small and Structured Grants are January 13, 2012, and February 17, 2012. The Grants Manual is available at www.mnhs.org/legacygrants with all applications being accepted only through the Society’s new grants portal at grants.mnhs.org.
Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund with passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment by the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. The amendment supports efforts to preserve Minnesota land, water and legacy, including state history and cultural heritage.

“These latest grants will continue to prepare Minnesota for the bright future of history made possible by these funds. It’s clear that Minnesotans are making thoughtful use of these funds to preserve and make accessible history now and for future generations,” said David Grabitske, manager of outreach services for the Minnesota Historical Society. “The work of history is very people-focused, and people often are most concerned with tomorrow. This cycle is all about how people will use history tomorrow, whether through online access, better use of historic places, or major anniversaries in 2012.”

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant Recipients: Small and Structured Grants

Each Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant project will preserve and enhance Minnesota’s cultural and historical resources. The grants are awarded according to professional standards and criteria. The latest round of recipients of Small and Structured Grants of up to $7,000 are:
•Becker County, White Earth Reservation Tribal Council, Numa-Ogimaa giigonh, Sturgeon-King of Fish, $3,189.
•Beltrami County, Beltrami County History Center, Rehousing of Photographs and Maps, Manuscript Box Labeling, $4, 978.
•Blue Earth County, Blue Earth County Historical Society, Discover the Dakota Culture and Heritage, $7,000.
•Blue Earth County, Minnesota State University, Mankato - Library Services, Reporter Digitization Project – Minnesota State University, Mankato, $7,000.
•Brown County, Brown County Historical Society, Restoration of Third Floor, $6,350.
•Clay County, Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, New Hjemkomst Exhibit, $6,000.
•Dakota County, City of Inver Grove Heights, Heritage Village Park Interpretive Planning Project, $6,990.
•Dakota County, Dakota County Historical Society, http://www.dakotahistory.org/ 2.0, $6,900.
•Fillmore County, Lanesboro Arts Center, Fixing the Failing Facade, $6,075.
•Freeborn County, Freeborn County, Historical Marker, $2,830.
•Freeborn County, Freeborn County Historical Society, Microfilm Acquisition, $4,409.
•Grant County, Condition Report and Treatment Proposal for the Grant County Courthouse, $6,950.
•Hennepin County, Cedar Lake Park Preservation and Development Association dba Cedar Lake Park Association, Cedar Lake Park Association History Project, $7,000.
•Hennepin County, The Bakken Museum, Dakota Medicinal Plans Garden Phase 2, $7,000.
•Hennepin County, City of Brooklyn Park, Eidem Homestead Traveling Trunk, $7,000.
•Hennepin County, Hennepin History Museum, From Exile to Resettlement: Voices of the Bhutanese in Minnesota, $7,000.
•Hennepin County, Hennepin Medical History Center website, $4,000.
•Hennepin County, Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, Jewish Mnopedia, $6,660.
•Hennepin County, Lake Street Council, Museum in the Streets: Lake Street, $7,000.
•Hennepin County, The Performance Lab, Videotaping Dance Community - Oral Histories, $6,650.
•Hennepin County, Seward Neighborhood Group, A History of the Seward Neighborhood, $6,850.
•Hennepin County, Twin Cities Daily Planet, History of Minnesota Theaters 1959-1981, $5,625.
•Hennepin County, University of Minnesota Foundation (University of Minnesota Press), Minnesota Railroads: A Photographic History, 1940-2012, $7,000.
•Houston County, Jefferson Township, History of the Winnebago Valley, $2,000.
•Itasca County, City of Bigfork, Bigfork City Hall Preservation Planning, $7,000.
•Isanti County, Isanti County Historical Society, Detailed Processing of Fire Salvaged Archives, $6,570.
•Jackson County, Regents of the University of Minnesota (Institute for Advanced Study), Oral Histories of Small-scale Food Initiatives in Southwest Minnesota, $6,900.
•Mille Lacs County, City of Onamia, Wiping out Water in the Basement (of Onamia City Hall, listed in the National Register of Historic Places), $6,300.
•Mower County, Mower County Historical Society, K-8 Educational Curriculum Needs Assessment, $5,620.
•Mower County, Mower County Historical Society, Ghost Towns of Mower County Exhibit, $7,000.
•Nicollet County, Nicollet County Historical Society, Commemorating Controversy Lecture Series, $4,000.
•Nicollet County, Nicollet County Historical Society, Acquire an ImageData Microfilm Scanner, $6,999.
•Olmsted County, City of Rochester, Rochester Resource Discovery Plan, $6,280.
•Pipestone County, Pipestone County Historical Society, If Walls Could Talk Walking Tour, $4,376.
•Ramsey County, 1006 Summit Avenue Society, Governor’s Residence Interpretive Plan, $7,000.
•Ramsey County, Maplewood Area Historical Society, Research of Maplewood History Book, $6,745.
•Ramsey County, Minnesota Veterinary Historical Museum, Corridor Exhibit Wall Panels, $3,105.
•Ramsey County, Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State (Civil War Commemoration Task Force), Minnesota Civil War Commemorative Task Force Website, $7,000.
•Ramsey County, Saint Paul Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, What is an Advocate? An Oral History Project, $7,000.
•Redwood County, Redwood Falls Public Library, Microfilm Grant Phase 3, $6,960.
•Renville County, Renville County Historical Society, Bookshelf Request, $1,019.
•Saint Louis County, North Star Foundation of the Mesaba Range Incorporated, The Oral History of Mesaba Co-op Park, $4,700.
•Saint Louis County, St. Louis County Historical Society, Architectural Design Services for Lake Superior Ojibwe Gallery & Adjacent Storage, $7,000.
•Stearns County, Ce Tempoxcalli, Born of Hunger - Research, $7,000.
•Stearns County, Saint John’s Abbey & University, General Preservation Needs Assessment at SJU, $6,046.
•Wabasha County, Wabasha County Historical Society, Reads Landing Schoolhouse Fire Safety and Mitigation Project, $4,920.
•Winona County, Winona State University, General Conservation Assessment and Long Range Preservation Plan, $6,186.
•Wright County, Cokato Historical Society, Akerlund Studio Glass Plate Negative Scanning, Phase IV, $7,000.