History HiJinx: "Spin-Around-The-State" Pin-Wheels

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 5, 2012, June 6, 2012, June 7, 2012, June 8, 2012, June 12, 2012, June 13, 2012, June 14, 2012, June 15, 2012, June 19, 2012, June 20, 2012, June 21, 2012, June 22, 2012, June 26, 2012, June 27, 2012, June 28, 2012, June 29, 2012, July 3, 2012, July 4, 2012, July 5, 2012, July 6, 2012, July 10, 2012, July 11, 2012, July 12, 2012, July 13, 2012, July 17, 2012, July 18, 2012, July 19, 2012, July 20, 2012, July 24, 2012, July 25, 2012, July 26, 2012, July 27, 2012, July 31, 2012, Aug. 1, 2012, Aug. 2, 2012, Aug. 3, 2012, Aug. 7, 2012, Aug. 8, 2012, Aug. 9, 2012, Aug. 10, 2012, Aug. 14, 2012, Aug. 15, 2012, Aug. 16, 2012, Aug. 17, 2012

Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Color, decorate and assemble a twirling pinwheel printed with iconic Minnesota images. The History Center offers kids and adults this daily art activity free with admission. The art activity is offered in conjunction with the upcoming exhibit “Our Minnesota” which opens in fall, 2012. For more information visit http://www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/events-programs/history-hijinx.

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Nooks and Crannies Tour

James J. Hill House, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 5, 2012, June 12, 2012, June 19, 2012, June 26, 2012, July 3, 2012, July 10, 2012, July 17, 2012, July 24, 2012, July 31, 2012, Aug. 7, 2012, Aug. 14, 2012, Aug. 21, 2012, Aug. 28, 2012

Time: 6, 6:30 and 7 p.m.

Fee: $12 adults, $10 seniors and college students, $8 children ages 6-17; $2 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: recommended, call 651-297-2555

Explore the back staircases, dust chutes, silver vault and more on this 90-minute "behind-the-scenes" tour of the Hill House. Visitors will see the top-floor attic with original theater, take the back stairs to the basement, view the coal storage area and take a tour of the gate house 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 7 p.m. tour will be led by a costumed interpreter portraying one of the construction workers who built the house or one of the servants who worked in the house. Group size is limited so reservations are highly recommended.

Minneapolis History Pub Crawl: Washington Avenue

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: June 5, 2012, June 19, 2012

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Fee: $25; $20 for MHS members.

Reservations: required, register online

Discover the richness of Minneapolis history and quench your thirst with some fine beverages along Washington Avenue. Travel down this busy and sometimes underappreciated street to learn about the importance of railroads, warehousing, flour milling, immigration, entertainment and "vice" to the story of the Mill City. A trolley will take participants through the neighborhoods along Washington Avenue from 35W to Plymouth Ave. N, with stops at a number of historic sights, including two watering holes housed in historic buildings. Ages 21 and up only. Drink purchases are not included in the tour price. Drink specials will be made available at participating locations. For more information visit http://www.millcitymuseum.org/tours.

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History Pub Crawls: Working the West End

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 6, 2012, June 13, 2012, June 20, 2012, June 27, 2012

Time: 7 to 9 p.m. (Trolley departs at 7 p.m.)

Fee: $25, $20 MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 651-259-3015 or register online

Take a tour of St. Paul’s oldest neighborhood and hear vibrant tales of the Yankees, Czechs, Germans and Italians who gave it life. Roll from beautiful Irvine Park to the German Brewery District and on to the lost world of the Upper Levee, enjoying bar stops at two great neighborhood joints along the way. A trolley will take participants to historic stops and watering holes. Ages 21 and up only. Drink purchases are not included in the tour price. Drink specials will be made available at participating locations. For more information visit http://www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/pubcrawls.

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Adventures in Nature: Travois

Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, Comfrey MN

Dates: June 7, 2012, June 8, 2012, June 9, 2012, June 10, 2012, June 11, 2012, July 19, 2012, July 20, 2012, July 21, 2012, July 22, 2012, July 23, 2012, Aug. 23, 2012, Aug. 24, 2012, Aug. 25, 2012, Aug. 26, 2012, Aug. 27, 2012

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 MHS members.

Take part in costumed role-playing to experience how American Indian families packed up a travois to move their belongings on the prairie. Reproduction items will be available to touch and use. While at the site, view the rock carvings and learn more about the people who created them on guided tours at 10:30 a.m., 1 or 3 p.m.

Offered daily at 2 p.m. "Adventures in Nature" is a hands-on series that provides opportunities to learn about American Indian culture, prairies and archaeology. A new theme will be explored each week.

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From Farm to Market with authors Brenda Langton and Atina Diffley

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: June 7, 2012

Time: 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

Brenda Langton author of "The Spoonriver Cookbook" and Atina Diffley author of "Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works" will talk about the intricate links between farmers and consumers. They will discuss how food decisions consumers make every day directly impact the land management decisions farmers make, which in turn impacts local ecosystems and ultimately, the health of all life on the planet. The authors will argue that a committed and supportive relationship between farm and market is crucial to the creation of an economically viable, local-organic, resilient and renewable, food system.

After the discussion, Ms. Langton will offer a variety of flavorful food samplings made from "The Spoonriver Cookbook," showcasing a few of the many simple, delicious and healthy recipes in the book. Copies of both books will be available for sale and book signing.

Ramsey After Dark: Victorian Secrets

Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 8, 2012

Time: 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $8 seniors and college students and $2 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: recommended, call 651-296-8760

This 90 minute tour explores the “unmentionable” topics of the Victorian era such as addiction, mental illness, sexuality and birth control. Hear excerpts from family letters and journals which provide a glimpse into the private lives of the Ramsey family, their friends and neighbors. Discover what issues they faced, the "cures" they used and what was really discussed behind closed doors.

This tour features adult content and is not suitable for children under age 18.

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World War II Weekend

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 9, 2012, June 10, 2012, June 8, 2013, June 9, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Travel back to the World War II era to learn about Minnesota’s role on battlefields and at home. Costumed staff, period displays, weapon firing demonstrations and an encampment of Allied reenactors occupy the historic fort during this special weekend devoted to Minnesota's Greatest Generation. Participate in many hands-on WWII activities for families including crafts, games and obstacle course.

Split Rock Lighthouse Open House

Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors MN

Dates: June 9, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fee: Free

Enjoy the beauty and history of Minnesota's North Shore during an open house at Split Rock Lighthouse and State Park. Admission is FREE to both the Lighthouse and the State Park. Tour the light station, keepers house and fog signal building. Stop by the Visitor Center to see exhibits on the North Shore's tourism and commercial fishing industries, and view a film about the early shipping industry on Lake Superior.

Bread and Butter Day

Historic Forestville, Preston MN

Dates: June 9, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. 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 MHS members. State park vehicle permit required.

Step back in time with costumed guides who will demonstrate the weekly task of bread and butter making in the late 1800s. Enjoy the aroma of the wood burning oven and the taste of freshly baked bread and butter from the churn. Traditional techniques of bread and butter making will be shown with opportunities for hands-on participation.

Kids Crafts: Shoulder Bag

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia MN

Dates: June 9, 2012

Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fee: $7 for shoulder bag materials (museum admission not included).

Decorate a shoulder bag while learning about the art and culture of the Ojibwe, a woodland people of the Great Lakes region. The cost for the shoulder bag is $7 and includes supplies needed to decorate the bag, Musuem admission is not included. Please allow an hour to make the craft. Recommended for children ages 6 and up.

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History Food Crawls: University Avenue, Frogtown and Rondo

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 9, 2012, June 23, 2012, July 7, 2012, July 21, 2012, Aug. 4, 2012, Aug. 18, 2012

Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $35; $30 MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 651-259-3015 or register online

Ride through the history, culture and cuisine of St. Paul’s most changeable district before it changes again. Explore University Avenue, a former country road, streetcar line and urban highway, and future light rail route that both divides and defines the district. Investigate Frogtown and the Hmongtown Marketplace and discover what was lost in Rondo, the city’s historic African-American neighborhood. Experience the beauty of St. Agnes Catholic Church, one of St. Paul’s architectural gems, and get to know the story of Pilgrim Baptist, home of Minnesota’s oldest black congregation. Along the way, experts from Gastro Non Grata will provide hearty samples from the neighborhood’s best purveyors of traditional smokehouse barbecue, authentic Vietnamese bahn-mi and specialty drinks and treats from Southeast Asia. The bus for the 2.5-hour tour leaves from the Minnesota History Center; some walking is involved. Food samples are included in ticket price. For more information visit http://www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/historycrawls..

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Wild Edibles - Spring

Forest History Center, Grand Rapids MN

Dates: June 9, 2012

Time: Noon to 3:30 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6 to 17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Spring brings forth a whole new season of edible forest plants. This program is a hands-on identification, gathering and cooking experience. Participants will go on a short nature walk where they'll learn how to identify edible plants and distinguish them from inedible ones. Back at the Visitor Center they will learn how to cook with the bounty they have gathered and be able to sample a variety of prepared dishes. Presented by naturalists Judy Sutherland and Bill Carpenter.

State Park Open House Day

Fort Ridgely, Fairfax MN

Dates: June 9, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: Free

Visit Fort Ridgely to see traditional Dakota dancing by Lower Sioux Community’s Lucio Family, as well as military demonstrations by the 1st MN Infantry and the New Ulm Battery. Free Admission. No park permit is required on this day.

Northern Spark Festival - Cloudy Waters: Dakota Reflections on the River

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: June 9, 2012

Time: 9 p.m. to Midnight

Fee: Free

As part of the 2012 Northern Spark Festival on June 9, Mona Smith will present a special version of "Cloudy Waters: Dakota Reflections on the River." This is a multi-media piece that depicts the Mississippi River from the perspective of the Dakota, using ambient nature sounds interwoven with Dakota voices and projections of video and still images onto the Washburn Crosby West Engine House.

Railroad History Tour

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: June 10, 2012, July 8, 2012, July 29, 2012, Aug. 12, 2012, Sept. 9, 2012

Time: 1 p.m.

Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children ages 6-17 and MHS members. Includes museum admission.

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555 or register online

Beginning with the arrival of Minnesota’s first rail line in 1862, Minneapolis boomed in population, flour milling, lumber production and warehousing as a rail network extended throughout the Upper Midwest. Take a guided tour to discover the impact of railroads on the Mill City, visiting railroad landmarks such as 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 will begin and end at Mill City Museum, where participants can visit the museum’s gallery, included in the price of the tour.

For more information visit http://www.millcitymuseum.org/tours.

19th-Century Homestead Day Camp

Historic Forestville, Preston MN

Dates: June 11, 2012, June 18, 2012, July 9, 2012, July 16, 2012, July 23, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $50, $45 for MHS members, full scholarships available.

Reservations: required, register online

Children (age 8-12) will don a shopkeeper's apron to work in a 19th century general store. They will price goods, candle eggs and compound medicines. Outdoors, they'll gather eggs and tend to the chickens. In the parlor, campers will participate in songs, music, games and storytelling from the 1800s and they will experience the aromas and activities of cooking on a wood burning stove in the kitchen. Campers should dress for outdoor activities and bring a bag lunch.

Scholarship Information: A grant from the Peyton Education Fund provides for a limited number of full scholarships. To request a scholarship prospective campers should write a brief letter describing their interest in history and why they would like to attend the camp. Please include name, address, telephone and date of camp. Mail letter to: Historic Forestville, 19th Century Homestead Camp, Scholarship Request, 21899 County 118, Preston, MN 55965. For additional information please call 507-765-2785.

Davy Crockett Summer Camp

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 13, 2012, June 14, 2012, Aug. 14, 2012, Aug. 15, 2012

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fee: $150; $140 for MHS members.

Reservations: required, register online

Davy Crockett was a living legend during the early 1800s and tales of his adventures spread across the world. During this two-day camp, campers (ages 9-12) will learn the skills Crockett and others like him used on the frontier including tracking animals, trapping and skinning furs, and much more. Space is limited to 14.

Adventures in Nature: Prairie Animals

Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, Comfrey MN

Dates: June 14, 2012, June 15, 2012, June 16, 2012, June 17, 2012, June 18, 2012, Aug. 2, 2012, Aug. 3, 2012, Aug. 4, 2012, Aug. 5, 2012, Aug. 6, 2012

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 MHS members.

Learn about the various animals that live on the prairie by examining animal pelts that will be on display 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 a.m., 1 or 3 p.m.

Offered daily at 2 p.m. "Adventures in Nature" is a hands-on series that provides opportunities to learn about American Indian culture, prairies and archaeology. A new theme will be explored each week.

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History Happy Hour: Ignatius Donnelly

Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 14, 2012

Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Fee: $20/$16 MHS members.

Reservations: required, register online

Enjoy Happy Hour at the Alexander Ramsey House. Socialize, sip and snack in the Ramsey mansion while you learn about Ignatius Donnelly, one of the most interesting characters in Minnesota history and Alexander Ramsey’s lieutenant governor in the 1860s. The always-forward-thinking Donnelly was a populist, an amateur scientist, the founder of a utopian community called Nininger and a writer of science fiction. Learn about this intriguing figure from special guest Patrick Coleman, Acquisitions Librarian for the Minnesota Historical Society and enthusiastic Donnelly expert. See copies of Donnelly’s books that include his own handwritten notes. This program is for people 21 years and older. Snacks and two drink tickets included with the price of admission.

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Traditions of the Trading Post: From Hides to Leather

North West Company Fur Post, Pine City MN

Dates: June 16, 2012, June 17, 2012, June 23, 2012, June 24, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday

Fee: $9 adults, $7 senior and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Costumed interpreters will describe how, during the fur trade, leather moccasins were essential to voyageurs, clerks and the Ojibwe. Visitors can see how Ojibwe crafters produced fine buckskin for clothing and footwear using a process called "brain-tanning." They'll also be able to scrape hair from deer hides, help stretch and soften the hides and try their hand at sewing leather. This event is part of an on-going series of demonstrations that teach visitors the methods and skills used in the early 1800s.

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Prairie Birds and Animals Day

Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, Comfrey MN

Dates: June 16, 2012

Time: 10:30 a.m. hike; 2 p.m. program

Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Discover the wonder of the birds and animals found at Jeffers Petroglyphs. Local birdwatchers will lead a hike at 10:30 a.m. pointing out common birds found on the prairie. Binoculars will be available. At 2 p.m., learn about various prairie animals by examining their pelts and making plaster animal tracks. Explore the rock carvings and learn more about the people who made them and the prairie they lived in, on a guided tour at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. or 3 p.m.

River History Walking Tour

Sibley House Historic Site, Mendota MN

Dates: June 16, 2012, July 21, 2012, Aug. 18, 2012

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 children ages 6-17; $2 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 651-452-1596

Henry Sibley was a great hunter and outdoorsman as well as fur trader and powerful politician. Join Sibley House Historic Site staff on a morning river walk (dogs welcome) and learn about the history of "the Entry," the juncture of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers, and its importance to the fur trade and development of Minnesota as a state. During the walk, dogs and their owners will also hear more about Henry Sibley's dogs, including his beloved Irish Wolfhound "Lion." Please remember bags and dog leashes.

Walks are limited to 18 participants.

Historic Main Street Walking Tour

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: June 16, 2012, July 1, 2012, Aug. 11, 2012, Sept. 15, 2012

Time: 1 p.m.

Fee: $14 adults, $12 senior citizens, $10 children ages 6-17 and MHS members. Includes museum admission.

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555 or register online

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 the 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 will begin and end at Pracna Restaurant, 117 Main Street S.E. Tours include admission to Mill City Museum.

Father's Day Weekend at the Kelley Farm

Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River MN

Dates: June 16, 2012, June 17, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 ages 6-17; fathers admitted free accompanied by a child.

Join the Kelley Farm staff as they work on typical 19th-century “fancy chores.” Help build feed boxes, repair equipment or fences and care for the livestock. In the farmhouse, fragrant sweets will be baking. Fathers are admitted free when accompanied by a child.

"Causes of the U.S.- Dakota War of 1862"

Fort Ridgely, Fairfax MN

Dates: June 16, 2012, July 14, 2012, Aug. 18, 2012

Time: 1 and 2:30 p.m.

Fee: $5 adults, $3 seniors, college students and children 6-17. State Park vehicle permit required.

Independent historian John LaBatte will examine the causes of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, including why some Dakota wanted war while others opposed it. LaBatte has both Dakota and white ancestors who were involved in the war.

Historic Mendota Walking Tour

Sibley House Historic Site, Mendota MN

Dates: June 17, 2012, July 22, 2012, Aug. 19, 2012

Time: 1 p.m.

Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 children ages 6-17; $2 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: recommended, call 651-452-1596

Take a 90-minute guided walk through historic downtown Mendota. View original landmarks in one of the oldest towns in the state, see historical photographs and hear how the town evolved from its beginning as an early 19th-century fur trading center.

Demo and book signing with Kim Ode, author of Rhubarb Renaissance

Kingfield Farmers Market, Minneapolis MN

Dates: June 17, 2012

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Fee: Free

Join Kim Ode for a demo and signing of her new book Rhubarb Renaissance. The author invites us to join her in celebrating rhubarb as one of the great flavors of horticulture. There are more than fifty creative recipes that highlight uses from savory to sweet. Notes on rhubarb’s historic medicinal uses, preservation advice, and kitchen basics including foundation recipes for roasted rhubarb set up a selection of appetizers, entrees, desserts, and breads. The book reinforces memories of grandma’s kitchen but also inspires delight in the stalk’s place at the contemporary table.

Kim Ode is a feature writer for the Star Tribune’s Source section and the author of Baking with the St. Paul Bread Club.

For more information call 612-207-7893.

Minneapolis Riverfront Tour

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: June 17, 2012, June 30, 2012, July 21, 2012, July 28, 2012, Aug. 19, 2012, Aug. 25, 2012, Sept. 16, 2012, Sept. 23, 2012

Time: 1 p.m.

Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children 6-17 and MHS members. Includes museum admission.

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555 or register online

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 begins and ends at Mill City Museum where participants can visit the museum gallery (included in the price of the tour) and enjoy refreshments at the Mill City Museum Café.

"Little House in the Big Fort" Summer Camp

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 18, 2012, June 19, 2012, June 20, 2012, June 21, 2012, July 9, 2012, July 10, 2012, July 11, 2012, July 12, 2012

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fee: $235; $220 for MHS members.

Reservations: required, register online

Experience the life described in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s "Little House" books. Campers (age 7-11) 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. This camp focuses on the first four books in the series: "Little House in the Big Woods," "Little House on the Prairie," "Farmer Boy" and "On the Banks of Plum Creek." Space is limited to 14 each week.

Discussion and book signing with Kim Ode, author of Rhubarb Renaissance

Barnes and Noble-Galleria, Edina MN

Dates: June 18, 2012

Time: 7 to 8:00 p.m.

Fee: Free

Join Kim Ode for a discussion of local ingredients with Brett Laidlaw and Beth Dooley, part of the Edesia Cookbook Review. Kim will bring rhubarb treats. Books for all authors will be available for sale and signing. For more information call 952-920-0633.

Brett Laidlaw's book is Trout Caviar: Recipes from a Northern Forager. Kim's book is titled Rhubarb Renaissance. The author invites us to join her in celebrating rhubarb as one of the great flavors of horticulture. There are more than fifty creative recipes that highlight uses from savory to sweet. Notes on rhubarb’s historic medicinal uses, preservation advice, and kitchen basics including foundation recipes for roasted rhubarb set up a selection of appetizers, entrees, desserts, and breads. The book reinforces memories of grandma’s kitchen but also inspires delight in the stalk’s place at the contemporary table.

Kim Ode is a feature writer for the Star Tribune’s Source section and the author of Baking with the St. Paul Bread Club.

Adventures in Nature: Prairie Tour

Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, Comfrey MN

Dates: June 21, 2012, June 22, 2012, June 23, 2012, June 24, 2012, June 25, 2012, July 26, 2012, July 27, 2012, July 28, 2012, July 29, 2012, July 30, 2012, Aug. 30, 2012, Aug. 31, 2012, Sept. 1, 2012, Sept. 2, 2012, Sept. 3, 2012

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 MHS members.

Join a guide on a prairie tour to discover interesting information about the prairie ecosystem while searching for grasses and flowers. Prairie tours start at 2 p.m. each day. While at the site, view the rock carvings and learn more about the people who created them. Guide petroglyph tours are offered at 10:30 a.m., 1 or 3 p.m.

Offered daily at 2 p.m. "Adventures in Nature" is a hands-on series that provides opportunities to learn about American Indian culture, prairies and archaeology. A new theme will be explored each week.

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Book signing with Rhoda Gilman, author of Stand Up!

Boneshaker Books, Minneapolis MN

Dates: June 21, 2012

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Fee: Free

Join Rhoda Gilman for a signing of her new book Stand Up!: The Story of Minnesota’s Protest Tradition. The author covers the major protest movements of the last 150 years: the abolitionist Republican party, Grangers, antimonopolists, Populists, strikers, progressives, suffragists, Communists, Farmer-Laborites, communes and co-ops, abortion politics, and more. She profiles charismatic and quirky leaders like Ignatius Donnelly, Floyd B. Olson, and Paul Wellstone. She tells a story of people repeatedly challenging the status quo. It is a narrative of people against power, of conflict and defeat, but also of change and tenacity. She also discusses the events that she herself has helped to shape and shares her vision of the future.

Rhoda Gilman is the author of Henry Hastings Sibley: Divided Heart and The Story of Minnesota’s Past. She is a founding member of Women Historians of the Midwest and a former candidate for lieutenant governor of Minnesota on the Green Party ticket.

For more information call 612-871-7110.

Be A Lumberjack Children's Day

Forest History Center, Grand Rapids MN

Dates: June 22, 2012, June 23, 2012, July 20, 2012, July 21, 2012

Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6 to 17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Special hands-on activities will capture children’s imaginations by immersing them in the lives of lumber camp workers from the early 1900s. Before heading to the camp, visitors will make small cloth bags called "turkeys" to hold their earnings (wooden nickels) in the lumber camp. Once there, they can help saw wood, count beans, wash the linens, bake cookies, stamp a log or even scoop up "road apples." Then it's time for fun with games like "prune in a spoon" races, raisin spitting, stump-jumping and more. Children can cash in their nickels in the Smoky store.

Fur Trade Rendezvous and Fete Celebration

Sibley House Historic Site, Mendota MN

Dates: June 23, 2012, June 24, 2012, June 22, 2013, June 23, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Experience an old-fashioned fur-trade rendezvous at the Sibley House Historic Site in picturesque Mendota. Once the headquarters for the American Fur Company operations in the early 1800s, the site today is a hidden gem of the Twin Cities with six of the oldest buildings in the state, including the 1836 Sibley House. The rendezvous will feature costumed reenactors, games, contests of strength and cunning and tours of the historic homes of trader Jean-Baptiste Faribault and Minnesota’s first governor, Henry Sibley. On Saturday evening enjoy French-Canadian music and dancing as we celebrate the Fete (Festival) of St. Jean-Baptiste, culminating in a bonfire. Hands-on activities and demonstrations of the skills of the fur trade will make this a unique adventure for your family.

Birchbark Basket Workshop

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia MN

Dates: June 23, 2012

Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

Fee: $30, $25 MHS members; $15 supply fee.

Reservations: required, call 320-532-3632

Learn how to store and work with birch bark in this workshop. Participants will make a basket out of their harvested bark. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. A minimum of 5 participants required to host workshop. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required by June 20. For reservations or more information call 320-532-3632 or e-mail millelacs@mnhs.org.

Children's Day at Split Rock Lighthouse

Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors MN

Dates: June 23, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students; free for ages 17 and under.

Tours geared for children highlight this popular annual event. Families can learn about the children who lived at the light station, join in special games and participate in a scavenger hunt. Free admission for ages 17 and under. For more information visit www.mnhs.org/splitrock.

Living History Day

Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, Little Falls MN

Dates: June 23, 2012, July 21, 2012, Sept. 1, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $8 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

See how tenants performed much of the work on the Lindbergh family farm a century ago, from 1901 into the 1920s. A costumed character portraying Gustav Gertz, who lived in the tenant’s house in 1917-1918, will share tales about the Lindbergh family and what it was like to be a citizen of German descent in Minnesota during World War I. Mary Hannah Stevens who lived on the Lindbergh property from 1906 to 1913 and worked the farm with her husband, will share inside stories about life in Little Falls at that time. Visitors will meet young Lindbergh’s mother Evangeline, who will welcome them into the house where they can experience everyday family life.

Civil War Family Day

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 23, 2012, Dec. 27, 2012, Dec. 26, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Fee: $5; $2 discount for MHS members.

Minnesota was the first state to volunteer men to fight for the Union Army. Visitors of all ages are invited to “join-up” at the Capitol to participate in tours and activities to find out about Minnesota’s important role in the war. Visit the Governor’s Reception Room and learn about Civil War battles and the soldiers who fought them in the huge paintings that hang on the walls. See newly conserved Civil War flags that were carried in battle and larger-than-life statues of Minnesota's war heroes in the rotunda. Sample hardtack and try on a uniform frock coat and military equipment worn by Union soldiers. Test your skills in the "Crack the Code" scavenger hunt and make your own miniature battle flag to take home.

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The First Minnesota: Portraits

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 23, 2012, June 24, 2012, June 25, 2012, June 26, 2012, June 27, 2012, June 28, 2012, June 29, 2012, June 30, 2012, July 1, 2012, July 2, 2012, July 3, 2012, July 4, 2012, July 5, 2012, July 6, 2012, July 7, 2012

Time: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday 1-4 p.m.

Fee: Free

"The First Minnesota: Portraits," a special exhibit by local artist Jay Wittenberg, will be on view in the North Corridor through July 7. In 2007, Wittenberg began painting the portraits of the soldiers who served in the First Minnesota Regiment during the Civil War. For each portrait, the artist sketched eight to ten studies before painting in oil on wood panels. He has completed more than 70 portraits to date.

Engineering the Falls: History Player William de la Barre Tour

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: June 23, 2012, July 14, 2012, Aug. 5, 2012, Sept. 8, 2012, Sept. 30, 2012

Time: 1 p.m.

Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 children ages 6-17 and MHS members. Includes museum admission.

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555 or register online

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 will begin and end at Mill City Museum, where participants can visit the museum's gallery (included in the price of the tour).

Minnesota River Steamboats

Fort Ridgely, Fairfax MN

Dates: June 23, 2012

Time: 2 p.m.

Fee: $5 adults, $3 seniors, college students and children 6-17. State Park vehicle permit required.

Minnesota State University-Mankato professor emeritus Dr. William Lass will share photographs and stories of the early travel by steamboat on the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers from St. Paul to the Lower Sioux Agency.

Demo and book signing with Kim Ode, author of Rhubarb Renaissance

CHUM Rhubarb Festival, Duluth MN

Dates: June 23, 2012

Time: Noon

Fee: Free

Join Kim Ode for a demo and signing of her new book Rhubarb Renaissance. The author invites us to join her in celebrating rhubarb as one of the great flavors of horticulture. There are more than fifty creative recipes that highlight uses from savory to sweet. Notes on rhubarb’s historic medicinal uses, preservation advice, and kitchen basics including foundation recipes for roasted rhubarb set up a selection of appetizers, entrees, desserts, and breads. The book reinforces memories of grandma’s kitchen but also inspires delight in the stalk’s place at the contemporary table.

Kim Ode is a feature writer for the Star Tribune’s Source section and the author of Baking with the St. Paul Bread Club.

For more information call 218-720-6521.

Family Riverfront Quest Tour

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: June 24, 2012, July 15, 2012, Aug. 18, 2012

Time: 1 p.m. (Bookmaking 1 to 1:30 p.m., Tour 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.)

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors, $10 ages 6-17, $7 MHS Members ages 6-17, Free for Adult and Senior MHS members

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555 or register online

Try out questing with a family-focused tour of the Minneapolis riverfront outside Mill City Museum. A Quest is a community 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 be accompanying a child.

Friends of the Upper Post WWII Biking Tour

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 24, 2012

Time: 1 p.m.

Fee: Free

This special two-hour tour will take bicyclists on a two-mile loop to the Upper Post, where many World War II-era buildings still stand. More than 300,000 members of Minnesota’s Greatest Generation began their military life at Fort Snelling from 1941-1945. There, they learned about the rigors of military life, were tested and sent to training sections across the country. Fort Snelling was also a training center for military police, railroad engineers and Japanese translators at the Military Intelligence Service Language School. The tour will begin at the Historic Fort Snelling Visitor Center, where participants will see the map of the World War II-era fort. They will then go to the Upper Post to see the old barracks, headquarters and other structures that were a part of the biggest military base in Minnesota. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Upper Post.

Be sure to bring your bike and some water.

'Once There Were Castles' with author Larry Millett

James J. Hill House, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 24, 2012

Time: 7 p.m.

Fee: Tours: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Reservations: recommended, call 651-297-2555

The first book to take an in-depth look at the history of lost mansions and estates in the Twin Cities, "Once There Were Castles" presents ninety luxurious homes that have disappeared. Organized by neighborhood and richly illustrated, the book is an absorbing read for Twin Cities residents, architecture and history buffs.

Join the author Larry Millett for a talk followed by a reception and book signing. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. An optional tour of the Hill House will be offered following the talk.

Larry Millett is an architectural historian and the author of "Lost Twin Cities," "Twin Cities Then and Now," and "AIA Guide to the Twin Cities." He has also written six mystery novels featuring Sherlock Holmes, all but one of them set in Minnesota. He lives in St. Paul.

Finishing School for Young Ladies

Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 25, 2012, June 26, 2012, June 27, 2012

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $220; $200 for MHS members

Reservations: required, register online

In today’s fast paced world the art of social graces can get lost along the way. Victorian girls, like the Ramsey granddaughters Anita and Laura Furness, were expected to attend finishing school where they learned the arts of personal interaction and good manners. In this one-of-a kind day camp, young ladies will dress up in Victorian outfits and learn about Victorian fashion, etiquette, dancing and poise – culminating with a tea on the porch and a dance recital for families. Open to girls 9-12.

Huck Finn Summer Camp

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 25, 2012, June 26, 2012, June 27, 2012, June 28, 2012, July 16, 2012, July 17, 2012, July 18, 2012, July 19, 2012, July 30, 2012, July 31, 2012, Aug. 1, 2012, Aug. 2, 2012

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fee: $235; $220 for MHS members.

Reservations: required, register online

The classic book "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" serves as the basis for this camp for the adventurous and active kid. Campers (age 9-12) 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.

Arts on the River Day Camp

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: June 26, 2012, June 27, 2012, June 28, 2012, June 29, 2012

Time: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Fee: $250; $225 for MHS members

Reservations: required, register online

Play music, get creative, bake bread and construct books while exploring the rich culture along the Minneapolis riverfront district, with a special theme this year of "neighborhood." The riverfront has been a vibrant but ever-changing neighborhood from pioneer settlement to the present. Enjoy a new experience each day at four top arts centers -- Mill City Museum, the Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Center for Book Arts and MacPhail Center for Music. Campers will start each day at Mill City Museum and will walk with camp leaders to the other nearby arts organizations. Designed for children ages 9-11.

Minnesota’s Greatest Generation Short Plays

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: June 26, 2012, June 27, 2012, June 28, 2012, June 29, 2012, July 3, 2012, July 4, 2012, July 5, 2012, July 6, 2012, July 10, 2012, July 11, 2012, July 12, 2012, July 13, 2012, July 17, 2012, July 18, 2012, July 19, 2012, July 20, 2012, July 24, 2012, July 25, 2012, July 26, 2012, July 27, 2012, July 31, 2012, Aug. 1, 2012, Aug. 2, 2012, Aug. 3, 2012, Aug. 7, 2012, Aug. 8, 2012, Aug. 9, 2012, Aug. 10, 2012, Aug. 14, 2012, Aug. 15, 2012, Aug. 16, 2012, Aug. 17, 2012

Time: 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Performed in the Minnesota’s Greatest Generation: the Depression, the War, the Boom exhibit Tuesdays through Fridays, these four short plays are based on materials from the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society. The plays will be rotated through the week:

"Swell!", by Craig Johnson, explores 1930s popular culture and daily life amidst the turmoil of the Great Depression through diary excerpts, newspaper accounts and more. "Parachute Silk," by Carson Kreitzer, looks in on a conversation between two women during World War II as they discuss love, marriage, and the waste and sacrifice of war. "The Amazing Adventures of Stuart Lindman," by Joseph Scrimshaw, is a recreation of an old radio show adventure serial detailing the life of Stuart Lindman -- radio announcer, soldier, medic, engineer, television broadcaster and civilian aide to the Secretary of Defense. "The Secret Storm," by Sheri Wilner, is about how television entered the fabric of American life: It's 1954 and watching a popular soap opera has become part of a suburban housewife’s daily routine. Or has a suburban housewife’s daily routine become a part of a popular soap opera?

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Grandparent's Day at the Kelley Farm

Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River MN

Dates: June 27, 2012, Aug. 8, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under, grandparents admitted free accompanied by a child.

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. Grandparents are admitted free when accompanied by a grandchild.

Adventures in Nature: Winter Count

Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, Comfrey MN

Dates: June 28, 2012, June 29, 2012, June 30, 2012, July 1, 2012, July 2, 2012, Aug. 9, 2012, Aug. 10, 2012, Aug. 11, 2012, Aug. 12, 2012, Aug. 13, 2012

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 MHS members.

Learn how American Indians kept track of history by recording symbols which represented 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 a.m., 1 or 3 p.m.

Offered daily at 2 p.m. "Adventures in Nature" is a hands-on series that provides opportunities to learn about American Indian culture, prairies and archaeology. A new theme will be explored each week.



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Arrowheads and Stone Tools

North West Company Fur Post, Pine City MN

Dates: June 29, 2012, June 30, 2012

Time: Noon to 4:30 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

Fee: $9 adults, $7 senior and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Learn about the skilled art of making spear points and arrowheads and how modern flint knappers keep this ancient craft alive. This annual event attracts knappers from around the country who will demonstrate their skills, the same as those used thousands of years ago to hunt wild game. Co-sponsored by the Minnesota Flint Knappers Guild.

Minnesota State Grange Picnic

Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River MN

Dates: June 30, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Oliver H. Kelley, a Minnesota farmer, organized the Grange in the 1860s to help farm families work with each other in the face of economic adversity. Today, the Grange in Minnesota is active in community service across the state. The public is invited to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the farm grounds and to meet Minnesota Grange members. In the Visitor Center they can explore an exhibit about the Grange and Kelley's role in its development. They can also learn about the many community service projects supported by current Minnesota Grange members. Refreshments will be served and horse-drawn trolley rides will be available.

The Spirit Lake Massacre of 1857

Fort Ridgely, Fairfax MN

Dates: June 30, 2012

Time: 2 p.m.

Fee: $5 adults, $3 seniors, college students and children 6-17. State Park vehicle permit required.

Author Mary Bakeman will discuss the 1857 Spirit Lake Massacre. Inkpaduta's 1857 attack on Spirit Lake, Iowa and southwest Minnesota is often cited as a cause of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. Mary will also have her Park Genealogical books for sale the day of the event.

The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Opening: June 30, 2012

Hours: Museum and Stores:

Tuesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free admission 5 to 8 p.m.); Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

Open Monday holidays year round.

Holiday Hours

Library:

Tuesday noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m. (Closed Sundays from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.)

Closed Monday, Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends, and major holidays including the day after Thanksgiving.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Learn about the darkest chapter in Minnesota history—the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862—and how it changed the state and nation forever. View the evidence: documents, images and artifacts related to the war’s causes and aftermath, plus hear the personal stories of people whose lives were torn apart.

2012 marks 150 years since the U.S.-Dakota War—a war that followed years of broken treaties and promises to the Dakota people at a time when homesteaders were pouring into Minnesota. The war was waged over six weeks in southern Minnesota in the late summer of 1862, but the war’s profound consequences are still felt today.

The exhibit incorporates multiple points of view on what happened and why and was developed in collaboration with descendants of those touched by the war. Throughout, visitors are encouraged to add their own comments and reactions.

9 Nights of Music: South Side Aces

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 3, 2012

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; dance instruction 6:30-7 p.m. Live music at 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

This year the popular free outdoor concert series "9 Nights of Music" kicks off with South Side Aces and their New Orelans Jazz.

Enjoy "9 Nights of Music" every Tuesday in July and August. The series, now in its 15th year, presents the rich and vibrant sounds of Minnesota’s multicultural community in free performances held on the terrace of the Minnesota History Center. Tapestry Folkdance Center and Uptown Swing provides dance instruction from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Live music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances will be held inside the History Center in the 3M Auditorium. For more information visit www.mnhs.org/9nights.

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Farmer's Fourth of July

Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River MN

Dates: July 4, 2012, July 4, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Celebrate the Farmer's Fourth of July at the Kelley Farm. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the lawn, watch the spring lambs prance about and take horse-drawn trolley ride along the nature trail. Visitors can also join in 19th-century games and contests including townball, the precursor to modern baseball. Enjoy the company of your family and friends along with the farm's costumed staff and celebrate the most important holiday in America in the 19th century.

Independence Day Celebration

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 4, 2012, July 4, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Spend the day celebrating our nation’s independence as people did in the early 1800s. Hear the roar of cannon salutes, listen to rousing patriotic speeches, watch a special theatrical presentation put on by the fort’s soldiers, witness a military dress parade, hear patriotic and military fife and drum music, and try your hand at historic games.

1899 Independence Day Celebration

Historic Forestville, Preston MN

Dates: July 4, 2012

Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children age 6 to 17; $1 discount for MHS members,State park vehicle permit required.

Experience Independence Day as it was celebrated in Historic Forestville in 1899. Take part in a Grand Ceremony that includes a performance by the Lutheran Summer Music Academy, a Glee Club performance and political speeches that includes a reading of the Declaration of Independence at 1 p.m. Enjoy an old-time 1860s baseball game- the Rochester Rooster's vs. the Road Stars from Wisconsin, pie and watermelon eating contests and sack and three-legged races for the kids.

We the People: The First Official Printing of the U.S. Constitution Presented by Thomson Reuters

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Closing: July 4, 2012

Hours: Museum and Stores:

Tuesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free admission 5 to 8 p.m.); Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

Open Monday holidays year round.

Holiday Hours

Library:

Tuesday noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m. (Closed Sundays from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.)

Closed Monday, Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends, and major holidays including the day after Thanksgiving.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

View the first official printing of the U.S. Constitution dated 1787 and the House version of what would become the Bill of Rights, dated 1789. These two rare documents will be on display, alongside the original editions of the two State of Minnesota Constitutions. 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.

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Grainland/Boxcar

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Closing: July 5, 2012

Hours: Museum and Stores:

Tuesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free admission 5 to 8 p.m.); Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

Open Monday holidays year round.

Holiday Hours

Library:

Tuesday noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m. (Closed Sundays from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.)

Closed Monday, Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends, and major holidays including the day after Thanksgiving.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Grainland traces the journey of wheat and corn from farm to town to grain elevator. Children will enjoy climbing through a replica grain elevator where bins and chutes are replaced with steps and slides and curving nooks and crannies to explore. They can also hop into the vintage 1900 farmer's wagon loaded with grain for market or step into an authentic Soo Line boxcar. For more information visit http://www.mnhs.org/grainland.

Home Place Minnesota

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Closing: July 5, 2012

Hours: Museum and Stores:

Tuesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free admission 5 to 8 p.m.); Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

Open Monday holidays year round.

Holiday Hours

Library:

Tuesday noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m. (Closed Sundays from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.)

Closed Monday, Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends, and major holidays including the day after Thanksgiving.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

This 20-minute multi-media presentation uses voices, images and artifacts to bring to life a range of emotions about Minnesota as a home. Listen as Minnesota voices read from diaries, poetry and memoirs while photographic images and objects from the Society's collections help create a more complete story. For more information visit http://www.mnhs.org/homeplace.

Traditions of the Trading Post: Moose to Moccasins

North West Company Fur Post, Pine City MN

Dates: July 6, 2012, July 7, 2012, July 8, 2012, July 9, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday, noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday

Fee: $9 adults, $7 senior and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

The site’s costumed interpreters will demonstrate the process of turning a full moose hide into leather moccasins. Moose were the largest animals traded in the region in the early 1800s, weighing around 1,000 pounds and standing approximately 7-feet tall at the shoulder. Because of the size and weight of the hide, the demonstration will take place in the palisade yard, where the wall will provide a steady source of support for the hide. This special activity is part of an on-going series of demonstrations that teach visitors about many of the essential skills needed in an early 1800s trading post, such as hide scrapping, sewing birch bark and making twine. Every demonstration includes a hands-on component.

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Archaeology Weekend

Sibley House Historic Site, Mendota MN

Dates: July 7, 2012, July 8, 2012

Time: 1 to 4 p.m.

Fee: $3 per child (house tours available at regular fees); $2 for MHS members.

The people who lived and worked at Henry Sibley's early-19th century fur-trading post are long gone, but the archaeological record found at the site provides detailed information about those who lived there - what they wore, what they ate and what they did in their free time. In this popular annual activity, children will work with site staff in simulated dig boxes to find and identify artifacts from the site. They can dig into the dirt, operate the sifter and take turns sorting the finds and trying to put broken pieces back together. Children should wear clothes they can get dirty and bring extra pails, gloves and shovels.

Capitol Civil War Tour

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 7, 2012, Nov. 24, 2012

Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $8 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6 to 17; $2 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 651-296-2881

Discover the role Minnesota had in the Civil War and why the Capitol is decorated and memorialized with Civil War artifacts, paintings and memorials. A visitor will be dressed and outfitted as a new recruit with reproduction accoutrements typically worn by Union soldiers. During the tour, the group will learn about the current efforts to conserve Civil War battle flags in the Minnesota Historical Society's collections and see statues of famous officers from the state. A reproduction cavalry shell jacket worn by Gov. Knute Nelson as a young soldier will be on display. Nelson was one of six state governors who saw action in the Civil War.

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The WPA and Minnesota's Greatest Generation

Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, Little Falls MN

Dates: July 7, 2012

Time: Noon to 5 p.m.; program at 1 p.m.

Fee: $8 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, President Roosevelt’s New Deal included many programs designed to get America back to work. The Works Projects Administration, or WPA, had a large presence in Little Falls, specifically at the boyhood home of famous aviator Charles A. Lindbergh. Throughout this special day, visitors will learn more about the New Deal and its impact at both the historic site and Lindbergh State Park. Visitors will see living history demonstrations of WPA workers and their projects, take a guided walking tour that highlights original WPA buildings and view 1930s New Deal films in the Visitor Center theater. Site manager Charles Pautler will give a presentation on WPA projects in Little Falls at 1 p.m.

As a part of this event, visitors are invited to share their memories of the Great Depression with site staff as part of an oral history project and contribute to a “memory book” by writing down their stories. Tours of the home will also be available, and visitors can view a special museum exhibit on the WPA and its role at Lindbergh Park in the Lindbergh House gallery.

Kids Crafts: Bead a Ring

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia MN

Dates: July 7, 2012

Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fee: $3 per bead kit (does not include museum admission).

Learn a basic stringing technique while beading a ring to take home. The cost for the beaded ring kit is $3 and includes materials for the ring and an instructional handout. Please allow an hour to make the ring. This project is recommended for children age 8 and up.

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Early Hunting Tools

Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, Comfrey MN

Dates: July 7, 2012

Time: 1 to 5 p.m.

Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Experience what it was like to be a hunter 5,000 years ago. From 1-3 p.m. make your own atlatl (spearthrower) and then learn how to use it to throw a spear at our bison target. From 3-5 p.m. a flintknapper will demonstrate the process of creating stone projectile points (arrowheads) and then visitors can make their own. A collection of atlatls will be on display throughout the day. While at the site, visitors also can view the rock carvings and learn more about the people who created them on guided tours at 10:30 a.m. or 1 or 3 p.m.

Ramsey House History Detectives Camp

Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 9, 2012, July 10, 2012, July 11, 2012

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $210/$190 MHS Members

Reservations: required, register online

Become a super-sleuth and use clues to solve a mystery at the Ramsey House. During this 3-day camp, kids will explore primary source materials like the Ramsey House itself, artifacts inside the home, letters, journals and recipes. Campers will comb through the evidence to reveal the mystery. A new mystery will be presented each day. At the end of camp, each child will be certified a Ramsey House History Detective. For boys and girls ages 11-13.

Seniors in Mind: Woody Guthrie Reflected

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 10, 2012

Time: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Fee: Free. Does not include $9 senior admission to History Center Museum.

Reservations: required, call 651-259-3015 or register online

Minnesota folkies Pop Wagner, Charlie Maguire and bluesman Tony Glover present a 100th birthday musical tribute to Woody Guthrie inspired by the vibrant paintings in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's "1934: A New Deal for Artists" currently on display at the History Center. In the mid-1930s the New Deal increasingly focused on the common people—the Americans with whom Guthrie most identified and through his music he became a spokesman for the oppressed and victims of the Great Depression. For more information visit http://www.mnhs.org/seniorsinmind.

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9 Nights of Music: Jumbo Ya Ya

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 10, 2012

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; dance instruction 6:30-7 p.m. Live music at 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

The History Center's popular outdoor music concert series continues with Jumbo Ya Ya, a band that plays zydeco, blues and swamp pop.

9 Nights of Music continues every Tuesday through Aug. 30. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Live music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances will be held inside the History Center in the 3M Auditorium. For more information visit www.mnhs.org/9nights.

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History Pub Crawls: Downtown Low-Down

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 11, 2012, July 18, 2012, July 25, 2012, Aug. 1, 2012

Time: 7 to 9 p.m. (trolley departs at 7 p.m.)

Fee: $25, $20 MHS members.

Reservations: recommended, call 651-259-3015 or register online

Explore downtown St. Paul’s winding journey from sleepy riverside trading center to bustling turn-of-the century power hub, where influential politicians, literary greats, business moguls, and artistic impresarios rubbed shoulders and made the city run. Enjoy drinks at some of downtown’s finest pubs along the way! A trolley will take participants to the various watering holes. Ages 21 and up only. Drink purchases are not included in the tour price. For more information visit http://www.mnhs.org/pubcrawls.

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State Capitol Civil War History Camp

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 12, 2012

Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $60, $50 for MHS members

Reservations: required, register online

Campers (age 9-12) will explore the role Minnesota played in the Civil War. They will hear from a costumed character playing a Civil War veteran, learn about equipment and uniforms worn by soldiers, take on the role of a soldier and write a letter home, create a newspaper front page, make a map of the battles, go on a scavenger hunt to crack a Confederate code and play a game of cat and mouse on the Capitol lawn. Campers will also tour the Capitol and examine historic battle paintings and newly conserved battle flags on display. Campers should bring their own bag lunch. Morning and afternoon snacks will be provided.

Mill City Summer Opera: Pagliacci

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: July 12, 2012, July 14, 2012, July 15, 2012, July 18, 2012, July 20, 2012

Time: 8 p.m.

Fee: $22-$40 (discount for MHS members)

The region’s only outdoor summer opera will debut in the museum’s Ruin Courtyard in July with a five-day run of Pagliacci (The Clowns). The nationally reknowned cast is led by Richard Crawley (Canio, tenor), Markus Beam (Silvio, baritone), Jill Gardner (Nedda, soprano), Andy Wilkowske (Tonio, baritone) and Eric Morris (Beppe, tenor). David Lefkowich is the Artistic Director and Brian DeMaris is the Music Director. The chorus will include students from the University of Minnesota School of Music.

The Mill City Summer Opera's version of Pagliacci by Leoncavallo, will be set at the time of the Washburn A Mill's explosion in 1878 that killed 18 mill workers. Costumes and sets will reflect the history of the Washburn A Mill (now Mill City Museum), its' workers lost in the tragedy and the importance of flour milling at that time to the development of Minneapolis as city.

Tickets available online or by calling 612-341-7582. Tickets include museum admission on the day of the performance until 7:30 pm. Limit of six (6) tickets per customer. For wheelchair accessible seats, please call 612-341-7555 for best sightlines and ease of access.

In the event of rain, performances will move inside. Food and beverage will be available for purchase by D’Amico Catering.

For more information visit http://www.millcitysummeropera.org.

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"Archaeology for Kids" One-Day Camp

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 14, 2012, Aug. 11, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $65; $60 for MHS members.

Reservations: required, register online

Children (age 10-14) are invited to 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.

History Architecture Crawls: University Grove Home Tour

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 14, 2012

Time: 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m.

Fee: $35, $30 for MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 651-259-3015 or register online

A unique neighborhood set aside for University of Minnesota faculty and staff, University Grove is a collection of early and mid-20th century architect-designed homes that has been recognized as an “architectural time capsule” of modern America by The New York Times. Enjoy a tour of the exteriors and a rare glimpse at the interiors of selected homes representing the work of such regional architectural giants as Edwin Lundie, Close Architects and Ralph Rapson. The trolley tour begins and ends at the History Center and includes refreshments and a brief architectural lecture by Minnesota Historical Society staff. Presented in partnership with the University Grove Neighborhood Association.

Please note: tour participants must sign a waiver to absolve University Grove residents of any liability associated with your visit to their private, non ADA compliant homes. Please contact our ticketing office in advance if you anticipate physical challenges posed by some stair climbing (1-2 flights) and walking (1-2 blocks), so that tour coordinators can provide reasonable accommodations. For more information visit http://www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/historycrawls.

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The Great Minnesota Pie Extravaganza

Forest History Center, Grand Rapids MN

Dates: July 14, 2012

Time: Noon. to 3 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6 to 17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Pie has a special place in American culture. Logging camp cooks served pie at almost every meal. Today friends and neighbors get together over a piece of pie and coffee to catch up on the news and to share in each other’s lives. The Great Minnesota Pie Extravaganza celebrates the pie as a piece of American culture and folklore. Participants learn about the history of pies, share recipes and sample many different kinds of pies.

The Sacred Harp Singers

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 15, 2012

Time: 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Shape note singing is a 200-year-old American a cappela tradition that includes hymns, anthems and gospel songs. Join the Sacred Harp singers as they bring this American tradition to life for this special folk music performance. Music books will be available for those who wish to join in the singing.

This event is co-sponsored by the Twin Cities Shape Note Singers.

Finishing School for Young Ladies

Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 16, 2012, July 17, 2012, July 18, 2012

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $220; $200 for MHS members

Reservations: required, register online

In today’s fast paced world the art of social graces can get lost along the way. Victorian girls, like the Ramsey granddaughters Anita and Laura Furness, were expected to attend finishing school where they learned the arts of personal interaction and good manners. In this one-of-a kind day camp, young ladies will dress up in Victorian outfits and learn about Victorian fashion, etiquette, dancing and poise – culminating with a tea on the porch and a dance recital for families. Open to girls 9-12.

9 Nights of Music: Surf Dawgs with Zip Kaplan

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 17, 2012

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; dance instruction 6:30-7 p.m. Live music at 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

The History Center's popular outdoor music concert series continues with the Surf Dawgs with Zip Kaplan and their classic surf music. Beachwear is encouraged. Enter the Hawaiian shirt contest and cool off with blow-up pools and water toys. Bring a towel!

9 Nights of Music continues every Tuesday through Aug. 30. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Live music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances will be held inside the History Center in the 3M Auditorium. For more information visit www.mnhs.org/9nights.

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Children's Day at the Kelley Farm

Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River MN

Dates: July 18, 2012, Aug. 16, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Join in the chores that children did on farms more than 100 years ago, when families worked together and everyone made a huge contribution to the welfare of the family. Children can challenge siblings or parents to see who can load the most hay into the wagon pulled by the oxen, Toby and Colter, and then unload it into the barn. See who can get the laundry the cleanest on a scrub board or who can haul the most baskets of weeds out of the garden.

Mni Sota Makoce/Minnesota: The U.S. Dakota War and the Making of Minnesota

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 18, 2012

Time: 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

Reservations: recommended, register online

Explore how the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 forever transformed the land the Dakota call Mni Sota Makoce into the State of Minnesota with historian Mary Lethert Wingerd.

Wingerd will discuss how before there was a place called Minnesota there was Mni Sota Makoce, the homelands of the Dakota Indians. Between 1700 and 1862, Mni Sota Makoce was the center of a racially mixed society of Dakota, Ojibwe, Winnebago, Europeans and Americans, bound together by two centuries of intermarriage, kinship and trade.

A changing global economy, American expansion, massive corruption among federal officials working with the Dakota, and a series of broken and dishonestly brokered treaties wore at those bonds, slowly dissolving the society that had existed here for 200 years. Simmering tensions built between white settlers and the increasingly marginalized Dakota until they exploded in the summer of 1862.

The violent, six-week-long U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 killed hundreds, left numerous Minnesotans orphaned, widowed and displaced, led to the hanging of thirty-eight Dakota men in Mankato, the deadly internment of 1,600 Dakota (mostly women, children and the elderly) at Fort Snelling, and the expulsion of thousands of Dakota people from their homelands. It also laid the foundation for what we know and recognize today as Minnesota.

Mary Lethert Wingerd is associate professor of history at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and the 2012 winner of the first bi-annual Hognander Minnesota History Award for her book "North Country: The Making of Minnesota."

State Capitol Art History Camp

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 19, 2012

Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $60, $50 for MHS members

Reservations: required, register online

Campers (age 9-12) will learn about the unique artwork in the State Capitol and on the Capitol Mall through tours and a variety of hands-on activities. They will have the opportunity to create a new memorial for the Capitol Mall in clay and present their design ideas to the group, create a color wheel, pose for a Governor's portrait and design a Capitol-themed tee-shirt to take home. Limit 20.

Capitol Art and Artists Tour

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 21, 2012

Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $8 seniors and college students, $6 ages 6-17; $2 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 651-296-2881

See the grand murals, powerful sculptures, exquisite decorations and restored Rathskeller Cafe and view works by artists Kenyon Cox, Edwin Blashfield, John LaFarge, Elmer Garnsey and others. Hear stories about the artists, learn about the muralist movement in America (1890s-1910), which used allegory and symbolism in public building artwork, and see how the art, architecture and overall decorative plan harmonize to make the Capitol one of the premier public buildings in the United States.

Friends of the Upper Post WWII Walking Tours

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 22, 2012, Aug. 19, 2012, Sept. 16, 2012

Time: 1 p.m.

Fee: Free

This special 2-hour tour will take visitors on a 2-mile loop to the Upper Post, where many World War II-era buildings still stand. More than 300,000 members of Minnesota’s Greatest Generation began their military life at Fort Snelling from 1941-1945. There, they learned about the rigors of military life, were tested and sent to training sections across the country. Fort Snelling was also a training center for military police, railroad engineers and Japanese translators at the Military Intelligence Service Language School. The tour will begin at the Historic Fort Snelling Visitor Center, where participants will see the map of the World War II-era fort. They will then walk to the Upper Post to see the old barracks, headquarters and other structures that were a part of the biggest military base in Minnesota. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Fort Snelling.

Growing Strong: How Farmers Markets Nourish People, Communities and the Planet

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Closing: July 22, 2012

Hours: Open year round Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Also open Mondays in July and August: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Closed Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Fee: Programs included with museum admission of $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for MHS members.

This exhibit celebrates the many ways that farmers markets serve Minnesota communities. While supporting renewed interest in sustainable farming and local food, this exhibit shows that farmers markets help fill a growing desire to make our communities more connected, livable and vibrant. Through a combination of photomurals and first-person storytelling, visitors will explore the importance of farmers markets both now and throughout history.

"Growing Strong" was created by North Node Consulting in partnership with Avant Garden Photography, Kidzibits, Renewing the Countryside, and Hello Industries.

The exhibit is located in the museum’s central Mill Commons, and is free and open to the public during regular museum hours

"Little House in the Big Fort" Summer Camp

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 23, 2012, July 24, 2012, July 25, 2012, July 26, 2012, Aug. 6, 2012, Aug. 7, 2012, Aug. 8, 2012, Aug. 9, 2012

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fee: $235; $220 for MHS members

Reservations: required, register online

Experience the life described in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s "Little House" books. Campers (age 7-11) 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. This camp focuses on the second four of the books in the series: "By the Shores of Silver Lake," "The Long Winter," "Little Town on the Prairie" and "These Happy Golden Years." Space is limited to 14 each week.

The Way We Were: A GCA Flower Show

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 24, 2012, July 25, 2012

Time: Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Fee: Flower show is free, does not include admission to History Center galleries.

Celebrate summer's bounty by visiting the Garden Club of America flower show sponsored by the St. Paul Garden Club. Enter a category or come as a visitor. Classes include Floral Design, Horticulture, Photography and Botanical Art. Flower shows set standards of artistic and horticultural excellence, broaden knowledge of horticulture, flower arrangement, conservation, and other related areas and share the beauty of a show with fellow club members and the public. For more information visit http://www.spgcflowershow.org.

9 Nights of Music: Moonlight Serenaders with Lee Engele

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 24, 2012

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; dance instruction 6:30-7 p.m. Live music at 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

The History Center's popular outdoor music concert series continues with swing band Moonlight Serenaders with Lee Engele.

9 Nights of Music continues every Tuesday through Aug. 30. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Live music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances will be held inside the History Center in the 3M Auditorium. For more information visit www.mnhs.org/9nights.

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We Are Still Here: Minnesota is a Dakota Place

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 25, 2012

Time: 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

Reservations: recommended, register online

Chaska, Mankato, Wabasha, Shakopee, Winona. For many, Minnesota is a Dakota place. The language of the Dakota people marks this land, the Dakota homeland of Mni Sota Makoce, as it has for generations. Join Dakota artist, poet and scholar Gwen Westerman as she shares her perspective on the modern Dakota people and their special place in Minnesota on the eve of the sesquicentennial of the tragic and transformative U.S.-Dakota War.

History Happy Hour: Irvine Park and West 7th

Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 26, 2012

Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Fee: $20/$16 MHS Members

Reservations: required, register online

Enjoy Happy Hour at the Alexander Ramsey House. Socialize, sip and snack in the Ramsey mansion while you learn about the history of the Irvine Park and West 7th neighborhood. Special guest Andy Sturdevant (artist, arts administrator and writer) will talk about the history of this fascinating neighborhood and what he learned and saw while preparing an entry for his weekly MinnPost column "The Stroll." Inspect artifacts that belonged to the Ramsey family and their influential neighbors. Explore the historic neighborhood afterward with renewed appreciation. This program is for people 21 years and older. Snacks and two drink tickets included with the price of admission.

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Butterflies Discovery Day

Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, Comfrey MN

Dates: July 28, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Enjoy free admission on this special day for exploring the extraordinary world of butterflies. Hands-on activities and displays will help visitors learn about the butterfly life cycle, then they can join in a butterfly hunt at 2 p.m. Take part in a guided tour of the carvings at 10:30 a.m. 1 p.m. or 3 p.m.

Fife and Drum One-Day Camp

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 28, 2012

Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

Fee: $50; $45 for MHS members.

Reservations: required, register online

Calling all fife and drummers, sign-up for an afternoon of music and fun. Campers will be issued instruments including tin whistles, which they can take home, and drums that they will use while learning to play military music from the 1800s. The afternoon ends with a special performance in the Historic Fort. No musical experience is necessary. Designed for ages 10-14. Space is limited to 10 per camp.

Beading 101 Workshop

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia MN

Dates: July 28, 2012, July 29, 2012

Time: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday

Fee: $60, $55 for MHS members; $15 additional supply fee.

Reservations: required, call 320-532-3632

Learn basic beading styles and techniques in this two-day workshop. Necklaces and bracelets are examples of items that can be created. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided both days. Ages 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Discounted hotel rooms are available for workshop participants on Saturday night at Grand Casino Mille Lacs. A minimum of 5 participants is required to host the workshop. Registration is required by July 25.

Film Documentary: "Reel Injun"

Fort Ridgely, Fairfax MN

Dates: July 28, 2012

Time: 2 p.m.

Fee: $5 adults, $3 seniors, college students and children 6-17. State Park vehicle permit required.

This documentary film by Neil Diamond, Cree filmmaker explores the portrayal of North American Natives through 100 years of cinema. Neil will look at the myth of “the Injun” and how it has influenced the world’s understanding and misunderstanding of Natives. "Reel Injun" takes an entertaining and insightful look at the Hollywood Indian and traces the evolution of cinema’s depiction of the Native people from the silent film era to today.

9 Nights of Music: Tropical Zone Orchestra

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 31, 2012

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; dance instruction 6:30-7 p.m. Live music at 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

The History Center's popular outdoor music concert series continues with the Brazilian sounds of Tropical Zone Orchestra.

9 Nights of Music continues every Tuesday through Aug. 30. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Live music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances will be held inside the History Center in the 3M Auditorium. For more information visit www.mnhs.org/9nights.

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Commemorating Controversy: The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: Aug. 1, 2012, Aug. 2, 2012, Aug. 3, 2012, Aug. 4, 2012, Aug. 5, 2012, Aug. 7, 2012, Aug. 8, 2012, Aug. 9, 2012, Aug. 10, 2012, Aug. 11, 2012, Aug. 12, 2012, Aug. 14, 2012, Aug. 15, 2012, Aug. 16, 2012, Aug. 17, 2012, Aug. 18, 2012, Aug. 19, 2012, Aug. 21, 2012, Aug. 22, 2012, Aug. 23, 2012, Aug. 24, 2012, Aug. 25, 2012, Aug. 26, 2012, Aug. 28, 2012, Aug. 29, 2012, Aug. 30, 2012, Aug. 31, 2012, Sept. 1, 2012, Sept. 2, 2012, Sept. 3, 2012, Sept. 4, 2012, Sept. 5, 2012, Sept. 6, 2012, Sept. 7, 2012, Sept. 10, 2012, Sept. 11, 2012, Sept. 12, 2012, Sept. 13, 2012, Sept. 14, 2012, Sept. 17, 2012, Sept. 18, 2012, Sept. 19, 2012, Sept. 20, 2012, Sept. 21, 2012, Sept. 24, 2012, Sept. 25, 2012, Sept. 26, 2012, Sept. 27, 2012, Sept. 28, 2012, Sept. 29, 2012

Time: August: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. September: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday

Fee: Free

This exhibit explores the causes, voices, events and long-lasting consequences of the U.S.—Dakota War of 1862. It was produced by Gustavus Adolphus College students in conjunction with the Nicollet County Historical Society. The project was funded by Gustavus Adolphus College, Nicollet County Historical Society, Minnesota Historical Society and the people of Minnesota through a grant funded by an appropriation to the Minnesota Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

DE UNKIYEPI, We Are Here

All My Relations Gallery, Minneapolis MN

Dates: Aug. 3, 2012, Aug. 4, 2012, Aug. 5, 2012, Aug. 7, 2012, Aug. 8, 2012, Aug. 9, 2012, Aug. 10, 2012, Aug. 11, 2012, Aug. 12, 2012, Aug. 14, 2012, Aug. 15, 2012, Aug. 16, 2012, Aug. 17, 2012, Aug. 18, 2012, Aug. 19, 2012, Aug. 21, 2012, Aug. 22, 2012, Aug. 23, 2012, Aug. 24, 2012, Aug. 25, 2012, Aug. 26, 2012, Aug. 28, 2012, Aug. 29, 2012, Aug. 30, 2012, Aug. 31, 2012, Sept. 1, 2012, Sept. 2, 2012, Sept. 4, 2012, Sept. 5, 2012, Sept. 6, 2012, Sept. 7, 2012, Sept. 8, 2012, Sept. 9, 2012, Sept. 11, 2012, Sept. 12, 2012, Sept. 13, 2012, Sept. 14, 2012, Sept. 15, 2012, Sept. 16, 2012, Sept. 18, 2012, Sept. 19, 2012, Sept. 20, 2012, Sept. 21, 2012, Sept. 22, 2012, Sept. 23, 2012, Sept. 25, 2012, Sept. 26, 2012, Sept. 27, 2012, Sept. 28, 2012

Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Fee: Free

An exhibition of contemporary American Indian artists responding to the anniversary of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. After All My Relations Gallery the exhibit will move to the James J. Hill House, Oct. 13, 2012-Jan. 13, 2013. This exhibit is sponsored by the Native American Community Development Institute and the Minnesota Historical Society. It is made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008 and by a grant from the Grotto Foundation.

Children's Day at the Lindbergh House

Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, Little Falls MN

Dates: Aug. 4, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $8 adults, $7 seniors and college students; free for children age 17 and under and MHS members.

As a boy Charles Lindbergh played on his family's farm, learning about the natural environment and the way farm machinery worked. This play influenced his goals. He dreamed of one day flying an airplane and, in 1927, became the first person to fly non-stop from New York to Paris. Enjoy children’s games and activities from the beginning of the 20th century, and see for yourself what influenced Lindbergh’s life and provided a vehicle for his accomplishments. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. guest artist David Geister will lead a paper plate painting workshop. Children can try recreating the birds, flowers and bees that were found on plates and bowls of the period. Families can tour Lindbergh’s boyhood home and experience a variety of hands-on exhibits in the Visitor Center, including sitting in the replica cockpit of the “Spirit of St. Louis.”

Traditions of the Trading Post: Cattail Mats

North West Company Fur Post, Pine City MN

Dates: Aug. 4, 2012, Aug. 5, 2012, Aug. 11, 2012, Aug. 12, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays; noon to 4:30 p.m. Sundays

Fee: $9 adults, $7 senior and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

The Ojibwe often used cattails mats to cover their wigwams. These mats shed rain and snow, blocked the wind, kept the heat in and provided waterproofing for everything inside. Watch as crafters weave, tie and sew cattail leaves and stems into wall coverings, floor mats, rolled mattresses, pillows and food trays.

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Kids Crafts: Make a "God's Eye"

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia MN

Dates: Aug. 4, 2012

Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fee: $4 per kit (does not include museum admission).

Come by the Mille Lacs Indian Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and learn how to weave a "God’s Eye" to take home. The decorative designs are used on ceremonial shields of American Indian tribes of the southwestern United State. Participants will receive an instructional handout and materials to make the craft item. Please allow an hour for the activity. This project is recommended for children ages 8 and up. Cost for kit does not include admission to museum.

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The Christian Dakota

Fort Ridgely, Fairfax MN

Dates: Aug. 4, 2012

Time: 1 and 2:30 p.m.

Fee: $5 adults, $3 seniors, college students and children 6-17. State Park vehicle permit required.

Independent Historian John LaBatte talks about missionaries among the Dakota, their influence and the experiences of Christian Dakota in 1862.

Women’s Work: History Player Eva Valesh Tour

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: Aug. 4, 2012, Sept. 2, 2012

Time: 1 p.m.

Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 ages 6-17 and MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555 or register online

A costumed actor portraying labor writer Eva Valesh will lead a walking tour highlighting the factories whose working conditions were exposed by Valesh in series of newspaper articles in 1888 and 1889. Jobs available to women in the 19th and early-20th century and some of the key events in women’s labor history in Minneapolis will be discussed. Valesh was a labor writer and orator who was also known by the pen name Eva Gay. Among the riverfront factories singled out by "Eva Gay" was the North Star Woolen Mill, still standing two blocks from Mill City Museum. Valesh served as labor editor for the Saint Paul Globe and the Minneapolis Tribune. She went on to national acclaim, working for Samuel Gompers as Assistant Editor of the American Federationist.

52nd Birthday Celebration

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia MN

Dates: Aug. 7, 2012

Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $8 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Come and visit the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post and help celebrate the historic site's 52nd Birthday. Cupcakes and refreshments will be provided. Explore the exhibits including the popular Four Seasons Room with life-size dioramas then head next door to shop for Ojibwe arts and crafts at the Trading Post. As part of the celebration there will be 10-percent off purchases for the day.

9 Nights of Music: Voices of Sepharad

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Aug. 7, 2012

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; dance instruction 6:30-7 p.m. Live music at 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

The History Center's popular outdoor music concert series continues with Jewish music of the Mediterranean from Voices of Sepharad. This concert is co-hosted by the St. Paul Jewish Community Center with support from the Rose and Clarence Siegel Jewish Cultural Series Fund.

9 Nights of Music continues every Tuesday through Aug. 30. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Live music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances will be held inside the History Center in the 3M Auditorium.

For more information visit www.mnhs.org/9nights.

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History Pub Crawls: Summit Hill Special

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Aug. 8, 2012, Aug. 15, 2012, Aug. 22, 2012, Aug. 29, 2012

Time: 7 to 9 p.m. (trolley departs at 7 p.m.)

Fee: $25, $20 MHS members.

Bask in the Victorian grace of St. Paul’s Summit Hill, and discover the stories and people behind the epic rise, fall and rise again, of one of the city’s most fashionable historical address. Follow the path of the old streetcars past 19th-century homes, luxury hotels and the former haunts of F. Scott Fitgerald, and enjoy stops at two of the best hilltop bar spots along the way. Ages 21 and up only. Drink purchases are not included in the tour price.

For more information visit http://www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/pubcrawls.

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Mill City Live: Davina and the Vagabonds

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: Aug. 8, 2012

Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Fee: $5, includes museum admission from 4 to 9 p.m.

Set in the museum's dramatic open air Ruin Courtyard, Mill City Live features four evenings of outdoor music every Wednesday night from August 8 through 29.

This year’s lineup kicks-off with Davina and the Vagabonds, a band known for their high energy stage performances and their genre-busting mix of jazz, blues and roots music. Led by Florida transplant Davina Sower’s powerful and evocative voice this guitar-less, horn-heavy band has the ability to make any crowd happy. Their latest CD "Black Cloud" was chosen by Star Tribune's Jon Bream as "the best local album of 2011, and one of the best in years."

Visit Mill City Museum before or after the show, the $5 concert fee includes admission to the museum from 4 to 9 p.m. Food and drink is available for purchase by D’Amico Catering.

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9 Nights of Music: Paul Metsa and Cats Under the Stars

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Aug. 14, 2012

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; dance instruction 6:30-7 p.m. Live music at 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

The History Center's popular outdoor music concert series continues with Paul Metsa and Cats Under the Stars. This band plays rock n'roll, New Orelans jazz and country n' blues.

9 Nights of Music continues every Tuesday through Aug. 30. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Live music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances will be held inside the History Center in the 3M Auditorium. For more information visit www.mnhs.org/9nights.

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Mill City Live: Melismatics

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: Aug. 15, 2012

Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Fee: $5, includes museum admission from 4 to 9 p.m.

Set in the museum's dramatic open air Ruin Courtyard, Mill City Live features four evenings of outdoor music every Wednesday night from August 8 through 29.

The Melismatics have been winning fans with their live shows since they released their debut album "Postmodern Rock" nearly a decade ago. Their 2012 release "MANIA!" was produced by Jon Auer of The Posies and Big Star, along with Ed Ackerson (Motion City Soundtrack, Golden Smog, The Replacements) and was mixed by John Fields (Jimmy Eat World, Rooney, Har Mar Superstar, etc). Grammy-winning songwriter Dan Wilson co-wrote one of the tracks.

Visit Mill City Museum before or after the show, the $5 concert fee includes admission to the museum from 4 to 9 p.m. Food and drink is available for purchase by D’Amico Catering.

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Children's Day at the Fur Post

North West Company Fur Post, Pine City MN

Dates: Aug. 18, 2012, Aug. 19, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4:30 Sunday

Fee: $9 adults, $7 senior and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Families are invited to experience exciting, educational and kid-friendly activities that showcase the life and times of voyageurs and fur traders. Children and adults can interact with costumed interpreters and participate in hands-on activities to learn the value of trade goods and pelts, canoe routes traveled by traders, and the roles of the different cultural groups who came together in the fur trade. The authentically reconstructed 1804 trading post will engage the entire family through interactive displays and demonstrations, such as open hearth cooking and traditional Ojibwe crafts.

Wild Edibles - Summer

Forest History Center, Grand Rapids MN

Dates: Aug. 18, 2012

Time: Noon to 3:30 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6 to 17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Minnesota forests yield a bountiful harvest if you know what to look for. Visit the Forest History Center for a late summer foray into the forest in search of berries and other edible plants. Learn what to harvest and what to avoid. There will be an opportunity to sample nature’s delicacies and to learn the cook’s secret recipes. Presented by naturalists Judy Sutherland and Bill Carpenter.

Pickle It Day

Historic Forestville, Preston MN

Dates: Aug. 18, 2012

Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members. State park vehicle permit required.

Assist the gardener in picking the fattest, plumpest and most beautiful garden vegetables including peppers, cucumbers, beets, onions, cabbage and other heirloom varieties, all traditionally found in Thomas Meighen’s garden. Then head inside the kitchen to see how the vegetables are cleaned and processed using 19th-century pickling methods for food preservation.

Civil War Weekend: Minnesota in 1862

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: Aug. 18, 2012, Aug. 19, 2012, Aug. 17, 2013, Aug. 18, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Travel back to the 1860s and experience life at the frontier fort during the Civil War. Meet costumed staff and Civil War reenactors as they perform military drills and cannon firings. View equipment and weapons displays, learn about Fort Snelling's role in the national debate over slavery during the 1800s and explore the complex history of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.

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Architecture Tour of the State Capitol

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul MN

Dates: Aug. 18, 2012

Time: 1-2:30 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $8 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6 to 17; $2 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 651-296-2881

Take a 90-minute guided tour of one of the grandest and most architecturally appealing public buildings in the United States. Along the way, learn about the Capitol's renowned architect, Cass Gilbert, and building features of this Beaux-Arts styled masterpiece. The tour will include stops in the legislative chambers, rotunda, and a special rooftop visit to see stunning views of the city and a close-up look at the Quadriga ("golden horses") weather permitting. Visitors can also see a cut-away drawing of the unique dome system and photographs documenting the 1898-1905 construction of the building. Books on the life and career of Cass Gilbert will be available for purchase at the Information Desk.

Celebrate the Garden Harvest

Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, Comfrey MN

Dates: Aug. 18, 2012

Time: 1 to 5 p.m.

Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Step back in time with a visit to see the ancient rock carvings at Jeffers Petroglyphs. On this special day, visitors can also see an ongoing food demonstration of a Minnesota diet from 1,000 years ago. Guided tours of the rock carvings are offered at 10:30 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.

Free Open House at Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia MN

Dates: Aug. 19, 2012

Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: Free

Explore the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post during the annual Open House. The historic site will be open for special Sunday hours and will offer free admission. Learn about Ojibwe culture through exhibits and activites. Then head next door to the Trading Post where locally made art and crafts are available for purchase.

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post Fun Run

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia MN

Dates: Aug. 19, 2012

Time: 9 to 11 a.m.

Fee: Free

In conjunction with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's Annual Pow-Wow the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post will be holding a fun run on Sunday, Aug. 19 beginning at 9 a.m. Head to the Pow-Wow grounds where you can join museum staff and community members in this annual free event. Interested participants will need to register for the walk. Please note this will not take place at the Mille Lacs Indian Museum. Call 320-532-3632 for more information.

"Little House in the Big Fort" Two-Day Camp

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: Aug. 21, 2012, Aug. 22, 2012

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fee: $150 / $140 MHS members

Reservations: required, register online

Experience the life described in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series books. Campers (age 7-11) will sing the songs, play the games and make the food and crafts that Wilder did while growing up in the 19th century. This special two-day camp focuses on activities from the first four books in the Little House series. Space is limited to 14.

9 Nights of Music: Ross Sutter and Friends

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Aug. 21, 2012

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; dance instruction 6:30-7 p.m. Live music at 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

The History Center's popular outdoor music concert series continues with the Swedish sounds of Ross Sutter and Friends.

9 Nights of Music continues every Tuesday through Aug. 30. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Live music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances will be held inside the History Center in the 3M Auditorium. For more information visit www.mnhs.org/9nights.

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Mill City Live: Roe Family Singers

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: Aug. 22, 2012

Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Fee: $5, includes museum admission from 4 to 9 p.m.

Set in the museum's dramatic open air Ruin Courtyard, Mill City Live features four evenings of outdoor music every Wednesday night from August 8 through 29.

The Roe Family Singers hail from Kirkwood Hollow, Minnesota and are led by wife and husband team Kim Roe (Best Female Vocalist, City Pages/Village Voice) and Quillan Roe (Accident Clearinghouse.) The band blends characteristic old-time hillbilly sound with rock and roll urgency and influence.

Visit Mill City Museum before or after the show, the $5 concert fee includes admission to the museum from 4 to 9 p.m. Food and drink is available for purchase by D’Amico Catering.

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Real Horse Power

Forest History Center, Grand Rapids MN

Dates: Aug. 25, 2012

Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6 to 17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

The draft horse powered much of America well into the twentieth century. Logging and lumbering, one of the nation’s largest and most important industries relied heavily on the powerful Percheron draft horse to move the huge white pine logs from the forest to landings on the river. This event highlights the role horses had in the logging camp. Volunteers from the North Star Draft Horse Association will bring several teams of horses to camp. Activities such as log skidding and cross hauling with horses are demonstrated throughout the day. This is a must see event for horse lovers. Bring a camera.

The Useful Art of Pickling

Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River MN

Dates: Aug. 25, 2012, Aug. 26, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

The useful art of pickling provided families with a variety of foods throughout the long winter months 150 years ago. Visitors will discover sweet and sour pickles and other varieties that were popular with the Kelleys and families like them. For $2 per jar, visitors can make their own refrigerator pickles to take home. Horse-drawn trolley rides along the nature trail will be available throughout the afternoon.

Bugler One-Day Camp

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: Aug. 25, 2012

Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

Fee: $50; $45 for MHS members.

Reservations: required, register online

Spend an afternoon with the musicians of Historic Fort Snelling and learn how to play the bugle. Campers (age 10-14) will be issued bugles so they can practice a variety of historic tunes, many of which are still used today. No musical experience is necessary. Boy Scouts can use this class to work towards their Bugling Merit Badge. Space is limited to 10 per camp.

Traditions of the Trading Post: Celebrating the Harvest, Minnesota's Wild Rice

North West Company Fur Post, Pine City MN

Dates: Aug. 25, 2012, Aug. 26, 2012, Sept. 1, 2012, Sept. 2, 2012, Sept. 3, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Monday, noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday

Fee: $9 adults, $7 senior and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Visitors will learn the steps involved in the harvesting and processing of Minnesota’s state grain, wild rice. Costumed interpreters will describe how wild rice was the food that kept the fur trade alive. Visitors will experience the step-by-step processing of wild rice and see how the sharp seeds are transformed into tasty food. They'll also be able to help parch, tread and winnow the rice.

The special event is part of an on-going series of demonstrations that teach visitors to the site methods and skills used in the early 1800s.

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Loom Beading Workshop

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia MN

Dates: Aug. 25, 2012, Aug. 26, 2012

Time: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday

Fee: $60, $55 for MHS members; $15 supply fee for all.

Reservations: required, call 320-532-3632

Participants will learn the art of loom beading, create a design, put it on a loom and learn how to apply the loom work to leather or cloth once it is finished. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided both days. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Discounted hotel rooms are available for workshop participants on Saturday night at Grand Casino Mille Lacs. Registration is required by Aug 22. A minimum of 5 participants required to host workshop. For reservations or more information, call 320-532-3632 or e-mail millelacs@mnhs.org.

Huck Finn Two-Day Camp

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: Aug. 28, 2012, Aug. 29, 2012

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fee: $150 / $140 for MHS members

Reservations: required, register online

The classic book "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" serves as the basis for this exciting camp for the active kid. Campers (age 9-12) will explore the book and its themes of adventure and fun through hands on activities including fishing, hiking, cooking over an open fire, and more! Space is limited to 14.

9 Nights of Music: The Barley Jacks with Brian Wicklund

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Aug. 28, 2012

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; dance instruction 6:30-7 p.m. Live music at 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

The History Center's popular outdoor music concert series concludes with the Blue Grass Band The Barley Jacks with Brian Wicklund. Enjoy this concert while playing old fashioned lawn games.

9 Nights of Music continues every Tuesday through Aug. 30. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Live music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances will be held inside the History Center in the 3M Auditorium.

For more information visit www.mnhs.org/9nights.

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Mill City Live: Rogue Valley

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis MN

Dates: Aug. 29, 2012

Time: 6 to 8 p.m.

Fee: $5, includes museum admission from 4 to 9 p.m.

Set in the museum's dramatic open air Ruin Courtyard, Mill City Live features four evenings of outdoor music every Wednesday night from August 8 through 29.

In a single year, the members of Rogue Valley have written, recorded and successfully released four full length albums, making music that fills a dynamic spectrum, from surging electric guitar rock to woodsy finger-picking ballads. The unifying trait is the band's soaring, lush vocal harmonies that lift the cinematic arrangements to emotional heights.

Visit Mill City Museum before or after the show, the $5 concert fee includes admission to the museum from 4 to 9 p.m. Food and drink is available for purchase by D’Amico Catering.



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History Happy Hour: Vintage Bicycling

Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul MN

Dates: Aug. 30, 2012

Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Fee: $20/$16 MHS members

Reservations: required, register online

Enjoy Happy Hour at the Alexander Ramsey House. Socialize, sip and snack in the Ramsey mansion while you learn about vintage bicycling. Members of The Wheelmen, a heritage cycling group, will give riding demos on vintage bicycles, let you peruse their collection of bicycles and cabinet photos of early local cyclists and they will talk about the history of bicycle racing in the Twin Cities and cycling’s impact on women’s rights. This program is for people 21 years and older. Snacks and two drink tickets included with the price of admission.

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Threshing Weekend

Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River MN

Dates: Sept. 1, 2012, Sept. 2, 2012, Sept. 3, 2012, Aug. 31, 2013, Sept. 1, 2013, Sept. 2, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Monday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Celebrate Labor Day Weekend at the Kelley Farm. Threshing the grain harvest was the culmination of an entire growing season’s toil. Join the Kelley Farm hands as they bring grain bundles in from the field with the oxen, Toby and Colter. Help haul bundles and bag up grain at the 1856 horse-powered Cox and Roberts threshing machine and help stack the straw.

Labor Day Weekend: Life in the 1800s from Cradle to Grave

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul MN

Dates: Sept. 1, 2012, Sept. 2, 2012, Sept. 3, 2012, Aug. 31, 2013, Sept. 1, 2013, Sept. 2, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Monday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors, $6 children, Free for MHS members. Tickets for both sites: $15 adults, $12 seniors, $9 children, Free for MHS members.

Visit Historic Fort Snelling and the Sibley House Historic Site on Labor Day weekend for a special event focusing on major life events for people in the early 19th century. Theatrical performances and tours will highlight how birth, marriage and death were viewed during the early 1800s and allow visitors a look into the personal lives of early Americans.

Visitors can purchase a special ticket for both Historic Fort Snelling and the Sibley House Historic Site. A free shuttle will be available between each site courtesy of the Friends of the Sibley House.

Labor Day Weekend: Life in the 1800s from Cradle to Grave

Sibley House Historic Site, Mendota MN

Dates: Sept. 1, 2012, Sept. 2, 2012, Sept. 3, 2012, Aug. 31, 2013, Sept. 1, 2013, Sept. 2, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors, $6 children, Free for MHS members. Tickets for both sites: $15 adults, $12 seniors, $9 children, Free for MHS members.

Visit Historic Fort Snelling and the Sibley House Historic Site on Labor Day weekend for a special event focusing on major life events for people in the early 19th century. Theatrical performances and tours will highlight how birth, marriage and death were viewed during the early 1800s and allow visitors a look into the personal lives of early Americans.

Visitors can purchase a special ticket for both Historic Fort Snelling and the Sibley House Historic Site. A free shuttle will be available between each site courtesy of the Friends of the Sibley House.

By The Light of The Lantern

Historic Forestville, Preston MN

Dates: Sept. 1, 2012

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children age 6-17; $1 discount for MHS members. State park vehicle permit required.

Experience Historic Forestville at dusk when the residents are in evening business and repose. Visitors can explore the site as farm laborers interact and unwind in the barn, ladies of the house discuss such important topics as voting rights, medicines are compounded in the general store, and Thomas Meighen finishes points of business in his office at the end of the day. Live music will be played throughout the evening.

Seniors in Mind: Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Sept. 4, 2012

Time: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Fee: Free. Does not include $9 senior admission to History Center Museum.

Reservations: required, call 651-259-3015 or register online

White/Indian relations are often characterized by guilt and anger. Ojibwe scholar, writer and cultural preservationist, Anton Treuer cuts through the emotion and gives a frank, funny and informative discussion on the topic. His interactive presentation based on his new book "Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians but Were Afraid to Ask," helps people build a foundation for true understanding and positive action. For more information visit http://www.mnhs.org/seniorsinmind.

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Time Travel Fridays: Minnesota's Fur Trade

Sibley House Historic Site, Mendota MN

Dates: Sept. 7, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $6; $5 for MHS members, Free children under 5

Visit the regional headquarters of the American Fur Company and see how voyageurs and big business operated in Minnesota during the early 1800s. Mendota was the central gathering point for the goods and furs of the American Fur Company in Minnesota. The manager, Henry Sibley, controlled a vast region of trade from his 1836 home on the banks of the Mississippi. Learn how the fur trade operated, play voyageur games, haul bales of furs and see some of the oldest buildings in Minnesota.

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Alexander Ramsey in 1862

Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul MN

Dates: Sept. 8, 2012, Sept. 15, 2012, Sept. 22, 2012, Sept. 29, 2012

Time: Hourly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and college students, $6 for children age 6-17; Free for chldren 5 and under and MHS members.

Alexander Ramsey was Governor of the State of Minnesota in 1862 during the U.S. Dakota-War. This special tour takes guests into the Alexander Ramsey House and focuses on the role Ramsey played in the politics and events prior to, during and after the War.

Henry Sibley and the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862

Sibley House Historic Site, Mendota MN

Dates: Sept. 8, 2012, Sept. 15, 2012, Sept. 22, 2012, Sept. 29, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. 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 MHS members.

Henry Sibley played a significant role in the history of Minnesota and the Dakota people. This special tour takes guests through restored historic buildings and focuses on the roles Sibley played in the fur trade and early treaties with the Dakota, his military service in the U.S. Dakota War of 1862 and after, as well as how he is remembered today.

Dakota Family History

Minnesota Historical Society Library, St. Paul

Dates: Sept. 11, 2012

Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Fee: $12/$10 MHS members.

This class on Dakota (American Indian) Family History resources will focus on how to locate and use photographs, state and national records, censuses, vital records and online databases like Ancestry.com. Participants will also get tips on getting started with their own research.

Quadriga Starlight Tours

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul MN

Dates: Sept. 13, 2012, Sept. 14, 2012, Sept. 12, 2013, Sept. 13, 2013

Time: Tours leave at 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $8 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; $2 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 651-296-2881

Guides will lead visitors on a tour where they will meet historical characters Channing and Elizabeth Seabury, who will tell stories about the Capitol’s construction, decoration and history. In the Governor's Reception Room, guests will view Civil War paintings and see equipment and a uniform worn by Union soldiers. Following the tour, the group will climb to the rooftop for a rare opportunity to view the Quadriga – the golden horses on the Capitol rooftop – against the backdrop of the lighted skylines of the Twin Cities. Tours are 90-minutes long and leave every half-hour from 7 to 8 p.m.

Fall Gathering: Festival of the Voyageur

North West Company Fur Post, Pine City MN

Dates: Sept. 15, 2012, Sept. 16, 2012, Sept. 21, 2013, Sept. 22, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday

Fee: $8 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 ages 6-17; $2 discount for MHS members.

Celebrate a 19th-century fall gathering as hundreds of re-enactors portraying Ojibwe, voyageurs and fur traders prepare for winter trading along the Snake River. Watch as contestants vie for the title of the best all-around voyageur. Competitions will test strength and cunning. Shop at historic vendors for handcrafted wares and clothing. Hands-on children's activities include candle dipping, a scavenger hunt and the popular game "bead scramble." A highlight of the weekend is a festive, country dance with live fiddle music held outside Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. All dances are taught. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the North West Company Fur Post.

Open House: Minnesota Tragedy: The US - Dakota War of 1862

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Sept. 18, 2012

Time: 3 to 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

Reservations: required, call 651-259-3402 or register online

This is a free educators’ open house for the exhibit, “Minnesota Tragedy: The US -Dakota War of 1862” at the Minnesota History Center. Educators will have the opportunity to view the exhibit and discover additional resources to use in their classrooms. They will also receive a gift bag, a 10-percent discount in the Museum Stores and a chance to win prizes.

F. Scott Fitzgerald Walking Tours

James J. Hill House, St. Paul MN

Dates: Sept. 22, 2012, Sept. 23, 2012, Sept. 21, 2013, Sept. 22, 2013

Time: 1 and 3 p.m.

Fee: $12 adults, $10 seniors and college students, $8 ages 6-17; $2 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 651-297-2555

To coincide with the anniversary of the birth of F. Scott Fitzgerald on Sept. 24, 1896, the Hill House will offer 75-minute guided walking tours of Fitzgerald's Summit Hill neighborhood. The tour begins at the Commodore Hotel at 79 Western Ave., and includes stops at 599 Summit Ave., where Fitzgerald wrote his first novel “This Side of Paradise,” and his birthplace at 481 Laurel Ave. Tour stops do not include interiors. Participants will hear about Fitzgerald’s early years, his relationship with his wife, Zelda, the impact of St. Paul on his stories and novels, and connections to the Hill family and other prominent neighbors. Guides will also discuss the importance of the neighborhood to other writers -- from Sinclair Lewis to Garrison Keillor, Patricia Hampl and August Wilson.

Prairie Sugar Weekend

Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River MN

Dates: Sept. 29, 2012, Sept. 30, 2012, Sept. 28, 2013, Sept. 29, 2013, Oct. 5, 2013, Oct. 6, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Join the Kelley Farm hands making prairie sugar, also known as sorghum molasses. Help strip the leaves off the sorghum canes, press the canes through a horse-powered press to extract the juice, and stir the juice as it boils down to make a sweet, syrupy molasses. Then, treat yourself to molasses confections such as gingerbread and molasses candy.

Dakota Tiospaye (Family) Day

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Sept. 29, 2012

Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Visit the History Center for a Dakota family day celebration. Listen, learn and share traditional and contemporary crafts and culture of the Dakota people.

Harvest Day

Historic Forestville, Preston MN

Dates: Oct. 6, 2012

Time: 11 a.m to 4 p.m.

Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children age 6-17; $1 discount for MHS members.

Experience 19th century harvesting in southeast Minnesota. Visitors will learn about planting, cultivating and harvesting different varieties of crops through hands-on demonstrations. They will see corn harvesting, grain fanning, cider pressing, corn shelling, as well as quilting and apple pie baking.

DE UNKIYEPI, We Are Here

James J. Hill House, St. Paul MN

Opening: October 13, 2012

Hours: Open year round Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 3:30 p.m. Closed major holidays. Reservations recommended.

Art gallery hours: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. Closed major holidays.

Fee: Tours: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

An exhibition of contemporary American Indian artists responding to the anniversary of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. This exhibit is sponsored by the Native American Community Development Institute and the Minnesota Historical Society. It is made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008 and by a grant from the Grotto Foundation.

A Life in Art: Selections from the Bob and Patricia Kennedy Crump Family Collection

James J. Hill House, St. Paul MN

Closing: October 15, 2012

Hours: Open year round Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 3:30 p.m. Closed major holidays. Reservations recommended.

Art gallery hours: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. Closed major holidays.

Fee: Tours: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

The Crumps were committed to promoting Minnesota art, and after their deaths in 2008, their five children donated more than 100 original pieces from their collection to the Minnesota Historical Society for future Minnesotans to enjoy. This exhibit features art from the Crump's personal collection, the exhibit highlights original works by Bob and Patricia Crump as well as several other prominent Minnesota artists, including Cameron Booth, Adolf Dehn, Syd Fossum and Elof Wedin. The exhibit may be viewed as part of regular tours or with gallery-only admission of $2.

Shadows and Spirits of the State Capitol

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul MN

Dates: Oct. 18, 2012, Oct. 19, 2012, Oct. 20, 2012, Oct. 25, 2012, Oct. 26, 2012, Oct. 27, 2012, Oct. 17, 2013, Oct. 18, 2013, Oct. 19, 2013, Oct. 24, 2013, Oct. 25, 2013, Oct. 26, 2013

Time: 6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m.

Fee: $12 adults, $11 seniors and college students, $9 children ages 6-17; $2 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 651-296-2881

These popular annual tours allow visitors to see the Capitol in a historical setting with lighting similar to what existed when the building opened in 1905. As tour groups move through the shadowy and eerily lit rotunda, hallways and chambers, they will meet historical "spirits" who tell stories of the Capitol's early history, including a night watchman, Civil War veteran, a woman suffragist, a dome foreman and an artist who decorated the Supreme Court chamber. Tours are 60 minutes and leave every half hour.

Apple Butter Making Day

Historic Forestville, Preston MN

Dates: Oct. 20, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 children age 6-17, $1 discount for MHS members.

Experience the fall activity of making apple butter the old-fashioned way. This day-long autumn event begins with boiling cider and apples in a 20 gallon copper pot and ends with sweet tasty homemade apple butter.

Victorian Ghost Stories

James J. Hill House, St. Paul MN

Dates: Oct. 21, 2012, Oct. 28, 2012, Oct. 20, 2013, Oct. 27, 2013

Time: 6 and 7:30 p.m.

Fee: $12, $10 for MHS members (all ages).

Reservations: recommended, call 651-297-2555

Costumed actors Craig Johnson, Laura Salveson and Ann Daly present dramatic readings of 19th-century ghost stories in the dimly light parlor of the James J. Hill House. The one-hour program includes works by Edgar Allan Poe, Edith Wharton and the Brothers Grimm, as well as lesser-known authors of the period, plus some “true” ghost stories. This program is not recommended for children under age 8. The presentation will be followed by a tour of the Hill House (included in admission) and hot cider will be served.

Dia de Los Muertos: Day of the Dead

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Oct. 27, 2012, Oct. 26, 2013

Time: noon to 4 p.m.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

The History Center’s annual event, Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a joyous fiesta of color and symbols to honor and remember friends and family who have died. For Mexican-Americans, this important holiday is a powerful way to retain a connection to ancestors and pass on a rich cultural heritage to future generations.

Annual Beacon Lighting to Commemorate Loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors MN

Dates: Nov. 10, 2012

Time: Noon to 6 p.m.

Fee: $5 per person; free for MHS members.

This popular annual event at Split Rock Lighthouse commemorates the 1975 sinking of the freighter "Edmund Fitzgerald." A film about the Fitzgerald will be shown in the Visitor Center theater continuously throughout the afternoon. The lighthouse and the fog signal building will be open from noon to 6 p.m. The lighthouse will close temporarily at 4:30 p.m. while the names of the 29 lost crew members are read to the tolling of a ship’s bell. Following the ceremony, the beacon will be lit and the tower once again opened for visitors to tour.

This is the only opportunity each year when visitors can climb to the top of the tower and see the beacon lit and revolving. For more information visit www.mnhs.org/splitrock.

First Ladies of Minnesota Tour

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul MN

Dates: Nov. 10, 2012

Time: 1 to 3:30 p.m.

Fee: $12 adults, $11 seniors and college students, $9 children age 6-17; $2 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 651-296-2881

Minnesota's first ladies have made many contributions to the state of Minnesota. This 90-minute guided tour of the State Capitol will focus primarily on the lives of 13 of the state's first ladies and of their contributions and achievements during their husbands' time in office. Guides will also examine important events and locations within the Capitol where first ladies have been influential, such as inaugurations, teas, military deployments, press conferences and State of the State addresses. The program will be followed by a coffee-and-dessert reception in the Capitol's beautifully restored Rathskeller restaurant.



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Seniors in Mind: My Book of Skills; Your Guide to Wool Socks and Coffin Building

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Nov. 13, 2012

Time: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Fee: Free. Does not include $9 senior admission to the History Center.

Reservations: required, call 651-259-3015 or register online

Join author Chris Niskanen as he brings to life the basic know-how that makes us uniquely Minnesotan. Ranging from seasonal (a buyer’s guide to wool), to old timey (grow your own wheat and make bread), to manners (sauna etiquette), to fascinating but little practiced tips (building a birch bark canoe), this playful yet straightforward program with personal stories will entertain, inform and perhaps even prepare you for any kind of challenge you might face living in the North Star State. For more information visit http://www.mnhs.org/seniorsinmind.

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A Victorian Christmas at the Ramsey House

Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul MN

Dates: Nov. 14, 2012, Nov. 15, 2012, Nov. 16, 2012, Nov. 17, 2012, Nov. 18, 2012, Nov. 21, 2012, Nov. 23, 2012, Nov. 24, 2012, Nov. 25, 2012, Nov. 28, 2012, Nov. 29, 2012, Nov. 30, 2012, Dec. 1, 2012, Dec. 2, 2012, Dec. 5, 2012, Dec. 6, 2012, Dec. 7, 2012, Dec. 8, 2012, Dec. 9, 2012, Dec. 12, 2012, Dec. 13, 2012, Dec. 14, 2012, Dec. 15, 2012, Dec. 16, 2012, Dec. 19, 2012, Dec. 20, 2012, Dec. 21, 2012, Dec. 22, 2012, Dec. 23, 2012, Dec. 26, 2012, Dec. 27, 2012, Dec. 28, 2012, Dec. 29, 2012, Dec. 30, 2012, Nov. 13, 2013, Nov. 14, 2013, Nov. 15, 2013, Nov. 16, 2013, Nov. 17, 2013, Nov. 20, 2013, Nov. 21, 2013, Nov. 22, 2013, Nov. 23, 2013, Nov. 24, 2013, Nov. 27, 2013, Nov. 29, 2013, Nov. 30, 2013, Dec. 4, 2013, Dec. 5, 2013, Dec. 6, 2013, Dec. 7, 2013, Dec. 8, 2013, Dec. 11, 2013, Dec. 12, 2013, Dec. 13, 2013, Dec. 14, 2013, Dec. 15, 2013, Dec. 18, 2013, Dec. 19, 2013, Dec. 20, 2013, Dec. 21, 2013, Dec. 22, 2013, Dec. 26, 2013, Dec. 27, 2013, Dec. 28, 2013, Dec. 29, 2013, Jan. 1, 2014

Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, noon-3 p.m. Sundays

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $7 ages 6-17; $3 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: recommended, call 651-296-8760

Experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of a Victorian Christmas. The Alexander Ramsey House offers visitors a chance to step back in time to the Christmas season of 1875. Visitors can taste homemade cookies fresh from the wood burning stove, listen to popular holiday music of the era played on the family’s Steinway piano and view original family ornaments and Christmas gifts. Discover how the Ramsey family and their friends, neighbors and servants prepared for and celebrated the Christmas season. Shop in the Carriage House gift store that is stocked with replica Victorian ornaments and other Christmas gift items. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

History HiJinx: Thanksgiving Weekend

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Nov. 23, 2012, Nov. 24, 2012, Nov. 25, 2012

Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

Fee: Free

Families and children can create a make-it take-it craft on selected dates throughout the year (included with museum admission). For more information visit http://www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/hijinx.

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Christmas with the Lindberghs: 1918

Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, Little Falls MN

Dates: Nov. 24, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fee: $8 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

When C.A. Lindbergh did not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1917, he, his wife Evangeline and teenage son Charles spent the winter in their Little Falls home for the first time. Step back in time and visit the Lindbergh home as costumed characters portray family members and hired workers readying the house for Christmas 1918. Tour the home and hear why C.A. didn’t seek re-election, then lost his bid for the U.S. Senate, see “improvements” made to the house at the time, learn about the recent end of World War I in Europe, and find out what everyone’s hopes are for the new year of 1919. The gallery exhibits in the Visitor Center will be open and visitors also can shop for holiday items at a special sale in the gift shop and receive a 10-percent discount on all merchandise.

Hill House Holidays

James J. Hill House, St. Paul MN

Dates: Dec. 1, 2012, Dec. 2, 2012, Dec. 8, 2012, Dec. 9, 2012, Dec. 15, 2012, Dec. 16, 2012, Dec. 22, 2012, Dec. 23, 2012, Dec. 7, 2013, Dec. 8, 2013, Dec. 14, 2013, Dec. 15, 2013, Dec. 21, 2013, Dec. 22, 2013, Dec. 28, 2013, Dec. 29, 2013

Time: 1 to 3:30, tours begin every 30 minutes

Fee: $10 adults, $8 seniors and students, $6 children ages 6-17; $2 discount for MHS members.

Reservations: recommended, call 651-297-2555

The bustle and excitement of a Gilded Age Christmas is brought to life as the servants of the James J. Hill House prepare for the holidays. Costumed actors portray people who worked for the Hill family in a dramatized portrayal of servant life and holiday preparations at the Hill family’s Summit Avenue mansion. The one-hour program moves through the elegant first floor spaces and then to the basement servant work areas. The script is based on letters and oral histories of people who worked for the Hill family during the first decade of the 20th century.

Christmas in the Logging Camp

Forest History Center, Grand Rapids MN

Dates: Dec. 8, 2012

Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6 to 17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Minnesota winters are legendary. Years ago hearty lumberjacks toiled in logging camps cutting big timber between freeze up and break up. North Woods Number One, the Forest History Center’s historically re-created logging camp, comes to life under a blanket of snow during this yearly event. Join the camp crew as they get ready to celebrate Christmas in the logging camp. Take in the smell of wood smoke, feel the warmth being cast off from the barrel stoves, enjoy the smell of fresh baked cookies and take a ride on a horse drawn sleigh. Bring your camera to get your picture taken with Santa.

Kwanzaa Family Day

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Dec. 29, 2012, Dec. 28, 2013

Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Join family and friends for a “first fruits of the harvest” Kwanzaa celebration that is a unifying community experience. The annual seven day holiday honors African-American people and their past. The celebration includes an opening and closing ceremony, storytelling, West African drumming and dancing, a cooking demonstration and an art activity inspired by the principle of Umoja. Activities free with museum admission. For more information visit http://www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/kwanzaa.

History Center Open Monday Dec. 31

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Dec. 31, 2012, Dec. 30, 2013

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

The History Center will be open regular hours on Monday, Dec. 31. Take advantage of holiday vacations for a day of exploring the exhibits. Stop in for the annual Kwanzaa celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Also, at noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m., enjoy a History Player presentation in the exhibit galleries. The Museum Stores will be open all day and Cafe Minnesota will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Weather Permitting

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Hours: Museum and Stores:

Tuesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free admission 5 to 8 p.m.); Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

Open Monday holidays year round.

Holiday Hours

Library:

Tuesday noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m. (Closed Sundays from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.)

Closed Monday, Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends, and major holidays including the day after Thanksgiving.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Minnesotans do more than talk about the weather. They 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 along trails through the forests. No matter the weather, it's always a nice day at the History Center when you visit the "Weather Permitting" exhibit. For more information visit http://www.mnhs.org/weather.

Winter Carnival Weekends

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Jan. 26, 2013, Jan. 27, 2013, Feb. 2, 2013, Feb. 3, 2013

Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Have a flurry of fun while learning about winter. Stories, activities and a History HiJinx craft activity will keep you warm and toasty in the museum exhibits. Create miniature versions of King Boreas and Vulcanus Rex using clothespins, fabric, fake fur and sparkles and place them in their own diorama scene, replete with chilly ice palace and toasty "up north" lake cabin.

Global Hotdish Variety Show: 2013 Season

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Jan. 26, 2013

Time: 2 to 3:30 p.m. (Pre-show activities start at 1:15 p.m.)

Fee: $12/$10 MHS members, $6 children ages 6 to 17. Tickets include museum gallery admission.

Reservations: recommended, register online

Warm your winter weary heart with a spicy concoction of delightful entertainment for the whole family. This performance series features a magical mash-up of music, song and dance representing Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Scandinavia and "Minnesota nice." Performances include a house band and special program host. Pre-show entertainment is available.

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Queen Charlotte's Birthday Ball

North West Company Fur Post, Pine City MN

Dates: Feb. 9, 2013

Time: 6 to 9 p.m.

Fee: $35/$32 for MHS members.

Reservations: required, call 320-629-6356

Enjoy an evening of early 19th-century entertainment with a lively country dance. Country dancing, a pastime frequently mentioned by Jane Austen, was a favorite evening diversion for the young as well as the mature ladies and gentlemen of the genteel classes in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Dance steps will be taught and called at the ball. During a mid-dance break visitors will enjoy a selection of delicious refreshments. Period or semi-formal attire is requested. Advanced ticketing required.

Global Hotdish Variety Show: 2013 Season

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Feb. 23, 2013

Time: 2 to 3:30 p.m. (Pre-show activities start at 1:15 p.m.)

Fee: $12/$10 MHS members, $6 children ages 6 to 17. Tickets include museum gallery admission.

Reservations: recommended, register online

Warm your winter weary heart with a spicy concoction of delightful entertainment for the whole family. This performance series features a magical mash-up of music, song and dance representing Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Scandinavia and "Minnesota nice." Performances include a house band and special program host. Pre-show entertainment is available.

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Homeschool Days: "Our Minnesota"

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: March 12, 2013, March 13, 2013

Time: 9:30 a.m. check-in, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., program

Fee: $7/$6, free for children ages 3 and under.

Reservations: required, call 651-259-3400

Homeschool students and their families are invited to participate in a variety of educational activities as we celebrate the opening of a major new exhibit: "Our Minnesota." Designed specifically for the school age and family audience, "Our Minnesota" tells many important Minnesota stories. Give your children a chance to brave the depths of Iron Range mine shaft, visit an immigrant’s sodhouse, listen to stories in a Dakota teepee, trade goods at a fur trading post, take a ride on a streetcar and navigate the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

This special program is designed to meet the learning needs of homeschool students in grade levels P-3, 4-6 and 7-12. Reservations are required and must be made by March 7.

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Seniors in Mind: 2013 Season

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: March 12, 2013, May 14, 2013, July 9, 2013, Sept. 10, 2013, Nov. 12, 2013

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Fee: FREE. Does not include $9 senior admission to the History Center.

Reservations: recommended, call 651-259-3015 or register online

This popular weekday series returns for a new season of music, photography and lectures on a wide variety of Minnesota history and culture topics.

Programs include a 10discount at the History Center's Museum Stores. Cafe Minnesota will be open for lunch following each program. For more information visit http://www.mnhs.org/seniorsinmind.

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Global Hotdish Variety Show: 2013 Season

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: March 30, 2013

Time: 2 to 3:30 p.m. (Pre-show activities start at 1:15 p.m.)

Fee: $12/$10 MHS members, $6 children ages 6 to 17. Tickets include museum gallery admission.

Reservations: recommended, register online

Warm your winter weary heart with a spicy concoction of delightful entertainment for the whole family. This performance series features a magical mash-up of music, song and dance representing Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Scandinavia and "Minnesota nice." Performances include a house band and special program host. Pre-show entertainment is available.

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A Thousand Journeys, One Home: Asian-Pacific Heritage Day

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: April 13, 2013

Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Friendship, diversity and unity is transplanted to the History Center as artists from the Twin Cities Asian Pacific communities gather to highlight Chinese, East Indian, Hmong, Indonesian, Japanese, Laotian, Philippine, Tibetan, Thai and Vietnamese traditions that make connections not only to each other, but to the broader communities in which they live, work and play. The family day features music and dance performances, calligraphy, mini-workshops, food demonstrations and art activities.

Highlights include a fashion show sponsored by the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent; performances by the Tibetan American Foundation of MN dance group and the Vietnamese Hoang Anh dance group. Demonstrations and mini-classes in Laotian weaving, Indonesian handicrafts and displays, Thai and Nepali/Tibetan cooking, Thai fruit carving, Oriental paper crafts and Philippine combat and hands-on art activities.

In partnership with the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans. Program support provided by the Charles A. Lindbergh Memorial Fund.

9 Nights of Music: 2013 Season

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: July 2, 2013, July 9, 2013, July 16, 2013, July 23, 2013, July 30, 2013, Aug. 6, 2013, Aug. 13, 2013, Aug. 20, 2013, Aug. 27, 2013

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; dance instruction 6:30-7 p.m. Live music at 7 p.m.

Fee: Free

Enjoy "9 Nights of Music" every Tuesday in July and August. The series, now in its 16th year, presents the rich and vibrant sounds of Minnesota’s multicultural community in free performances held on the terrace of the Minnesota History Center. Tapestry Folkdance Center and Uptown Swing provides dance instruction from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Live music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances will be held inside the History Center in the 3M Auditorium. For more information visit www.mnhs.org/9nights.

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History HiJinx: Thanksgiving Weekend

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Dates: Nov. 29, 2013, Nov. 30, 2013, Dec. 1, 2013

Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

Fee: Free

Families and children can create a make-it take-it craft on selected dates throughout the year (included with museum admission). For more information visit http://www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/hijinx.

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Fur Trade Beyond the Palisade

North West Company Fur Post, Pine City MN

Hours: Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day: Monday and Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Open holidays.

Winter hours: Pre-arranged group tours by appointment year round. Visitor Center open Monday-Friday by appointment.

Fee: $9 adults, $7 senior and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

Explore life in an early 1800s fur trade wintering camp. Learn about the global economy of the time, the lives of workers in the fur trade, cross-cultural communications, women's roles and archeological tools used to uncover information about the fur trade. Discover why a hat was the driving force behind the earliest European exploration and settlement of the region. Then try on various hats, including a stovepipe top hat made of felt. View a 24 foot long north canoe loaded with merchandise typical of the time. And try lifting a pack typical of what a voyageur would have carried.

Minnesota's Greatest Generation: The Depression, The War, The Boom

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul MN

Hours: Museum and Stores:

Tuesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free admission 5 to 8 p.m.); Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

Open Monday holidays year round.

Holiday Hours

Library:

Tuesday noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m. (Closed Sundays from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.)

Closed Monday, Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends, and major holidays including the day after Thanksgiving.

Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6-17; free for children age 5 and under and MHS members.

This exhibit is the capstone of the Minnesota Historical Society’s Minnesota’s Greatest Generation project. It features more than 6,000 square feet of artifacts, interactive displays, and innovative multimedia experiences to reveal the lives and stories of the men and women who came of age during the Depression and World War II and who went on to create the phenomenal postwar boom. The exhibition relies substantially on first-person narratives drawn from oral history interviews, published memoirs, and reminiscences and letters in which a generation of Minnesotans narrates its own story, creating a fascinating collective autobiography in recorded interviews, images, film and audio. For more information visit http://www.mngreatestgeneration.org.

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