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1892 Republican National Convention: Press Release

2008 Republican National Convention Isn't First Time the GOP 'Elephant' Has Thundered into the Twin Cities

On the eve of this year’s Republican National Convention, historian Iric Nathanson will take a look back at Minnesota’s first presidential nominating convention, the Republican National Convention held in Minneapolis in 1892. At his presentation at Mill City Museum on Aug. 14, Nathanson will tell the story of how Minneapolis landed and prepared for the convention, and what took place during the three days of the convention, including an anti-lynching resolution proposed by African American delegates. He’ll also tell the story of the Industrial Exposition Building, the mammoth structure on the Minneapolis riverfront that was the scene of the convention.

Nathanson writes about local history for a variety of publications including the Minnesota Historical Society Press’ Minnesota History, the Hennepin County Historical Society’s Hennepin History and the online daily, MinnPost. He is currently writing a history of Minneapolis in the 20th century, which will be published by MHS Press in 2009. He has written about the 1892 Republican Convention, also for Hennepin History, and his account of African Americans at the convention was published by Minnesota History in July 2008. Nathanson also teaches a course on Minneapolis history for the University of Minnesota’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and is a presenter at the Minneapolis Public Library’s Minneapolis Sesquicentennial “Celebrate our History” series.

Admission to the event, which begins at 7 p.m., is free.

Mill City Museum is located at 704 S. Second St. in Minneapolis. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays (open until 9 p.m. Thursdays) and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and college students, and $5 for children ages 6-17. Children age 5 and under are admitted free. For more information, call 612-341-7555 or visit www.millcitymuseum.org

Older than the state itself, the Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849 to preserve and share Minnesota history. The Society tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, extensive libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. During 2008, the Society is commemorating Minnesota’s 150th anniversary of statehood with Sesquicentennial events and programs including “MN150,” the new exhibit featuring 150 people, places, and things that have shaped our state, on display at the Minnesota History Center.

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