a sesquicentennial journey - minnesota legislature

a sesquicentennial

Journey2005-2008

Minnesota Statehood Sesquicentennial Commission

Final Report

This document is made available electronically by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library as part of an ongoing digital archiving project. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/lrl.asp

This report is submitted to the Minnesota State Legisla-ture by the members of the Minnesota StatehoodSesquicentennial Commission:

Cay Shea Hellervik, Commission Chair, Personnel Decisions International, Minneapolis

Reatha Clark King, Commission Vice-Chair; Chair,Capital, Grants & Legislative Committee, GeneralMills Foundation, Minneapolis

Sen. Don Betzold, Fridley

Rep. Sondra Erickson, Co-Chair, Subcommittee on Education, Princeton

Tess Hohman, Co-Chair, Communications, General Mills, Excelsior

Sarah Janecek, Communications Committee, DolanMedia, Minneapolis

Rep. Morrie Lanning, Co-Chair, Engage thePublic/Plan for Our Future Committee, Moorhead

Former Sen. Cal Larson, Capital, Grants & Legisla-tion Committee, Fergus Falls

Rep. Diane Loeffler, Co-Chair, Legislative Subcom-mittee; Program & Engage the Public/Plan for OurFuture Committee, Minneapolis

Elizabeth McMullen, Engage the Public/Plan for OurFuture Committee, Minnesota Business Partner-ship, Minneapolis

Sen. Gen Olson, Program Committee, Minnetrista

Sen. Pat Pariseau, Engage the Public/Plan for OurFuture & Capital, Grants & Legislation Commit-tees, Farmington

Mark F. Peterson, Chair, Program Committee,Winona County Historical Society, Winona

Sen. Ann H. Rest, Co-Chair, Engage the Public/Planfor Our Future Committee, New Hope

Dallas Ross, Program Committee, Upper SiouxCommunity, Granite Falls

Rep. Loren Solberg, Program & Engage thePublic/Plan for Our Future Committees, GrandRapids

Joe C. Swedberg, Co-Chair, Communications Com-mittee, Hormel Foods Corp., Austin

a sesquicentennial

Journey 2005–2008Letter from the Commissioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Message from the Commission Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

History of the Commission

Commission Committees

Establishing a Mission & Strategies

The Commission’s Work

Time of Preparation: July 2006 to May 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Engaging the Public

Fundraising

Securing Partners

Telling the Sesqui Story

Promoting the Sesquicentennial

Time of Commemoration & Celebration: May to September 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Statehood Week, May 11-18

A Summer of Sesquicentennial Events

Sesquicentennial Salute to Minnesota Businesses

Time of Reflection & Legacy: May 2008 to January 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Many Voices-One Minnesota: A Sesquicentennial Plan for Our Future

Sesqui Civic Engagement Project

Sesquicentennial Legacy & Micro Grant Program

More Sesqui Legacy Projects

Message to the Future & Bicentennial Planners of 2058 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Supplemental Sesqui Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Sesquicentennial Staff

Sesquicentennial Ambassadors

State Agency Working Group

Minnesota Milestones Survey Summary

Sesquicentennial Grant Program

Grants of Statewide Significance

Sesqui Community Celebrations

Minnesota @ 150, Real & Imagined

Sesqui Books

A Sesquicentennial Journey – 2005 to 2008 3

Letter from the Commissioners

December 2008

Dear Fellow Minnesotans:

When we began this journey nearly four years ago, none of us could imagine the challenges and op-portunities we would encounter in trying to wrap our arms around something as vast and encompass-ing as 150 years of Minnesota statehood.

Like Minnesotans before us, we rolled up our sleeves and dove in, gathering strength from the enter-prising spirit that has always marked Minnesota’s hopes and dreams. We endeavored to commemo-rate Minnesota’s history and celebrate the accomplishments of the millions of people who have comebefore us and those who continue to live, work, play and achieve here. We also hoped to use thistime as a springboard to inspire our fellow citizens to engage in planning for Minnesota’s future well-being.

Thanks to the help and support of thousands of Minnesota citizens — and their generous gift of $1.6million authorized by the State Legislature, which was matched several times over by community, cor-porate and foundation funds and in-kind donations — the Sesquicentennial challenge was metthrough opportunities for Minnesotans to learn, grow, and we hope, prosper into our next 50 years.

Reaching five million people scattered over 87,000 square miles was a test indeed, but the test wasanswered by an extraordinary grassroots response. People in small towns, townships and urban neigh-borhoods caught the anniversary spirit, expressed through creative endeavors and team efforts thathelped mark this occasion, to remember where we came from and envision where we are headed.

Minnesotans recognized that statehood is a precious privilege and responsibility in 2008. It was a yearwhich saw the state host its first national political convention in over 100 years — the Republican Na-tional Convention. It was a year in which America elected its first African-American president. It was ayear in which government at local, state and federal levels worked together overtime to rebuild — inrecord time — the Interstate Highway 35W bridge that had collapsed into the Mississippi River justfive months before our 150th anniversary year began.

Finally, it was a year in which Minnesotans connected again through the ideals of statehood, throughthe sense of belonging to, and being responsible for, something greater than our individual selves.Minnesota is indeed a place — and a state of mind and heart — that we all cherish.

We have been privileged to serve the state and its citizens to plan and organize this historic 150th an-niversary of statehood. This Final Report of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission touches onmany anniversary highlights. We hope it will spark more memories from this special year and be arecord for those who follow us in paying tribute to the state we all call home.

Sincerely,

The Minnesota Statehood Sesquicentennial Commission

Cay Shea Hellervik, Chair Reatha Clark King, Vice Chair Sen. Don Betzold Rep. Sondra Erickson Tess Hohman Sarah Janecek

Rep. Morrie LanningCal LarsonRep. Diane LoefflerElizabeth McMullenSen. Pat PariseauMark F. Peterson

Sen. Gen OlsonSen. Ann H. RestDallas RossRep. Loren SolbergJoe C. Swedberg Jane Leonard, Executive Director

MINNESOTA’S STATEHOOD SESQUICENTEN-NIAL was a year of commemoration to reflect onand learn from our past. It was a year of statewidecelebration to rediscover our state, showcase ourpeople and achievements, and connect us as Min-nesotans. And it was for many, a once-in-a-lifetimecatalyst to unite us, to rededicate ourselves to creat-ing a thriving and innovative future.

In 2007 and 2008, through more than 500 events,over 150 grant projects, arts and culture exhibits,presentations, music and literature creations, Min-nesotans endeavored to tell all the stories thatshaped this land, our culture, our people and ourdestiny — from before statehood to the present tothe years beyond our own time.

We accomplished this statewide Sesquicentennialprogramming and participation with modest fund-ing from the Minnesota State Legislature ($1.6 mil-lion over a period of 3.5 years — about 32 cents foreach of the 5 million people living in Minnesota.)We matched that funding nearly three fold with pri-vate and community-based contributions of cashand in-kind resources to generate a total investmentof $4.5 million.

For nearly two years, these investments went backto communities and organizations across the statein the form of Sesquicentennial grants, local eventscreation and promotion, and to fund major state-hood programs including the Plan for Our Future,Statehood Week (May 11-18, 2008) and the Min-nesota State Fair (August 21-September 1, 2008.)

These investments proved to be a strong catalyst forcivic engagement and community capacity buildingat local, regional and state levels. They helped startand strengthen efforts that will reverberate for yearsto come. For more details, see the events, programsand grants descriptions and listings in this report.

We pledged to our funders to engage at least 1 mil-lion Minnesotans “to learn from the state’s past, re-flect on lessons from both its success and failings,and get engaged in planning for Minnesota’s futurewell-being.” This became the Sesquicentennial

Pledge to ensure that this 150th anniversary ofstatehood would be both meaningful and memo-rable to all Minnesotans who took the time to par-ticipate.

Based on our data collection (grant project records,event tallies, media exposure) more than 1 millionMinnesotans participated in the Sesquicentennial, intelling and listening to the stories inspired by the150th year of statehood.

The Commission could not have accomplished thiswithout the help and determination of thousands ofvolunteers statewide. These citizen volunteers insmall towns and urban neighborhoods saw in theSesquicentennial an opportunity to stir and organizeteams of people to accomplish together what indi-viduals could not do alone. They jumpstarted com-munity projects that may have been languishing forlack of inspiration and saw beyond the current dayto leave a legacy for generations ahead.

Projects in every one of Minnesota’s 87 countiestold the compelling stories of our shared home,Minnesota. These projects ranged from:• Many Nations One Circle project in Evansville

(pop. 561), in west central Minnesota, which hon-ored our Native American and immigrant roots to

• Minnesota is Our Home opera written and per-formed by the 4th graders at Linwood School inSt. Paul (pop. 270,000) to the

• Speaking of Home exhibition on the diversity ofour citizens. Displayed in a downtown Minneapo-lis skyway, it was viewed by thousands of peopleeach day as they walked past or drove by to the

• Minnovation exhibit at the Minneapolis Public Li-brary of Minnesota’s inventions and patentsthroughout statehood to the

• 150 years of Rural Life project in Pleasant HillTownship, Winona County to

• Oral and pictorial history projects in Madelia,Waseca and Walker.

These, and other projects and events, showcasedMinnesotans’ ingenuity, accomplishments and con-tributions in arts and culture, science and technol-ogy, business, public affairs, education andcompassion worldwide.

From city to town to village to township to publicand nonprofit organizations, Minnesotans har-nessed their creative minds and hearts to help us all

4 A Sesquicentennial Journey – 2005 to 2008

Executive Summary

remember the essence of statehood. Statehood isultimately about democracy, choosing democracy asa way of life, a way of deciding and getting thingsdone together, and putting service above self for thecommon good.

The Sesquicentennial was for Minnesotans in 2008a time to reflect and then a time to act, to do ourbest and be our best, to call upon all the good weare capable of in a difficult era, a national andglobal time of uncertainty, anxiety and fear. Wegained inspiration from our past and then looked tothe future, embracing hope, aspiration, confidenceand courage.

We can move forward into our next 50 years withan expanded vision and a renewed sense of pur-pose, inspired by the sacrifice and perseverance ofthose who walked this land before us.

This Final Report of the Commission captures all ofMinnesota’s Sesquicentennial stories in three sec-tions that mirror our work plan: Time of Prepara-tion, Time of Celebration & Commemoration, andTime of Reflection & Legacy.

However, no written record can adequately containthe outpouring of spirit we witnessed across theMinnesota landscape.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve Min-nesota these past two years as executive director ofthe Minnesota Statehood Sesquicentennial Com-mission. I came to this job with a deep love for myhome state. I leave it with a much deeper under-standing of, and respect for, the complexities andcontinued promise of our state and its people. Weare many voices. We are one state. We are manynations, one circle. And Minnesota is our home.

Jane LeonardExecutive DirectorDecember 2008


Many Nations One Circle

From the Evansville Sesquicentennial Grant

project

Words by Anne Dunn, Sharon Henneman &

Patty Kakac

Music by Patty Kakac & Sharon Henneman

I have been told that when we walk the land

Our breath falls upon the earth

And in that place we are remembered

In our good and ancient land.

Many nations, one circle

Many voices, one song

Let us honor those who went before us

Honor those who are to come.

And if you come in 500 years

As the wind blows through these hills

With the fragrance of the wild flowers

Know that I am with you still.

Cay Shea HellervikDecember 2008

History of the Commission

In 2005, the First Special Session of the State Legis-lature enacted a law (Chapter 1, Article 4, Section121) regarding the Minnesota Sesquicentennial an-niversary. Here’s how the law read:

Sec. 121. Sesquicentennial Commission Subdivision 1. Commission Purpose The Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission is es-tablished to plan for activities relating to Min-nesota's 150th anniversary of statehood. TheCommission shall create a plan for capital improve-ments, celebratory activities and public engagementin every county in the state of Minnesota.

Subd. 2. Membership The Commission shall consist of 17 members whoshall serve until the completion of the Sesquicenten-nial year of statehood, appointed as follows: 1.nine members appointed by the governor, repre-

senting major corporate, nonprofit and public sec-tors, selected from all parts of the state;

2.two members appointed by the speaker of thehouse of representatives;

3.two members appointed by the minority leader ofthe house of representatives;

4.two members from the majority party in the sen-ate, appointed by the Subcommittee on Commit-tees; and

5.two members from the senate's minority party,appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees.

Subd. 3. Compensation & Operation Members shall select a chair from the membershipof the Commission. The chair shall convene allmeetings and set the agenda for the Commission.The Minnesota Historical Society shall provide officespace and staff support for the Commission, andshall cooperate with the University of Minnesotaand Minnesota State Colleges and Universities tosupport the programs of the Commission.

Meetings shall be at the call of the chair. The Com-mission may appoint an advisory council to adviseand assist the Commission with its duties. Membersshall receive no compensation for service on theSesquicentennial Commission. Members appointedby the governor may be reimbursed for expensesunder Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subd.3.

Subd. 4. Duties The Commission shall have the following duties: 1.to present to the governor and legislature a plan

for capital grants to pay for capital improvementson Minnesota’s historic public and private build-ings, to be known as Sesquicentennial grants;

2.to seek funding for activities to celebrate the150th anniversary of statehood, and to form part-nerships with private parties to further this mis-sion; and

3.to present an annual report to the governor andlegislature outlining progress made towards thecelebration of the Sesquicentennial.

Subd. 5. Commemorative Coin The Commission may arrange for design, produc-tion, distribution, marketing and sale of a commem-orative coin. Proceeds from sale of the coin areappropriated to the Commission.

Subd. 6. Expiration The Commission shall continue to operate until Jan. 30, 2009, at which time it shall expire.

The legislature appropriated $50,000 to be used bythe Commission the first year, with $50,000 to beused the second year for planning and support of itsmission. Later amendments in 2007 and 2008 tothe enacting language eliminated the capital im-provements grant requirement, encouraged theCommission to be as energy efficient as possible, al-lowed the Commission to conduct meetings by tele-phone, authorized production and sale of acommemorative license plate, and directed theCommission to use the Plan for Our Future results toprovide feedback for the Minnesota Milestones. Thelegislature also appropriated an additional $1.5 mil-lion between 2007 and 2008 to carry out the workof the Commission.

The Commission began formal meetings in thespring of 2006.


Report from the

Commission Chair

Executive Committee & Other CommissionCommittees

Executive Committee Cay Shea Hellervik, Chair Reatha Clark King, Vice Chair

The members of the Executive Committee wereRep. Diane Loeffler, Sen. Don Betzold, Commis-sioner Tess Hohman, Commissioner Joe C. Swed-berg, Sen. Ann H. Rest, Rep. Morrie Lanning andCommissioner Mark F. Peterson. The majority heldmajor committee responsibilities, all generously of-fered wisdom, guidance and genuine care and con-cern to, and for, the work of the Commission. Theirideas became the basic fabric from which the workof the Commission was cut.

The Executive Committee worked to establish com-mittees, create a strategy for the Commission, anddesign the organizational structure of the Commis-sion. The committees they established were:

Capital, Grants, & Legislative Committee Reatha Clark King, Chair

This committee sought the fiscal resources necessaryto carry out the mission, legislation, legal and fiscalrelationships of the Commission. It also worked withthe other committees to develop policies and proce-dures for the Sesquicentennial Grant Program.

Engage the Public/Plan for Our Future Committee

Sen. Ann H. Rest & Rep. Morrie Lanning, Co-chairs

This committee worked with partner groups to en-sure that leaders and citizens in all 87 counties ofMinnesota were aware of and engaged in theSesquicentennial and in the creation of the Plan forOur Future. They also worked to partner with othergovernment agencies, the private and nonprofit sec-tors and neighboring states. The completed Plan forOur Future document is available in the online ver-sion of the Commission’s Final Report.

Program CommitteeMark F. Peterson, Chair

This committee developed, along with partners, thesignature events and programs of statewide impactfor the Sesquicentennial. It also coordinated with in-dependent efforts in the public, private and non-profit sectors to help promote those programs andevents that commemorated the Sesquicentennial.

Communications Subcommittee Tess Hohman & Joe Swedberg, Co-chairs

This subcommittee worked with the staff and volun-teers to develop communications vehicles that pro-moted and marketed the Sesquicentennial message,programs and events, including logo design anduse, Web site, printed and electronic communica-tions, and media relations.

Establishing a Mission & Strategies

The Executive Committee decided to invite a con-sultant from Wisconsin to brief them about thatstate's 1998 Sesquicentennial celebration. With ex-amples from the Wisconsin experience, the Execu-tive Committee formed a nucleus of ideas that wasaccepted by the Commission and adopted as coreconcepts by which we operated in the comingyears.

Consultant Judy Plante, director of managementanalysis and development from the state’s Depart-ment of Administration, worked with the ExecutiveCommittee, designing discussions and leading ses-sions with the Commission to develop its mission,goals and desired attributes for the celebration.Her work with us created a lasting memory anddocuments that served to guide all of us.

Our Mission statement was:

The Commission and its volunteers will strive to in-crease pride in our state by: • Achieving broad participation of the people of

Minnesota, visitors, local communities, institutionsand organizations in activities across the state;

• Raising awareness and educating Minnesotans bytelling the stories of our past, recognizing the in-digenous people of Minnesota, and learning fromthem and the many ethnic groups that have comeand continue to come to Minnesota;

• Developing a shared vision for the state’s future,


THE SESQUICEN-TENNIAL COM-MISSION METMONTHLY FORMORE THAN TWOYEARS.

by engaging Minnesotans in civic dialogue; • Leaving a lasting legacy through print, visual, mu-

sical, and other reminders, as well as media docu-mentation;

So that all might have a meaningful perspective onthe impact our state has had in the past and willhave on the future for Minnesotans, the nation andthe world.

The Commission’s work

Central to the operation of the Commission werematters regarding organization, including recruitingstaff and volunteers, hiring staff, evaluations, per-sonnel issues, policies for employees, office setupand furniture. These were critical contributionsmade by the Executive Committee and requiredhundreds of volunteer hours before full-time profes-sional staff were hired.

Personnel Decisions International donated my timeand that of my assistant during these early months,as well as office furniture. This allowed the Commis-sion to save the full amount appropriated by thelegislature for later essential Commission salariesand grants.

With the goal of involving as many citizens as possi-ble, members of the Executive Committee workedtirelessly traveling the state and speaking to thou-sands of citizens, especially at Minnesota TownshipAssociation meetings and other gatherings.

The Commission engaged over 100 Sesquicenten-nial Ambassadors throughout Minnesota. TheseAmbassadors served the Commission well by en-couraging citizens to check out the critical informa-tion on the Sesquicentennial Web site, helpingmotivate as many Minnesotans as possible to be-come involved in events and to apply for grantsfrom the Commission.

As a result of these efforts, combined with Sesqui-centennial communications and outreach, the Com-mission received hundreds of requests for grantsand ideas related to activities and events that werebeing planned independently all over Minnesota,whether the Commission was funding them or not.The Web site became a clearinghouse of events andprojects for the people of Minnesota to reference.

Reatha Clark King served an immense number ofhours on the Executive Committee, and as chair ofthe Capital, Grants and Legislative Committee, shedevoted hundreds of volunteer hours. Reathasought the fiscal resources necessary to carry out

our mission, and she personally oversaw its finances.She also worked closely with the Commission chairto develop policies and procedures for the Commis-sion, as well as the Sesquicentennial Grant Program.

Executive Committee members contacted hundredsof corporations, state agencies, nonprofit groupsand foundations, and engaged them in the processof bringing essential funding to the Commission.

The Executive Committee worked with Commissionstaff to organize their travel to the five Capitals for aDay and coordinated with Gov. Tim Pawlenty so hecould be at the honorary Capitals during StatehoodWeek, where he greeted thousands of Minnesotans.

The Executive Committee prepared reports andbudgets for the governor and legislature, not onlyfor funding but also for the purpose of keepingthem informed.

The Executive Committee, Program CommitteeChair Mark F. Peterson and Commission membersspent many months visioning and outlining ideas forthe events and activities of the Sesquicentennial cel-ebration. During this phase, we vetted hundreds ofideas. The Commission worked hard to limit thenumber of ideas to keep within our budget. Withthe approval of the Executive Committee, the Com-mission decided which events or projects we wouldreject, support in our literature and on our Web site,and which projects we would try to fund.

Other members of the Executive Committee con-tributed their time as well, including Rep. Diane Lo-effler, who assisted us with legislative relations,outreach for the Plan for Our Future project and theWeb-based mapping of events. Sen. Don Betzoldguided us on many matters regarding legal and mili-tary issues. Sen. Ann H. Rest was instrumental in se-curing the Minnesota Twins as partners for theStatehood celebration. She worked tirelessly on get-ting license plate legislation passed, as well as co-chairing with Rep. Morrie Lanning theimplementation of the Engage the Public/Plan forOur Future work mentioned in more detail later inthis report.

I want to thank all of the Commission members, ourExecutive Director Jane Leonard, and all of the staff,Fellows and volunteers who worked so hard tobring this celebration and commemoration to allMinnesotans. The remainder of this report will illus-trate the wide scope and depth of programmingthat made the Sesquicentennial dreams come to lifefor all Minnesotans.



Engaging the Public

THIS SESQUICENTENNIAL WAS more than communitycelebrations and special events. At its heart, it wasabout engaging the citizens of Minnesota to thinkabout their state, to learn what Minnesotans wantthe future to be like, and what they are willing tocommit to doing to make that future a reality.

The Sesquicentennial Plan for Our Future: ManyVoices-One Minnesota is just that – a plan for a fu-ture crafted by the citizens of the state. To capturetheir hopes, dreams and visions for Minnesota, theSesquicentennial staff, in partnership with the Re-gional Development Commissions, encouraged aseries of community conversations held throughoutthe state.

In a message to these conversation groups, Execu-tive Director Jane Leonard said, “Minnesota is a vastand diverse state, by geography and by culture. It isa daunting challenge to capture all of who we aretoday, where we have come from, and where weare heading. That is the magnificent opportunitywe have before us. We can, through the Sesquicen-tennial lens, connect people to learn from our pastand prepare for our future progress.”

Moderators at the community conversations, as wellas an online survey, asked participants:• “What do you want the future to be like for the

next generations?”• “What are the key issues and challenges we have

to deal with to ensure the future we envision willbecome reality?”

• “What would you like to tell Minnesotans 50years from now that you are personally workingon today to ensure they have the same or betterquality of life you have now?”

These conversations, which were one of the firstways Minnesotans became engaged with theSesquicentennial, began in 2007 and carriedthrough much of 2008. For an in-depth discussionof the process and resulting document, see pg. 25.

The Plan for Our Future was presented to the StateLegislature and will be available for other public usein conjunction with the many “plans” created by

other organizations representing the different sec-tors and fields of discipline (such as land use, envi-ronment, health care) that encompass Minnesotapolicy development.

The Plan is available online at www.mn150years.organd is archived along with other Sesquicentennialofficial papers at the Minnesota Historical Society.

Fundraising

Fundraising began in earnest with a $100,000 plan-ning grant from the Minnesota State Legislature.Downturns in the economy and competition fromother events and festivals made fundraising chal-lenging, but we met our goal of $4 million by rais-ing a total of $4.5 million in cash and in-kind.

The Commission held a funders’ briefing in June2007 at the St. Paul Hotel, and again in October atEastcliff, the University of Minnesota’s president’shouse. These briefings helped current and potentialfunders grasp the big, detailed picture of theSesquicentennial goals, strategies and opportunities.

Another fundraising event was hosted at the St.Paul Hotel in February 2008 by Commission ChairCay Shea Hellervik and the Sesquicentennial staff.The reception program provided an opportunity formany notable Sesquicentennial supporters to tellpersonal stories of their love for Minnesota, includ-ing former Gov. Al Quie and current MinnesotaHouse Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher.

Time of PreparationJuly 2006 to May 2008

Sesquicentennial Pledge

During the Sesquicentennial year,

I will endeavor to learn fromthe state’s past, reflect on les-

sons from both its successes andfailings and get engaged

in planning for Minnesota’s future well-being.


As of December 2008, the exact total of funds andin-kind raised was $4,483,600. This included:

From the State Legislature

$1.6 million in appropriations ($100,000 in 2005,$750,000 in 2007, and $175,000 & $575,000 in2008)

Matched by

$375,600 cash from foundations, or-ganizations & individuals

$384,500 cash from corporations$1,071,500 in-kind from corpo-

rations & organizations$652,000 cash match from

communities & organiza-tions for state Sesquicen-tennial grants

$400,000 in-kind match fromcommunities & organiza-tions for state Sesquicenten-nial grants

We matched one-to-one the initialstate appropriations of $850,000 withinone year – May 2007 to May 2008 – and metthe Bush Foundation challenge grant match (three-to-one) within one month, April 2008. The totalBush Foundation grant was $226,000.

Of the cash received from all sources (except the$652,000 cash match from communities and organ-izations for grant matches,) $585,000 went directlyto local communities and organizations as Sesqui-centennial grants. The remaining $1,775,100 wentto plan and implement events and programs ofstatewide scope, including Statehood Week and the2007 and 2008 State Fair exhibitions.

The Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commissionthanks the following for their generous dona-tions of funding and in-kind assistance:

Our PartnersMinnesota Historical SocietyUniversity of MinnesotaMinnesota State Colleges & University System Special thanks to: Minnesota State Legislature, the

Governor’s Office, the Office of the Secretary ofState, the Minnesota Supreme Court, and themany state agencies supporting the Sesquicenten-nial including the Minnesota Departments of Agri-culture, Education, Human Rights, Natural

Resources (State Parks), Explore MinnesotaTourism and Veteran Affairs

Minnesota National GuardMinnesota’s private collegesMinnesota’s regional public library systemsStaff & volunteers at the James J. Hill House Sesquicentennial volunteers across the state

Sesquicentennial Presenting Sponsors -$250,000 & above

People of Minnesota, through an appropri-ation from the Minnesota State Legis-

laturePersonnel Decisions International

TPT-TV - The Minnesota Chan-nel

Trailblazers: $100,000 to$249,999Bush FoundationMinnesota State Fair

Voyageurs: $50,000 to$99,999

AgStar BBDO

Bell Museum of Natural HistoryDolan Media

KARE-11Katherine B. Andersen Fund of the Saint Paul Foun-

dation Miller Travelers

Founders: $25,000 to $49,999Blandin FoundationGeneral Mills Foundation Minnesota Twins Minnesota VikingsSecurian Skyline DesignTarget

32nd State Club: $10,000 to $24,999Citizens League Comcast Eureka RecyclingF. R. Bigelow FoundationHeroic ProductionsMidwest Coca-Cola Bottling CompanyMinnesota Federation of Stamp ClubsPioneer PressPublic Affairs CompanySt. Paul Foundation St. Paul Hotel

Stagetime ProductionsToroTrojeUS BankXcel Energy

Sesqui Stewardship Club: $1,000 to $9,999

A & A EngravingBest BuyBlue Cross and Blue Shield of MinnesotaCHS FoundationCinequiptDot.com.printing.inc. ECM PublishingEcolab, Inc.Grotto Foundation in memory of founder Louis W.

Hill, Jr.Gustavus Adolphus CollegeHormel FoodsMelroseMetro TransitMinnesota Rural Partners, Inc. N. Judge and Reatha Clark King Family Fund of the

Minneapolis Foundation Northwest AirlinesPadilla Speer BeardsleyRiverPoint Media Group, Inc. SuperValuTunheim PartnersVisual ImpactWeber ShandwickWendellsPrivate Individuals

Minnesota Memories level: Up to $999Woman's Club of MinneapolisState Government Meeting Planners GroupThe Minnesota Association of Cooperatives Educa-

tion FoundationTwo Fools VineyardPrivate Individuals

Special Event & Project PartnersCity of St. Paul Emergency Foodshelf Network & Taco Bell Members of the Minnesota Private College Council Minnesota Public Radio Minnesota State Patrol & Capitol Security Nodin Press Old Minnesota Song of the North Star Big Top

Chautauqua Plant Management Division of the Minnesota De-

partment of Administration Roseville Visitors Association

Sesquicentennial Honorary Capitals for a Day: Bemidji, Thief River Falls, Detroit Lakes, New Ulm& Winona

Sesquicentennial Wagon Train United States Postal Service for the Minnesota State-

hood Commemorative Stamp Vintage Aircraft Flyover

Media Partners KARE-11Pioneer Press

Securing Partners

Any journey is easier, more fun and filled with moreexperiences when you have good travel partners. Itwas the same with the Sesquicentennial journey.Key partners added event expertise, depth ofknowledge and breadth of exposure to the Sesqui-centennial. These Sesqui journey partners were:

Minnesota Historical Society

What better institution to capture the sweep andscope of Minnesota’s history than the MinnesotaHistorical Society? Following the Sesquicentennial’slead to create an inclusive, interactive commemora-tion, the MHS solicited nominations for the 150people, places and things that changed and shapedMinnesota.

More than 2,700 entries came in from Minnesotansliving in every corner of the state, as well as acrossthe globe. MHS Director Nina Archabal said, “Itwas an unprecedented degree of participation. Andwho better to tell us about Minnesota than the peo-ple who live here?”

A committee of MHS staff, community membersand subject experts selected the final 150, basingtheir choices on the compelling case made by thenominator, as well as the potential for each topic tobe developed into a successful piece of the exhibit.

So who and what made the final cut? Bob Dylanand Prince. The GPS and Greyhound Bus systems.Hubert H. Humphrey and Elmer L. Andersen. JohnBeargrease and the American Indian Movement.The 1980 Olympic Hockey Team and Patty Berg.Burma Shave signs and the Kensington Runestone.Plus 138 more.

The MN 150 exhibit opened October 13, 2007, the150th anniversary of the vote by Minnesota Territoryresidents on the proposed state constitution. (It was


accepted, 30,055to 571.) Eachyear, 350,000 visi-tors tour the His-tory Centerexhibits, and amajority of themviewed MN 150.At the end of theSesqui year, MN150 will continueas a major exhibitat the Center.

Others havechecked out thetop 150 throughthe book, Min-nesota 150: ThePeople, Places andThings that ShapeOur State, by ex-hibit developerKate Roberts.And more haveparticipated in the

MN150 Wiki (collection of pages thatcan be modified by users) at the histori-cal society’s Web site, www.mnhs.org,by submitting their comments and cre-ating their own MN150 lists.

Also on the Web site, userscould become “Sesqui-Scouts” by taking the officialpledge and printing out anID card good for admissiondiscounts at any participat-ing state historical sites andmuseums and $5 off on anMHS membership. All histor-ical sites and museums wereencouraged to developSesquicentennial-relatedevents, programs and ex-hibits.

Also at each site, kids couldchoose from several Sesqui-

centennial rub-on tattoos including:Sesquilicious!, Sesqui-Lightful! and Votefor Sesquatch.

To draw visitors to its sites, the MHS published TheOfficial State Sesquicentennial Guide to Minnesota

History. This fun, fold-out guide showcased,through photos, compelling graphics and words,the Society’s sites and museums, a timeline of Min-nesota history and objects from its collections. TheMHS also held a free open house at its 26 historicalsites and museums on June 1, 2008.

In addition, the MHS created an eye-catching“Sesqui-Sensational” advertising campaign to spot-light its activities throughout the Sesquicentennial.Lory Sutton, chief marketing officer for the MHS,said, “The ad campaign was a humorous take-offon the word ‘Sesquicentennial,’ which newscastersand citizens alike had trouble pronouncing and re-membering, much less knowing the definition!”

The campaign targeted women ages 35 to 50 whotypically set the social agenda for their families andfriends – in other words, the people who plan andorganize trips to historic sites.

Sutton said, “We wanted the Sesquicentennial cam-paign to stand out from the usual historic-patriotic-tourism approach by doing something memorableand fun. We built the buzz with election yard signs,tattoos, the Scout pledge and more.”

Using visuals like those in the ad campaign, theMHS played on the 2008 election by developingyard signs that read, “Vote for Sesquatch!” and fea-tured a tall, furry, furtive creature running into thedistance.

The MHS also held a Media ResourceDay in February to acquaint journalistsand members of the media to the rangeof programs, services and other re-sources to help them research, illumi-nate and enrich the SesquicentennialYear.

Office of the Secretary of State

To commemorate the Sesquicentennial,the Office of the Secretary of Statesponsored a number of initiatives fo-cused on governance and governing,including:• Bringing the Declaration of Inde-pendence to Minnesota. To under-score where democracy begins, the

Office, in partnership with Dolan Media, the Min-nesota Historical Society and the SesquicentennialCommission, arranged for an original version ofthe Declaration to be on exhibit in May 2008 at


OFFICIAL SESQUI-SCOUT PLEDGE

HOLD UP YOUR RIGHT HAND INTHE SESQUI-SALUTE ANDSESQUI-SOLEMNLY VOW:

ON MY HONOR, I WILL TRY:

• TO VISIT ALL 26 HISTORICSITES AND MUSEUMS OR ATLEAST THE ONES MY PARENTSWILL TAKE ME TO,

• TO DO MY BEST TO LEARNHOW TO PRONOUNCE “SESQUI-CENTENNIAL,”

• TO HAVE A SESQUI-FUN,SESQUI-SAFE, SESQUI-ORDERLYSESQUICENTENNIAL,

• TO BE A GOOD SESQUI-CITI-ZEN AND HELP MY FELLOWSESQUI-SCOUTS EVEN MYBROTHERS AND/OR SISTERS.

the Minnesota Historical Society. DuringStatehood Week, 20,000 people viewedthe DOI, as it is affectionately known.

• Achieving record voter turnout. Withthe goal of “80 in ’08,” the Secretary ofState’s office sought to improve voterturnout, especially among those whoface significant barriers including militaryservice people and the hearing and visu-ally impaired. Once again, Minnesotawas the national leader in voter turnout,and almost reached the campaign’s goalwith a 78 percent turnout.

• Presenting a history series. Thesepublic events exploring the history, cur-rent state of affairs and future challengesof the Office included working with theMinnesota Historical Society on protect-ing documents in the digital age and aseminar on facilitating commerce.

• Honoring Minnesota’s public ser-vants. This initiative had four parts: vot-ing in honor of a veteran; a reunion forthe thousands of Minnesotans who haveserved the Office of Secretary of State;publication of a special Sesquicentennialedition of the “Blue Book,” the manualof the Minnesota State Legislature; and astatehood ceremony honoring those whoserve – public servants, citizen volunteersand members of the armed forces.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

In the words of the MHS’ ads, 2008 was a“Sesqui-sensational Summer” to visit thestate’s amazing, beautiful and diverse stateparks. With gas prices hovering around $4per gallon and a wobbling economy, manyresidents opted for “stay-cations” – vaca-tions closer to home. Where better to ex-plore the state’s history, culture andgeography than at a state park? To jump-start these Sesqui journeys, the MinnesotaDepartment of Natural Resources offeredfree admission to all state parks and siteson June 1, 2008.

The DNR’s goal was to offer at least 150new Sesquicentennial-related programs.As Claire Plank, state park Sesqui eventplanner said, “The state parks just grabbedthe Sesquicentennial and ran with it.”

• All 72 parks were required to buy aSesqui flag and fly it at the entrance. Allnon-uniformed staff wore Sesqui pins.

• The DNR produced a coloring book ofstate symbols for the parks’ youngest vis-itors.

• Staff and naturalists at the parks tailoredprograms to their park’s particular historyor geography.

More than 250 programs were presentedthroughout the year. They were publicizedon the Sesquicentennial’s Web site as wellas through a new program brochure de-signed especially for the 150th anniversaryof statehood. They ranged from “Stories inlog and stone” at Old Mill State Park to“Fishing techniques of the past” at SibleyState Park to “Minnesota birds since state-hood” at Forestville/Mystery Cave StatePark to “Biking into the North Shore’spast” at Gooseberry Falls State Park.

The DNR lured kids into exploring the greatoutdoors by hosting a Geocaching HistoryChallenge for the Sesquicentennial. Basi-cally, geocaching is a high-tech treasurehunt. Using a handheld Global PositioningSystem (GPS) device, the geocacher entersthe coordinates of the treasure, then goesin search of it. Here’s how the challengeworked:• Began May 11, Minnesota Statehood

Day.• Geocaches containing collectible, Min-

nesota history cards, Sesqui medallions ortrinkets and a log book were hidden ineach of the state’s 72 parks and recre-ation sites.

• Participants could download the coordi-nates from www.geocaching.com.

• Anyone new to geocaching could visit ademonstration site at one of 16 stateparks. If they didn’t have a GPS unit,they could check one out at the park.

In addition, Minnesota Conservation Volun-teer, the DNR’s quarterly magazine, pub-lished a special Sesquicentennial article ineach edition during 2008.


Explore Minnesota Tourism

Explore Minnesota Tourism helped travelers exploreMinnesota through a comprehensive listing ofSesquicentennial events and events on its Web site:www.exploreminnesota.com. Visitors to the site justsearched “Sesquicentennial.” The department alsofeatured Sesquicentennial events in its quarterlytabloid promotional newspaper, Explore Minnesotaand electronic newsletter.

University of Minnesota

Founded in 1851, the University of Minnesota hasplayed an integral role in the development of thestate and its people. To recognize this special rela-tionship, the University hosted events on each of itscampuses honoring Minnesota during the academicyear 2007-2008.

A university-wide committee, chaired by ThomasFisher, dean, College of Design, and Ann Pflaum,University of Minnesota historian, helped plan andcoordinate activities offered in the Twin Cities aswell as at the Crookston, Duluth, Morris andRochester campuses.

Some events became part of commencements, con-vocations or lectures, others were developed espe-cially for the Sesquicentennial. Among them were:

Crookston: • At commencement exercises, Crookston choir

performed “Shines for All to See,” the officialSesquicentennial song composed by U of MSchool of Music faculty member Dean Sorenson.

• Orlin Ostby, Northwest School of Agriculture Classof ’57, recreated a 40-day, 420-mile walk with anox and ox cart along the Old Pembina trail. Thiswalk originally was re-enacted in 1958 for theMinnesota Centennial by Delmar Hagen, whohired Ostby in the 1950s as a farm hand.

Duluth• The campus sponsored a four-part lecture series

called, “American Indians in Minnesota: A Per-sonal History.” It featured speakers including au-thors, performers, educators and Native Americanleaders exploring topics such as contemporary civilrights, governance, economic development, litera-ture and culture.

Morris• The sixth annual Symposium on Small Towns was

dedicated to the Sesquicentennial. All of the smalltowns nominated for Capital for a Day were rec-ognized with special certificates of appreciationfrom the Sesquicentennial Commission. The sym-posium, “The Power of Small: Building Solutionsfor Energy Self-Reliance,” included a concert byMinnesota storyteller and singer Peter Os-troushko, as well as Sesquicentennial displays.

Rochester• The newest of the U’s campuses held three events

based on the theme: “The Power of Medicine,Education, and Technology in Rochester: A Lookat the Past, Present and Future.”

Twin Cities• The Weisman Museum on the U of M campus

mounted an exhibit “By the People for the Peo-ple: New Deal Art in Minnesota.” It focused onMinnesota art of the 1930s.

• “Celebrating Discovery: Our Past and Our Future”was a series of four faculty panels held at theCampus Club. Topics of the panels were: “Artsand the Built Environment: Changing Symbolsand Realities in Suburban Living,” “Agriculture,Forestry and the Natural World,” “Changing De-mographics: Snapshots of a New America and aNew Minnesota,” and “A Changing World: Pastand Present Threats to the Public’s Health.”

Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society

A group of more than 40 leaders in the Minnesotalegal community came together to form the Min-nesota Supreme Court Historical Society. Modeledafter the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society, thenew nonprofit organization was dedicated to col-lecting, preservation and promoting Minnesota’s ju-dicial history. The Sesquicentennial gave theMSCHS an ideal platform for launching its activities.It took part in the Statehood Week events and up-dated publication of bar memorials for all membersof the Minnesota Supreme Court since its inception.


SINGER-SONG-WRITER ANNREED PER-FORMED INCOMMUNITIESTHROUGHOUTMINNESOTA INTHE PROCESS OFWRITING HERSESQUICENTEN-NIAL TRIBUTESONG.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

There are Centennial Farms, and now there areSesquicentennial Farms. In honor of the state’s an-niversary, the Minnesota Department of Agriculturerecognized 90 families who have retained owner-ship of their land for 150 years or more.

These families were invited to Sesqui-Century FarmDay at the Sesquicentennial Big Top Chautauquaduring the 2008 Minnesota State Fair. As part of therecognition ceremony, they received a certificatefrom Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner GeneHugoson, which was signed by CommissionerHugoson and Gov. Tim Pawlenty. The day also fea-tured a display of the Sesquicentennial Farms. TheSesquicentennial Farm recognition program will be-come an annual event through a partnership withthe Minnesota Farm Bureau.

The Department of Agriculture also added specialSesquicentennial sections to its Web site and itsAgMag publication for schools, which continuedthrough the year.

Minnesota National Guard

Minnesota ranks 26th among states in population,but 5th in military service. That military connectionwas in full view during the Statehood Weekend Fes-tival and the Commemoration Ceremony on May18, which was dedicated to “Honoring Those WhoServe.”• F-16s of the 148th Fighter Wing opened the cere-

mony at 6:58 p.m. (18:58 in military time) with aroaring flyover to mark the state’s admission tothe Union.

• Maj. Gen. Larry W. Shellito, adjutant general forthe state, thanked members of the U.S. ArmedForces and their families for their commitmentand sacrifices.

• 100 service members participated in a march tothe Capitol steps, complete with flags represent-ing all the state’s National Guard battalions andwings.

• Lt. Col. Greg Thingvold, commander of the 2ndBattalion, 147th Assault Helicopter Battalion, ad-dressed his family and the crowd via satellite linkfrom his base in Iraq.

The National Guard also provided a link to theSesquicentennial on its Web site.

Minnesota Department of Human Rights

To help tell the story of human rights in the state,staff from the Minnesota Department of HumanRights created an in-depth DVD, “150 Years ofHuman Rights in Minnesota.” It includes photos,text and voice-over that chronicle the milestonesmarking the struggle for human rights in Min-nesota. The DVD debuted at the annual HumanRights Day dinner in December 2008.

Minnesota Public Radio

To help tell Minnesota’s story at its Sesquicentennial,Minnesota Public Radio created a special section onits Web site to showcase MPR’s Sesqui program-ming. The section, called “Minnesota Arrival: ASesquicentennial Survey,” included:• Tell Your Story. New and established Min-

nesotans, whether they came from near or far,were invited to tell their story on the social net-work, www.gather.com. Many included videosthat could be viewed on the site.

• Song for Minnesota. As part of MPR’s Trouba-dour concert series, singer-songwriter Ann Reedtoured greater Minnesota and performed at sixMPR-produced Sesqui concerts. Along the way,she gathered suggestions and inspirations for anew song about Minnesota, which she premieredat the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul onMay 3. Visitors to the MPR site could hear the“Song for Minnesota,” as well as others shewrote following her travels.


NATIONALGUARD JETSOPENED STATE-HOOD CERE-MONIES WITH AFLYOVER ON MAY18 AT 18:58.

• News. MPR created more than 20 news storiescovering Sesqui events and issues ranging frompresidential hopefuls from the state to storiesfrom the Depression-era Civilian ConservationCorps to a memoir written by a Hmong immi-grant to the Native Americans’ view of the Sesqui-centennial. All were available via audio links onthe site.

• Minnesota 150 quiz. Visitors could take a quickonline quiz to test their knowledge of Min-nesota’s past.

• Resources. This section provided links to a varietyof Sesquicentennial Web sites and historical re-sources.

Telling the Sesqui Story

One of the greatest, nonstop challenges of theSesquicentennial was communicating to the publicabout everything that was happening and how theycould participate. Not only did the staff need tocommunicate the date for a community conversa-tion, details about the geocaching event or how tobuy a souvenir medallion, it also needed to engageMinnesotans, excite them about the Sesquicenten-nial and convey the broad reach of the Sesquicen-tennial activities.

Sesqui on the Web

With limited staff and financial resources, as well asan ever-changing calendar of events, the most ef-fective vehicle for reaching diverse audiences wasthe Sesquicentennial’s official Web site,www.mn150years.org.

The site served as a one-stop shop for the Sesqui-centennial. The home page was a lively introduc-tion and changed as events and highlights changed.A visitor could find links to the Sesqui-related blog,listen to the Sesqui song, watch a video of notedMinnesotans reading the Declaration of Independ-ence, check out photos of the historical fact for theday, or explore a Spotlight Tour of the state.

With a quick click, visitors could find the followinginformation:• Grant programs. Interested citizens could learn

about the program and apply online for grants tofund Sesquicentennial-related activities.

• Community programs. These included theSesquicentennial cookbook, the Community Spirit

program, Capital for a Day, volunteer opportuni-ties and more.

• Events. Visitors to the site could check a month-by-month calendar for events, read about them,or search them from an interactive map, thanks tothe help of Commission member Rep. Diane Loef-fler and the legislative GIS mapping service. Any-one hosting an event related to theSesquicentennial could add it to the listings,which would also be loaded on the clickable map.

• Merchandise. The Web site provided orderinginformation for a variety of Sesqui memorabilia:the commemorative medallions, cookbook, gear,and flags and banners.

• Background info. This section covered Commis-sion members, a historical timeline, fact sheets,links, sponsors and suggestions for raising aware-ness about the Sesquicentennial.

• And more. Visitors could find contact informa-tion as well as all the news releases for the Sesqui-centennial.

The Web site also provided a way for people to reg-ister to use the official logo for their local events,programs and activity materials. Hundreds of re-quests came in, resulting in the logo being usedstatewide. Some of the nearly 200 uses included:White House Easter Egg and Christmas ornament,tissue boxes, collector matchbooks, Bemidji WoolenMills blanket, Chisholm Fire Days cake, medallionfor the Spielmannszug Karneval Klub, and collectorRed Wing Pottery jars and trivets.

The Web site had 8,100 links to it from other sites.The blog, written by Sesqui staff members, startedin May, 2007 and nearly 400 posts were made to it.The Sesqui-blog was viewed more than 17,500times; readers posted 55 comments.

Other communication vehicles complemented theWeb site including news releases, a monthly e-newsletter and special-use publications such as aSesquicentennial highlights brochure, a tent-shapedprogram for the 2008 State Fair Chautauqua and a“State-Constitution-on-a-stick” for the 2007 StateFair booth.

The Sesqui news releases were picked up directly bymedia outlets or served as a springboard for the de-velopment of local stories. By year’s end, they hadgenerated thousands of news clippings from everycorner of Minnesota, which are archived at the Min-nesota Historical Society.


Many newspapers and media Web sites developedSesqui promotions, including a MN150 fact of theday in the StarTribune, and special Statehood Daysections in the StarTribune and Pioneer Press.

Speeches & Special Appearances

Commission members and staff were privileged tobe honored guests and guest speakers at more than100 events and meetings with community and or-ganization hosts. These included Rotary luncheons,club meetings, historical society annual meetings,time capsule openings, dedication ceremonies,school presentations and other gatherings.

The Sesqui staff created special PowerPoint, videopresentations and generic speech materials thatcould be used with a speaker or as a stand-alonepresentation. These tools enabled Commissioners,staff and others to promote special and general as-pects of the Sesquicentennial programs, grant avail-ability, event logistics and overviews in person orfrom afar.

Commission staff also held a mini conference in Roseville in early fall 2007 to help grant recipients,event planners, vendors and others better under-stand the general framework, themes and workplan of the Sesquicentennial and to encourage net-working between participants across the state.

Promoting the Sesquicentennial

To capture the attention and imagination of Min-nesotans across the state and raise their awarenessof the upcoming Sesquicentennial, the staff planneda series of promotions beginning in 2007.

Kick-Off Press Conference

On March 1, 2007, Gov. Tim Pawlenty hosted apress conference at the State Capitol to announceplans for the Sesquicentennial celebrations, intro-duce Commission members and the newly hired ex-ecutive director. It was fitting that a snowstormblustered outside, nearly 150 years to the day theU.S. Congress passed an act allowing voters in Min-nesota Territory to begin work on becoming a state.

Gov. Pawlenty was joined by Commission members,Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and Supreme CourtAssociate Justice Paul H. Anderson, who held up hisweathered, but still colorful, copy of the special sec-tion created by the Minneapolis Star newspaper in1949 for the Territory’s Centennial.

The governor outlined the purpose of the Sesqui-centennial observance, saying that “today we re-member the perseverance and determination ofMinnesota’s early leaders who brought us togetheras a state, and we look forward to another 150years of the enterprising and innovative spirit thatmakes Minnesota special.”

Pawlenty announced plans for a matching grantsprogram, fundraising efforts and events at local andstate levels. He also submitted to the State Legisla-ture a request for $2 million to fund the Sesquicen-tennial (eventually the Legislature allocated $1.6million) to be matched by communities, corpora-tions, foundations and individuals — which didoccur, nearly three times over.

Also that day, Yves Roux, vice president and creativedirector of the marketing and advertising firmBBDO, unveiled the official Sesquicentennial logo,the first in-kind contribution to the Sesquicentennialby a Minnesota corporation.

Minnesota Rural Summit

In May 2007, the annualMinnesota Rural Summit de-voted its theme and timing tothe Sesquicentennial, hostingthe conference in Brainerd,May 10-11. “Thriving by De-sign” looked ahead at Min-nesota’s future — land use,changing demographics, cul-tural diversity, etc. — afterlooking back at the effects of150 years of settlement.

Minnesota’s regional public li-brary systems also agreed tobe hosts and shepherds forthe Sesquicentennial bannersand journals, which madetheir first appearance at theRural Summit. Over the next12 months, two — and even-tually four — sets of bannersand journals made their way


GOV. TIM PAW-LENTY SIGNS THEFIRST SESQUIAMBASSADORBANNER THATTRAVELED TO LI-BRARIES ACROSSMINNESOTADURING 2007-2008.

across Minnesota via community libraries, stoppingfor up to three weeks at each location.

The banners became the Commission’s roving am-bassadors well before there was adequate staff andfunding for more complicated programming andoutreach. Library staff hosted events and programsaround these materials. Thousands of peopleviewed the banners and signed the journals, record-ing their thoughts about Minnesota and hundredsof local newspapers printed stories and photos.

The first banner was autographed by nearly everystate legislator, the governor and Minnesota’s twoU.S. senators at one of two events: the State of theState address in St. Cloud in February 2008 andwhen the banner arrived at the State Capitol stepson May 11, 2008 for the Statehood Day cere-monies. The journals and banners are archived withthe Sesquicentennial collection at the MinnesotaHistory Center.

2007 Minnesota State Fair Booth

If you want to reach Minnesotans from every cornerof the state and every walk of life, have a booth atthe Minnesota State Fair, the Great Minnesota Get-Together. And give away something on a stick.That’s exactly what the Sesquicentennial staff didfor its first major promotional event that lasted 12hours a day for the 12 days of the fair.

Minnesota Constitution Day is August 29, the con-stitution also was celebrating its 150th anniversary,so the timing was perfect to focus on statehood atthe late-August to early-September fair.

Visitors to the booth received not only informationabout the Sesquicentennial and how to get in-volved, but also took away a souvenir “Constitu-tion-on-Stick” — a stick-mounted flyer with theDemocratic-signed version of the first Min-nesota Constitution printed on one side andthe Republican-signed version on the other.

A birthday cake for the state; a flag-raisingby Sesquicentennial Commission members,Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and consti-tutional expert and Minnesota SupremeCourt Associate Justice Paul H. Anderson;participation in the daily fair parade bySesqui staff and Commissioners in 1850s

garb; and visits from characters Trix the Rabbit (Gen-eral Mills) and Spammy (Hormel) were Sesqui high-lights of the 2007 fair.

Besides beginning to engage the public in theSesquicentennial, the booth served another purpose— to collect mailing and e-mail addresses for acomprehensive list of people wanting more informa-tion or interested in volunteering for the big eventsto come in 2008.

Community Spirit Program

Stillwater was one of the first towns in Minnesota,so it’s only fitting that the kick-off of the Sesquicen-tennial’s Community Spirit Program was held at“The Birthplace of Minnesota” on September 18,2007 at the Water Street Inn. Helping with thelaunch were a local fourth-grade class, Main Streetmerchants and the Stillwater Area Chamber ofCommerce.

The Community Spirit Program served as a clearing-house for “street graphics” — Sesquicentennialflags, large-sized banners, light-post banners andsidewalk decals — for communities to get in theSesqui spirit. Communities could even requestlarge-scale graphics for buildings or special decals toturns cars into Sesqui-mobiles. The CommunitySpirit Program also offered Sesqui gear ranging frompins and medallions to caps and t-shirts to travelmugs and souvenir license plates.

Sesquicentennial stamp

The Mississippi River begins its journey to the Gulfof Mexico in Minnesota. From earliest times, it wasthe site of settlements and commerce. That’s whythe great river was chosen as the subject for theMinnesota Statehood Commemorative stamp.


COMMISSION VICE CHAIR REATHA CLARK KING WASINSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING A COMMEMORATIVESTAMP FOR MINNESOTA'S ANNIVERSARY.

Minnesota photographer Richard Hamilton Smithcaptured a view looking north from Winona of aglass-smooth river reflecting the late-afternoon sun,dotted with islands and spanned by Winona’s iconicbridge. The stamp’s design was unveiled and an-nounced at a reception on October 6, 2007 atWinona State University, which also celebrated its150th anniversary in 2008 and is the oldest publiclysupported college west of the Mississippi.

The stamp was officially dedicated and made avail-able nationwide on May 17, 2008 as part of theStatehood Week festivities. Commission Vice ChairDr. Reatha Clark King was instrumental in makingthe inquiries and following through with the U.S.Postal Service to ensure that Minnesota’s 150th an-niversary stamp became a reality.

Capitals for a Day nominations

St. Paul is the official capital of Minnesota, but toraise awareness of and celebrate the state’s diverseecological “biomes,” cultures and people, it sharedthat honor with five other Minnesota cities duringStatehood Week, May 11-18, 2008 and throughoutthe remainder of the Sesquicentennial Summer.

Rather than working within the imposed county andregional/district government borders of the state,the Sesquicentennial staff adopted Minnesota’sunique ecological and geological features for the re-gional zones. The concept behind this decision wasto encourage people in Minneapolis, for example,to understand that they share the same kind of eco-logical landscape as a small town in northwesternMinnesota.

The biomes were defined as the coniferous forest ofthe northeast; the tallgrass aspen parklands of thenorthwest; the deciduous forest that bisects thestate diagonally from Ada to Zumbrota; the westernprairie grasslands; and the driftless area of the farsoutheast.

This project also helped the state’s residents under-stand how unique Minnesota is, and why we loveand seek to preserve our great outdoors. It’s theonly place in the North American continent wherethree major biomes converge — deciduous, conifer-ous, and prairie. This makes Minnesota’s plant andanimal life exceedingly diverse.

In October and November, 2007, Minnesotans wereencouraged to submit an online nomination atwww.mn150years.org, including an essay of up to

150 words, of communities to serve as a Capital fora Day that best represented the people, culture andheritage of the region. Once the nominations wereclosed, the entries were divided by region prior toonline voting. Voters could read the nomination es-says, then make their selection of one community ineach region. Nearly 11,000 visitors participated inthe online poll.

The five honorary Capitals were announced Decem-ber 5, 2007 at a press conference with Gov. Paw-lenty. He presented the mayors of Bemidji, DetroitLakes, New Ulm, Thief River Falls and Winona withofficial Capital for a Day certificates.

Each community organized hundreds of volunteersand planned months of Capital for a Day-inspiredcelebrations and events. The communities also werefeatured on their own day during the StatehoodWeek festivities (see pg. 21.)

Highway welcome signs

To let travelers know that Minnesota is an excep-tional place filled with exceptional people celebrat-ing its 150th anniversary of statehood, signsannouncing the Sesquicentennial were placed atevery highway entry point into the state by 2008.The signs, measuring 5.5 feet by 2.5 feet, read,“Minnesota 1858-2008, 150 Years of Statehood.”

Special signs also were installed at highway en-trances to each of the Capital for a Day cities.

All highway signs were scheduled for removal inearly 2009 and will be offered for sale: $500 foreach of the 67 signs on a first-come, first-servedbasis. Communities, businesses, individuals and or-ganizations that buy them could display them aslasting reminders of this special year.

Sesquicentennial song

The weather was frosty on January 12, 2008, butthe music was hot. The Sesquicentennial Song,“Shines for All to See,” debuted at the Roseville Jazz-fest. Commissioned by the Sesquicentennial Com-mission and the Roseville Visitors Association, theupbeat music and lyrics were written by DeanSorenson, director of jazz studies and the MinnesotaJazz Band at the University of Minnesota.

Called “a good, sing-along song,” the Sesqui songpraises the beauty, people, cultures and traditions,lakes and waterways of the place Minnesotans call


home. The song was sung by choirs, audiences andindividuals throughout the Sesquicentennial Year.

Sesquicentennial license plates

There are vanity vehicle license plates and then thereare special plates — license plates that allow ownersto show their support for the environment, thetroops and, starting in 2008, the Sesquicentennial.

Commission member and State Sen. Ann H. Rest,State Rep. Mary Murphy, Duluth Mayor Don Nessand Secretary of State Mark Ritchie unveiled theSesqui plates at a ceremony outside the Maritime

Museum in Duluth on August13, 2008. Duluth was chosenbecause it marks the beginningof State Scenic Highway 61 thatruns along Minnesota’s famedNorth Shore.

Sen. Rest, was instrumental inshepherding the plates throughthe lengthy approval process atthe State Capitol. She washelped in these efforts by other

Commission memberswho also are state legis-lators and co-sponsorState Sen. Scott Dibble.

As a side note, people asked why the license platesweren’t available earlier in the SesquicentennialYear. Ironically, Minnesota has so many vanity platesthat the legislature had become cautious in approv-ing new ones. But honoring statehood prevailed,and the plates went on sale from 2008 until 2011.

Price of the plates are $35, with $25 dedicated tothe Sesquicentennial Commission to support pro-grams and activities during the Sesqui year. Fundsleftover and those raised after the Sesquicentennialwill benefit the restoration of the Minnesota StateCapitol.

Volunteers

The Minnesota Sesquicentennial would not havehappened without the thousands of grassroots vol-unteers across the state.

The Commission began its work with a full-timestaff of one. Eventually, full-time staffing rose tofour, with several Sesquicentennial Fellows (currentcollege students and recent graduates) contributingtheir time and talents from Summer 2007 until theCommission’s sunset in January 2009.

For the Statehood Week and State Fair in 2008alone we needed — and got — 300 and 600 volun-teers respectively, working shifts of three hours ormore. Thousands of hours of volunteer time weredonated by community leaders and citizens bothyoung and young at heart. They produced morethan 500 officially recognized events, over 150grant projects, plus the Capital for a Day events inBemidji, Thief River Falls, Detroit Lakes, New Ulmand Winona.

In an age when everyone is pulled in so many direc-tions by other community responsibilities, it washeart warming and inspiring to see people turn outto help, excited by the Sesquicentennial.

We can’t include the 3,000-plus people on our mail-ing list in this report, but you’ll find the list ofSesquicentennial Ambassadors on pg. 34. Thesevolunteers served as a conduit for information be-tween their counties and the Sesquicentennial staff.


SUMMER 2008 LIVED up to its billing as Sesqui-Sensa-tional. One blockbuster Sesquicentennial Commis-sion event kicked off the summer in May, whileanother provided a grand finale in September andscores of community, state park and historical siteevents amused, educated, informed and thrilled par-ticipants in between. The following is an overviewof the key events; there’s an addendum that lists allSesqui events from January through December2008 at the back of this report.

Statehood Week, May 11-18

On May 11, 1858, Minnesota became a state. May11, 2008 should have been the ideal date for com-memorating this momentous anniversary. But a bigone-day celebration would have clashed with twoother time-honored Minnesota traditions: the fish-ing opener and Mother’s Day. Instead, May 11,2008 kicked off more than a week’s worth ofevents focused on statehood, democracy, publicservice, and of course, fun.

May 4-11

Wagons, ho! On May 11, Wagon Master Jon Olsonled the 19 wagons of the Minnesota StatehoodSesquicentennial Wagon Train out of Cannon Fallsto begin an eight-day re-creation of an authentic pi-oneer journey. • More than 135 people participated in the wagon

train, which wound its way from Cannon Falls toRed Wing to Hastings to Inver Grove Heights thenon to Fort Snelling.

• Along the way, townspeople were invited to visitthe wagon camp and take part in the heritagefestivities.

• The wagon train arrived on the State Capitolgrounds in St. Paul and took part in the State-hood Day commemoration.

May 6-18

A copy of the original Declaration of Independencewas placed on display at the Minnesota HistoricalSociety, thanks to the efforts of Minnesota Secretaryof State Mark Ritchie, Commission member andDolan Media executive Sarah Janecek, and the MHSand Commission staffs. TheMHS estimates that nearly20,000 viewed the documentfree of charge.

May 10

The Minnesota Twins baseballteam played the World SeriesChampions, the Boston RedSox. The game was dedicatedto the Sesquicentennial, and• The Metrodome concourse

featured Sesqui videos play-ing on the game monitors and Sesqui signage.

• The Twins wore a special Sesqui logo uniformpatch.

• More than 30,000 fans received a StatehoodWeek invitation postcard when they arrived at theballpark.

• Pre-game ceremonies included a flag raising, in-troduction of the Sesquicentennial Commissionmembers, singing of the Sesqui song by the com-bined choirs of Armstrong and Cooper HighSchools in Robbinsdale, and throwing of the cere-monial first pitches by Sesquicentennial Executive


Time of commemoration

& CelebrationMay to September

2008

NEARLY 20 WAGONS PULLED ONTO THE STATE CAPITOLGROUNDS FOLLOWING THEIR WEEK-LONG JOURNEY FROMCANNON FALLS.

MINNESOTATWINS JANELEONARD OF THESESQUICENTEN-NIAL AND HERSISTER KARINSONNEMAN TOSSOUT THE FIRSTPITCH AT ATWINS GAME.

Director Jane Leonard and her Minnesota twin sis-ter Karin Sonneman of Winona.

• During the 7th inning stretch, Sesqui Commissionmember Sen. Ann H. Rest led the crowd in base-ball’s national anthem, ”Take Me Out to the BallGame.” Sen. Rest was instrumental in workingwith the Twins to arrange this tribute and quintes-sentially Minnesotan way to kick-off a week offestivities.

May 11

On the official Statehood Day, Gov. Tim Pawlenty,state and federal elected officials — including all thestate legislative leaders and U.S. Sens. Norm Cole-

man and Amy Klobuchar — andthe Sesquicentennial Commission-ers gathered for a short commem-oration ceremony on the steps ofthe State Capitol. They also wereon hand to greet the Sesquicen-tennial wagon train and recognizethe Sesquicentennial Essay Con-test winners.

Former First Lady Jane Freeman,whose husband Orville Freemanserved as governor during theStatehood Centennial in 1958, in-troduced the Centennial Baby

Dwayne Elton Ostrem. Ostrem was born May 11,1958 at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis, practically100 years to the moment that Minnesota became astate. He is now a civic leader and bank vice presi-dent in Rushford, Minn. In 1958, he won theWCCO radio contest to become Minnesota's Cen-tennial Baby.

May 12-16

Now it was time for the Capitals for a Day to shine.Each honorary capital, nominated and elected on-line by Minnesotans, hosted unique events to show-case its community and region. Sesqui staff andCommission Chair Cay Shea Hellervik boarded vehi-cles after the Statehood Day ceremony and madethe rounds of the Capitals celebrations. At eachstop, the ceremonies included a brief speech byGov. Tim Pawlenty or Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, Secre-tary of State Mark Ritchie and a community conver-sation to discuss the Plan for Our Future. The restwas up to the individual Capitals. Here are somehighlights:

• Bemidji, May 12. A community-wide pancakebreakfast and flag raising at City Hall were fol-lowed by a horse-drawn wagon tour of the townand lunch in Diamond Point Park. Festivitieswrapped up with a theater performance thatevening.

• Thief River Falls, May 13. Community eventsincluded an address by the governor, the unveil-ing of the Sesquicentennial cancellation stamp inhonor of the state commemorative stamp, an artand local resources and businesses exhibit, abreakfast honoring local businesses and a picnicat the ice arena.

• Detroit Lakes, May 14. Detroit Lakes used thisopportunity to dedicate a lakeside sailboat sculp-ture and host a picnic for the community com-plete with boat rides and giveaways. Lunchceremonies featured former Gov. Al Quie and cur-rent State Auditor Rebecca Otto. There also was ahuge community trade show in the afternoon atthe lakeside pavilion where local organizationsdisplayed their resources, a farmers market soldlocal foods and crafts, and stained glass art showparticipants showcased their work on thesparkling windows surrounding the pavilion. Thecommunity held a dance the night before.

• New Ulm, May 15. A pancake breakfast filledthe sports arena; a dedication ceremony at themuseum reminded attendees of New Ulm’sunique place in Minnesota history; a lunch andband concert entertained visitors and residents; Lt. Gov. Molnau helped release a huge catfish forthe DNR contest into the Minnesota River (It wascaught and released several weeks later; the luckyangler won $1,000.); and a city-wide picnic in thepark featuring music and dancing ended a greatday.


A WORKER NETS A CATFISH FOR THE DNR’S CATCH-AND-RELEASE FISHING CONTEST IN THE MINNESOTA RIVER AT NEW ULM.

GOV. ORVILLEFREEMANAWARDS THECENTENNIAL BABYCERTIFICATE TODWAYNE OSTREMAND HIS MOTHERIN 1958.

• Winona. The day started with a Native Americansunrise and reconciliation ceremony and tours ofthe city, surrounding bluffs and historic banks andbusinesses. City Hall hosted the student-run“State Legislature,” with Gov. Pawlenty openingthe session. A flag-raising and honor guard salutepreceded unveiling of the state stamp depictingWinona’s slice of the Mississippi. The Winona cel-ebration wrapped up with a picnic by the river,readings by its poet laureate, an all-city aerialphoto and fireworks.

May 17-18

Culmination of Statehood Week was the StatehoodWeekend Festival held on the State Capitol grounds.An estimated 22,000 visitors attended the two-daycelebration, which included:

• Sesquicentennial stamp unveiling. Introduc-tion of a life-sized version of the stamp wasmarked by a flyover by vintage airplanes, includ-ing one of the first, pre-World War II airmail deliv-ery planes and rare World War II-era warbirds —the P-38, P-52 and other fighters, bombers andtrainer planes.

• Exhibits, entertainment. Supported and organ-ized by the State Agency Working Group, the ex-hibits showcased state resources. Sesqui gearwas available for purchase and entertainment re-flected the diversity of Minnesota performers.

• Commemoration Ceremony. Both solemn andexhilarating, this centerpiece of Statehood Weekfeatured a flyover of four Minnesota Air NationalGuard F-16s; performances by the All-State Choirled by renowned conductor Philip Brunelle andthe University of Minnesota Jazz Band; the HonorSong presented by the Leech Lake Nation; aSesquicentennial address by Gov. Tim Pawlenty; a100-soldier march by the Minnesota NationalGuard; satellite link to Minnesota soldiers in Iraq;and grand-finale fireworks.

A summer of Sesqui events

The following is a snapshot of activities that tookplace during the Sesquicentennial Summer. Somewere funded by Sesquicentennial grants, some werepart of annual community celebrations, some werenew events just for Sesqui-time, but all told Min-nesota’s story through innovative programs, events,exhibits, presentations and performances. (See all500 beginning on pg. 46.)

• Celebrating Change and Resilience, an interpretiveexhibit of the Ojibwe culture.

• Land of 10,000 Lakes: Minnesota’s 150-year con-nection to water enacted by Heart of the Beastpuppet theater.

• They Chose Minnesota, an oral history and DVDof older and more recent immigrants.

• Held in the Heartland: German POWs in the Mid-west, a bus tour to POW detention sites in Min-nesota.

• Obsidian Arts: 150 years of African-AmericanArtists in Minnesota, an exhibit and documenta-tion of black artists’ work since statehood.

• The State We’re In: Critical and Creative Ap-proaches to Minnesota’s History at 150, a confer-ence and research event hosted by St. John’sUniversity, Collegeville.

• Lakes Bluegrass Festival, held at the Cass Countyfairgrounds.

• Before the Plow, a presentation about the DesMoines River landscape near Jackson.

• Voyageur Canoes on the Rum River, a family tourat Mille Lacs-Kathio State Park.

• Dakota City Chautauqua, a musical theater saluteto Dakota County in 1858 held at the fair-grounds.

• Lake of the Woods Master Gardener Tour, a tourof the county’s northland gardens.

Sesqui Spotlight Tours

Minnesotans and visitors were invited to blaze theirown trail and become acquainted with the state’sunique natural areas through the Spotlight Tours.Each tour showcased a region of the state hosted byits Capital for a Day winner: tallgrass aspen park-lands, prairie, deciduous forest, coniferous forestand driftless area. The tours, which could be foundonline at www.mn150years.org, featured thetowns, events, attractions, parks, historical sites andspecial beauty in the regions. The Web site pro-vided links to help travelers plan their visits.


WINONA RESI-DENTS ASSEM-BLED TO FORMTHE SHAPE OFMINNESOTADURING CAPITALFOR A DAY FES-TIVITIES.

Walking the Pembina Trail

Ox carts trundled along the Pembina Trail from Win-nipeg to St. Paul, establishing our capital city as amajor trading center. Over 400 miles and 40 days,Orlin Ostby, his family and Pum the ox pulling an au-thentic Red River ox cart retraced the trail July 1-August 21, arriving in St. Paul on the opening dayof the State Fair. Ostby was inspired to take on thischallenge by his friend, Delmar Hagen, who accom-plished the same walk for the Minnesota Centen-nial. Online users could follow their progress atwww.walkingthepembinatrail.com.

Sesquicentennial at the 2008 Minnesota State Fair

In the two, gleaming white, flag-topped, air-condi-tioned, circus-style tents of the State Fair Chau-tauqua 150 Years of Statehood Big Top,Minnesotans came together for one last blockbusterevent of the Sesqui Summer. Over 100,000 peoplepassed through the tents and during the 12-day runof the fair, they could:• Watch daily performances of “Old Minnesota:

Song of the North Star,” a compelling, originalmusical tribute written especially for the Sesqui-centennial by Warren Nelson, Fairmont native anddirector of the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua.More than 40,000 people watched these engag-ing and enlightening shows.

• Listen to experts and join in the discussion of is-sues including natural resources, innovation,health and wellness, arts and culture and educa-

tion as part of “Minnesota Real and Imagined:What Minnesotans Need to Know for the Next 50Years.” The programs were taped and later re-broadcast by partner organization TPT - The Min-nesota Channel, thanks to funding by the BushFoundation.

• Buy Sesqui gear.• Tour a changing schedule of exhibits, many of

which were funded by Sesquicentennial grants orhosted by Sesquicentennial Commission partners.

• Pick up a copy of Make It Minnesotan!, the offi-cial Sesquicentennial cookbook, and have itsigned by one of the contributors.

• Recognize Sesqui sponsors.• Get a souvenir Sesqui Big Top Chautauqua fan

with a schedule of all events in the tents. To pro-mote the Sesqui Big Top, 30,000 fans also werehanded out at the August 23, 2008 pre-seasongame between the Minnesota Vikings and thePittsburgh Steelers.

• Honor the Sesqui-Century farms and the familieswho operated them. Department of AgricultureCommissioner Gene Hugoson led the tribute tothe state’s agricultural heritage and future.

• View scenes from Minnesota’s history on the bigscreens between events in the Big Top, thanks toprograms such as Minnesota Minutes, based onthe Bell Museum’s award-winning documentary,“Minnesota: History of the Land.”

• Celebrate Minnesota’s past and present throughstorytelling, interviews and more.

Sesquicentennial Saluteto Minnesota Businesses

The event was the 13th Annual Minnesota Develop-ment Conference. The highlight was a Sesquicen-tennial salute to Minnesota businesses thatrecognized their legacy of innovation and their sup-port for the Sesquicentennial. Commission memberand State Rep. Sondra Erickson presented a certifi-cate of appreciation to The Travelers Companies,Inc., Minnesota’s oldest corporation in operation(started around the time of statehood) and one ofthe major sponsors of the Sesquicentennial StateFair exhibition.


MORE THAN100,000 FAIRGOERS TOOK INEVENTS AND EX-HIBITS AT THE2008 STATE FAIRCHAUTAUQUA.

THE SESQUICENTENNIAL YEAR closed on December 31,2008, but many of the major activities were de-signed to have a lasting impact on the state and toleave a legacy of information about this point in thestate’s history. These are the projects that encour-aged reflection about the past and captured Min-nesotan’s aspirations for the future.

Many Voices – One Min-nesota: A Sesquicenten-nial Plan for Our Future

Plan for Our Future was a key Minnesota Sesquicen-tennial Commission project to explore Minnesotans’vision for the future and their role in creating thatfuture. The Commission’s Engage the Public, Planfor Our Future Committee, co-chaired by membersState Sen. Ann H. Rest and State Rep. Morrie Lan-ning, organized the statewide effort. Planningbegan in Fall 2006, with implementation starting inSpring 2007.

The resulting report, Many Voices – One Minnesota:A Sesquicentennial Plan for our Future, was carefullyconstructed to thoughtfully and accurately representMinnesota in 2008 and serve as a roadmap tomeasure and guide our progress into the future. Itincluded:

• concerns of current citizens, • opinions of community leaders, • work that is being done in the legislature, and • work of other civic-involvement organizations.

To gather this wealth of information, Minnesotansparticipated in community conversations hosted inmore than one-third of the state’s counties or re-sponded online to these questions:• What do we want the future to be like for the

next generations?• What are the “got-to-deal-with” issues if we’re

going to make that future real?• What would you like to tell Minnesotans 50 years

from now that you are working on today to en-sure they have the same or better quality of lifeyou have now?

Community conversations took place between Fall2007 and Summer 2008 in more than 30 countiesin eight Regional Development Commissions and inthe Twin Cities metro area. These town hall-stylemeetings were open to everyone and facilitated bystaff members from the RDCs working in partner-ship with Commission staff. Facilitators led themeetings, following a format and guidelines devel-oped by the Sesquicentennial Commission.

Each meeting lasted one and a half to two hoursand was divided into two segments: a period forparticipants to write answers to the questions, andone for group discussion. All of the written, anony-mous responses were collected and sent to theSesquicentennial Commission where they wererecorded and organized.

The responses fell into several broad categories:economy, education, transportation, environment,health care, social issues and government. Overall,citizens were both engaged and thoughtful in their

responses.

Coming directly from Minnesotans, theseresponses form the heart of Plan for OurFuture. Many thanks are owed to theRDCs for their willingness to organize andhost the community conversations. The responses form a fascinating record of howMinnesotans feel regarding our state’s op-portunities and challenges for the future.


COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, LIKE THIS ONE INBEMIDJI, PROVIDED INSIGHTS FOR THE PLAN FOROUR FUTURE.

Time of reflection & legacy

May 2008 to January 2009

Staff also interviewed community leaders and pro-fessionals representing the cultural and socio-politi-cal spectrum of Minnesota. These apoliticalinterviews were the idea of Commission Vice ChairDr. Reatha Clark King and were made up of ques-tions from the community conversations, as well asthose about the participant’s area of expertise andperspective.

Minnesota is fortunate to have many organizationsworking toward a brighter future. To highlight theirefforts and gauge progress on issues, the Plan forOur Future report also contains a list of those organ-izations and summaries of their current work. Thisprogress report was designed not only to help fu-ture generations learn from what we were doing in2008, but also describe our priorities and values andwhat we were doing to ensure progress.

And finally, letters were sent to each of the RDCs re-questing summaries of their regions, including cur-rent and future challenges and opportunities. Thesereports helped tie the rest of the information to-gether and provided the most accurate snapshot ofMinnesota, by region, in 2008.

The final product, Many Voices – One Minnesota: ASesquicentennial Plan for Our Future is a thoughtful,and thought-provoking look at Minnesota in theyear 2008 — our concerns, our desires, and ourideas of how to ensure Minnesota maintains andimproves its celebrated culture, commitment to civicengagement and high standard of living. This re-port hopefully will serve as a living document, func-tioning as a reminder of where we stand today sowe and others who follow may take informed stepsforward.

Sesqui Pledge & Civic Engagement Project

At the end of the Sesquicentennial Year, the Com-mission and staff wanted to look back and see thatthey had accomplished three key objectives: • Used the Sesquicentennial as a time to commem-

orate and learn from our past and tell the storiesthat should be told so we can move forward withbetter understanding and compassion;

• Celebrated who we are today as Minnesotans;and

• Recognized the Sesquicentennial as a catalyst toplan for our future to ensure that the next genera-tion of Minnesotans can enjoy the same — orhigher — quality of life.

These objectives coalesced around a statewide civicengagement initiative called “Minnesota @ 150,Real & Imagined,” which debuted under the Big TopChautauqua tent at the 2008 Minnesota State Fair.

Thanks to funding from the Bush Foundation, andpartnership with Twin Cities Public Television andthe Citizens League, we offered more than 40,000State Fair goers a chance to learn about Minnesotahistory — its grand achievement as well as itspainful moments — through the Big Top Chau-tauqua production of “Old Minnesota: Song of theNorth Star.”

To further engage State Fair visitors with the peopleand organizations that give Minnesota its rich tradi-tions and diversity, Sesquicentennial Grant projectpartners staffed fascinating, interactive exhibits inthe smaller Chautauqua tent or led performancesand discussions under the Big Tent.

Nearly 50,000 visitors had the opportunity to learnmore about Native American culture, the early his-tory of the computer industry in Minnesota, the ex-periences of Minnesota’s “Greatest Generation,”how to preserve historic barns and farmsteads andmuch more.

Below is a representative list of exhibit and present-ing partners for the Minnesota @ 150, Real & Imag-ined initiative:• Minnesota Indian Affairs Council Cultural Re-

source Center• Explore Minnesota Tourism• Minnesota Historical Society• Citizens League CitiZing! Online Civic Engage-

ment Project• Friends of Minnesota Barns• Minnesota Bar Association & Historical Society of

the Minnesota Supreme Court• TRACES Museum of History and Culture • Minnesota’s Greatest Generation Film Festival

Award Winners• In the Heart of the Beast Theatre production of

“Land of 10,000 Lakes”

Minnesota @ 150, Real & Imagined also inspiredMinnesotans to think about the future of our state.On the fairgrounds and in the Chautauqua exhibittent, citizens were invited to take a survey updatingthe Minnesota Milestones, an ongoing effort toshape state planning and policies organized by theState Legislature.


Minnesotans were also able to listen to and interactwith some of the state’s more provocative thinkersand doers through lively discussions on arts and cul-ture; education; business innovation; health andwellness; and the environment. These discussionswere designed to inform citizens about the presentstatus of these issues and the challenges and oppor-tunities that lie ahead.

With funding from the Bush Foundation andthrough our partnership with TPT, these five live dis-cussions were taped, edited, and aired on the Min-nesota Channel 17 in Fall 2008. Additional copieswere created and distributed across the state topublic and academic libraries, educators and groupssuch as foundations and planning commissions. Fordetails about the programs, see pg. 54.

Sesquicentennial Legacy &Micro Grant Program

In May 2007, the Minnesota State Legislature ap-propriated $325,000 for a Sesquicentennial GrantProgram to encourage Minnesota communities andorganizations to create meaningful and memorableSesqui programs. In June 2008, an additional$260,000 in grant funds was designated for Com-mission-chosen projects with statewide significance.

The goals of the Grant Program were to:• achieve broad participation of the people of Min-

nesota, visitors, local communities, institutionsand organizations in activities across the state;

• raise awareness and educate by telling the storiesof our past, recognizing the indigenous people ofMinnesota, and learning from them and the manyethnic groups that have and continue to come toMinnesota;

• develop a shared vision for the state’s future byengaging Minnesotans in civic dialogue; and

• leave a lasting legacy through print, visual, musi-cal and other vehicles, as well as media documen-tation.

The Commission staff, in conjunction with the GrantSubcommittee of Commissioners, developed thefollowing criteria for awarding the grants. All grantrecipients were required to:• align with Sesquicentennial goals;• reflect the Sesquicentennial themes of arts & cul-

ture; health & wellness; business & innovation;environment; or education.

• show evidence of sufficient planning; • demonstrate appropriate community outreach, in-

volvement and co-sponsorship; and• demonstrate the ability to execute the proposed

plan.

Grants were awarded in two categories: MicroGrants of up to $1,000 and Legacy Grants of$5,000-$7,500. To gain additional public and pri-vate support, all Sesquicentennial Grant recipientswere required to match their award one-to-onewith cash and/or in-kind and donated goods andservices.

Micro Grants

Many more grant applications were received thancould be funded. For the two Micro Grant award


PANELISTS DISCUSS THE STATE’S NATURAL RESOURCES AS PARTOF MINNESOTA@150, REAL & IMAGINED AT THE STATE FAIR.

WASECACOUNTY RE-CEIVED AMICRO GRANTTO DEVELOP ANEXHIBIT OF PHO-TOS AND STO-RIES OF COUNTYRESIDENTS.

rounds in Au-gust and De-cember 2007,186 proposalswere submit-ted, but only108 projectscould befunded. TheCommissionensured thatall 87 Min-nesota coun-ties hadprograms andactivitiesfunded byMicro Grants.

Legacy Grants

Competition for Legacy Grants — awards of up to$7,500 for projects aiming to create enduring cre-ations or investments — was even greater, and only$150,000 was available to fund them. Once again,two award rounds were offered. The initial round,held in September 2007, attracted 52 proposals to-taling more than $350,000 in requested funds. Ofthese, 16 proposals met the scoring cutoff. Inround two, 114 grant applications were submitted,with 16 scoring high enough to merit funding.

A full list of the Micro Grants, Legacy Grants andstatewide grants can be found on pg. 36.

Impact of the Grants

Sesquicentennial grants made a remarkable impact incommunities large and small. We can’t describe eachone in detail, but from our experiences, we found theSesquicentennial Grant Programs grants to be:

Catalysts for action and additional support Although recipients were required to match eachdollar received with a dollar in cash or in-kind or do-nated goods, the average match at the time offunding was nearly to three to one. By the timemost projects were complete, the matching dona-tions were closer to five to one, underscoring theleveraging capacity of an initial public investment.

Individual and community ‘capacity-enhancers’ The vast majority of grant recipients were first-timeapplicants for public funding. Not surprisingly, staff

provided considerable technical assistance, bothduring the application phase and to help granteescomplete required reporting. We believe this invest-ment of time — although a real challenge, given theCommission’s thin staffing — will continue to reapbenefits because individuals and community groupsnow feel “empowered and educated” in seekingpublic and private support for projects.

For example a Becker County township grant recipi-ent said, “The application process and reportingwere a stretch for our small group, but we learned alot along the way. We think we know enough nowto compete for other grants.”

In addition to honing fundraising skills, the applica-tion and implementation process prompted devel-opment of new community alliances that willendure beyond the Sesquicentennial project. Asone recipient said, “Through an impressive collabo-ration between the county, the cities, the countypark board, the schools and a host of other organi-zations, the 850 residents of Lac Qui Parle Countywho attended this event spent a day together in anearly unknown park and celebrated their historyand heritage.”

Stimulus to local cultural and natural resources The reference above to use of little-known resourceswas echoed by a number of grantees. Numerousprofessional staff at regional parks and heritage sitesreported that grant-funded projects garnered much-needed exposure and visibility, even in their homeregions.

A grantee from Rock County said, “One result wasthat everyone had the opportunity to learn moreabout Blue Mounds State Park, its herd of bison, itswalking and hiking trails along the cliff line, and hope-fully many of these people will return to the park.”

At least 20 organizations, both in the metro and inGreater Minnesota, told us that the one-time infu-sion of funds enabled them to experiment with pro-grams and formats that attracted new audiences.

For example, metro-area project directors with Min-neapolis’ Marcy Open School and Mill City Museum,said, “Our diverse student body is a microcosm ofthe changing population in Minnesota. And yetmany of these families do not participate in thebroader culture of our city. The hands-on exhibits atthe Museum are especially useful to families forwhom English is not a first language.”


A COORDINATORSHOWS OFF ART-WORK FOR APHOTO AND ARTEXHIBIT OFOJIBWE CULTURECREATED BY THEWHITE EARTHLAND RECOVERYPROJECT IN CALLOWAY.

Renewing civic and community identity Commission staff received numerous accounts ofthe ways in which even very small grants had an im-pact beyond their size. Organizers for Rothsay's(pop. 500) 125th anniversary events that attracted2,000 visitors, said, “There was a huge swell ofcommunity pride. People came to town who hadnot been here for years. It refocused our effort tocontinue a yearly celebration and renewed commu-nity spirit.”

More Sesqui Legacy Projects

Through several projects, the Sesquicentennial willcontinue beyond December 31, 2008. These legacyprojects include:

State Fair Big Top Chautauqua CDs

Performances of “Old Minnesota Song of the NorthStar” were recorded and made available on CDsthrough the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua’sgift shop at www.bigtop.org. The State Fair Chau-tauqua attracted enough attention and participationthat an effort is underway to bring it back in 2009.

Sesquicentennial commemorative stamps

Due to the interest and enthusiasm generated bythe Sesquicentennial stamp, the SesquicentennialCommission and U.S. Postal Service held a “second-day issue” ceremony June 14, 2008 at the historicArd Godfrey House in Minneapolis. Godfrey wasthe first postmaster of Minneapolis, which also wascelebrating its 150th anniversary.

At the ceremony, collectors were able to purchasespecial $5 caches with the Minnesota stamp and asketch of the Ard Godfrey House, thanks to the ef-forts of the Woman’s Club of Minneapolis whichmanages the House, and the Minnesota Federationof Stamp Clubs.

The Federation was a steady partner throughout theSesquicentennial Year, helping to host key eventssurrounding the commemorative postage stamp de-sign and official release. The stamp remained onsale through 2008.

‘Make It Minnesotan!’ Sesqui cookbook

One of the insights into a time, a place and its peo-ple are the foods they cook and enjoy. Led by

Sesquicentennial Fellow Claire Plank, a committeeof volunteers created Make It Minnesotan!, a cook-book that captures the flavors and foods – and thestories behind them – that make Minnesota cookingunique.

The recipes gleaned from more than 800 entriesrepresent all 87 counties and reflect the remarkablediversity of the state’s population and the broadsweep of its history.

Published by Nodin Press, a Twin Cities-based pub-lishing house, Make It Minnesotan! is available for$19.95 online through the Sesquicentennial Website, www.amazon.com and www.barnesandno-ble.com, as well as many local stores and attrac-tions. To market the book, committee membersand contributors appeared at numerous book sign-ings throughout the state. Proceeds from the saleof the cookbook benefited the Sesquicentennial andrestoration of the Minnesota State Capitol.

‘Greetings from Minnesota!’ Sesqui mosaic

Visitors to the Food Building at the Minnesota StateFair can sample a taste of the Sesquicentennial foryears to come. “Greetings from Minnesota!” amonumental, mosaic-tile postcard depicting scenesfrom Minnesota was installed on the north side ofthe Food Building during the 2008 state fair. Wehope it’s still there for the Bicentennial!


SESQUICENTEN-NIAL FELLOWSPROMOTE THESESQUI COOK-BOOK AT A SUM-MER EVENT.

Lead artist on this pub-lic-arts project wasSusan Warner of Mis-sissippi Mud Works inMinneapolis. Through-out the Sesquicenten-nial Year, hands-onopportunities were of-fered in communitiesstatewide so citizenscould work on thepiece.

Sesqui license plates

Sesquicentennial plates were approved by the Min-nesota Legislature during the summer of 2008. Ve-hicle owners can purchase these special platesthrough the Department of Public Safety/Driver and

Vehicle Services and online when they renewed theirlicense tabs.

Price of the plates is $35, with $25 dedicated to theSesquicentennial Commission to support programsand activities during the Sesqui Year. Because theplates are available for three years, funds raisedafter the Sesquicentennial benefit the restoration ofthe Minnesota State Capitol.

Archives

The Minnesota Statehood Sesquicentennial archivesare made up of the official documents, correspon-dence, work papers, and notes from the Sesquicen-tennial Commission and are stored at the MinnesotaHistory Center.

The archives also stretch across time and space torepresent as many of the Sesquicentennial artifactsas possible from 2005 to early 2009. These includecommemorative items such as medallions, flags, of-ficial cookbook, locally produced items and written,audio and/or visual materials from the grant proj-ects, events and programs, particularly anything thatfeatures the official logo of the Sesquicentennial.

We are All Minnesotans – Thank You, Minnesota!

On January 6, 2009, the Commission hosted thefinal public celebration of the Sesquicentennial. Itwas a two-hour open house reception at the StateCapitol to thank all the volunteers and legislatorswho had been instrumental in supporting and carry-ing out the 150th statehood anniversary events andactivities.

Participants ate state-shaped cookies and viewedthe photo and video record of the Sesquicentennialjourney from 2007 through 2008. It was a chance— until the bicentennial in 2058 — to gather theMinnesota family in the one home we all share, theState Capitol building. It reinforced another valuewe share – that we are all Minnesotans, no matterwhether we were born here or just arrived severalweeks ago.


SEN. ANN H. RESTSHOWS OFF THEFIRST SESQUICEN-TENNIAL LICENSEPLATE.

SUSAN WARNER WAS THELEAD ARTIST FOR THE“GREETINGS FROM MIN-NESOTA” MOSAIC.

IN CLOSING THIS report, Sesquicentennial Executive Di-rector Jane Leonard and staff wanted to share theirinsights into planning such a massive commemora-tion. A more in-depth analysis is archived withLeonard’s working files at the Minnesota HistoricalSociety in St. Paul.

If you want to do a good job planning for the Bicen-tennial of Minnesota Statehood, we suggest:• Begin initial meetings of interested people and or-

ganizations about 10 years beforehand to brain-storm and gather support.

• Four years out, make sure you are doing seriousplanning, fundraising, recruiting of volunteers andhiring full-time paid staff.

The Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission beganserious work two years ahead to plan for and imple-ment the statehood anniversary. They began hiringpaid staff one year from the Sesquicentennial Year,which began January 2008.

Even though the Commission managed to raise pri-vate support, two years was not enough time tofully tap corporations and other funders for majorsponsorships. These organizations plan several yearsin advance how their sponsorship, philanthropic,and marketing funds will be allocated.

Try to avoid competing with other major events thestate might be hosting in and around the anniver-sary year. Coordinate in advance to partner with po-tential competitors for dollars and media attention.2008 was an unusual year for national events inMinnesota. The Sesquicentennial had to competefor corporate sponsorships with the Republican Na-tional Convention, the National Figure SkatingChampionships and the U.S. Women’s Golf Open.

We coordinated as much as we could with thesenational, annual and high visibility events. However,they drew far more attention from potential spon-sors because they could guarantee corporationsvaluable exposure year after year. Being a one-timeevent can make it difficult to convince funders it’sworth their investment.

• Clearly delineate the entertainment and educa-tional aspects of the anniversary, especially whenyou are asking for financial support. Both aspectsare important for commemoration and celebra-tion, but they require different approaches and at-tract different funders and audiences.

• Hire a good staff that includes people knowledge-able and skilled in fundraising, promotion, mar-keting, grant making, and community andeconomic development.

Marketing is key because you have to help citizensrelearn the concept of statehood. It’s an abstractconcept — statehood is an invisible status conferredon a place and its people by the U.S. Congress. 150years after receiving that designation, statehood istaken for granted, even though we depend on it fornearly everything we do for our entire lives.

Promotion is important because recognizing a sig-nificant anniversary gives us a chance to — as theysaid for Minnesota’s Centennial in 1958 — “sellMinnesota to Minnesotans.” You have a rare oppor-tunity to help people rediscover their history and ex-plore the unique and fun places from a differentperspective. It’s a chance for people to be passion-ate students and tourists in their own state.

Grant making to communities and organizations iscritical to help increase engagement. Even the microgrants of $1,000 or less that we made to smalltowns, neighborhoods and local organizationsacross the state seeded teamwork and renewed in-terest in preserving, promoting and showcasing theincredible creativity Minnesotans possess.

Be prepared to render lots of technical assistance inthe grant-making process at the local level. Manyorganizations that apply for anniversary funding donot have the experience to deal with the abundanceof paperwork required by government funding.

Community and economic development experienceis a must because so much of what we did for theSesquicentennial involved community and organiza-tional outreach. Each of the 150 grants and morethan 500 events happened because citizens workedtogether on a common goal, inspired by the occur-rence of the Sesquicentennial.


Message to the future & bicentennial

planners of 2058

Minnesota’s Indigenous Peoples & the Sesquicentennial

Recognizing the indigenous people of Minnesota,the earliest inhabitants of the land well before state-hood, was a main goal set early on by the Sesqui-centennial Commission. It should be a prominentpart of the Bicentennial observances.

Teaching, learning and increasing our understandingof the American Indian experience and culture arecentral to understanding why Minnesota at state-hood was a crucible, in every sense of the word.

At the time of statehood, Minnesota was a complexmix of cultures, attitudes and values colliding duringan era in our nation’s history — the 1850s and1860s — in which the very union of states was inquestion. What happened then reverberates to thisvery day and into our future.

Minnesota’s admission to the United States stoodon the fulcrum of American tragedy and triumph.Immigrants and manifest destiny were pushingolder worlds aside for westward expansion, and aCivil War was soon to test the essence of our na-tion’s democratic ideals. As in many other states,the entry into, and early days of statehood, was adifficult time for American Indian cultures.

During the Statehood Sesquicentennial, many peo-ple would be paying attention to the wide swath ofMinnesota’s history, from pre-statehood to the pres-ent day. The Sesquicentennial was an ideal time formany stories to be told and learned again.

Commission staff met with tribal leaders and staffmembers of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council toencourage the involvement of Minnesota’s 11American Indian nations (seven Anishinaabe reserva-tions and four Dakota communities) in the Sesqui-centennial observances.

Several Dakota communities declined to participatedirectly in the official Sesquicentennial activities.However, many alternative events and educationalopportunities took place, created by tribal members,scholars and partner groups, such as the Truth andReconciliation gathering organized by the WinonaDakota Unity Alliance for their Capital for a Day ob-servances, and public seminars such as “AmericanIndians in Minnesota: A Personal History” at theUniversity of Minnesota-Duluth.

The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council staff andCommission staff worked together to use State-hood Week and the 2008 State Fair to raise aware-ness of American Indian history, culture andresources for further learning.

Several grant projects emphasized American Indianculture and history, as well as collaborative effortsbetween white and American Indian communitymembers.

The Star Quilt Mural project by the Boys & Girls Clubin Leech Lake & Cass Lake stands out as most sym-bolic of these projects. The Star Quilt is a gift thatrepresents both an end and a beginning, and is anobject of both honor and function in everydayAmerican Indian spiritual life. The morning star de-sign is similar to the Sacred Circle, representing life'scontinuous circle. For many Northern Plains tribes,the Star Quilt is one of the most honored gifts afamily can give or receive.

This intergenerational project featured boys andgirls, ages 6 to 18, who worked together withadults and elders to create the mural. They gave toall Minnesotans something very sacred. They gaveus stories depicted in their paintings that help us re-member — and never forget — who we are today,where we came from, and where we are headed.

Bicentennial planners, take note and good luck.


MEMBERS OF THECASS AND LEECHLAKE BOYS ANDGIRLS CLUBSGATHEREDAROUND THESTAR QUILTMURAL THEYHELPED CREATE.

Sesquicentennial Staff

Staffing for the Commission began with one full-time person — the executive director — in March2007. By May, as funding increased, another full-time staffer was added. We also reached into thecollege and post-graduate arenas to form a corps ofSesquicentennial Fellows who took on responsibili-ties far beyond their years of experience.

For full-time staff and Fellows, this was a win-winarrangement. The Commission could accomplishthe necessary community outreach, day-to-day leg-islative and organizational relations, fundraising,public relations, and office operations with a limitedstaff budget. The Fellows received an experience ofa lifetime, which prepared them for career opportu-nities and challenges.

By summer of 2008, the busiest time of the entireSesquicentennial, we had 14 full- and part-timepeople on board: four full-time staff, plus 10 Fel-

lows and interns. They coordinated 150 grant proj-ects, 500 events and managed hundreds of volun-teers (600 alone for the 12-day run of the StateFair.) They also planned and implemented the twomajor statewide events — Statehood Week in Mayand the State Fair in August.

As the anniversary year wound down in the fall of2008, staff fell back to four full-time members andan average of four Fellows and part-time interns.They closed out events, activities and reports untilthe Commission sunset in January 2009.

Staff

Denise Cumming, office assistant & archivistJane Cunningham, grants & development managerJane Leonard, executive directorKaren Rickert, executive assistant & financial officerAnn Treacy, WebmasterAudrey Williams, office volunteer

Sesquicentennial Fellows

Eric Anunobi, administrative coordinatorLaura Barrato, community events coordinatorTane Danger, communications directorRachel Garaghty, Plan for Our Future coordinatorDaniel George, planning coordinatorMegan Jung, grants outreach coordinatorClaire Plank, community outreach coordinatorAndrew Ranallo, Plan for Our Future coordinatorStacy Sielaff, Plan for Our Future coordinatorMong Vang, multi-media specialist

Summer & Fall 2008 Interns

MacKenzie CollinsDavid JohnsonMeera MansinghRebecca PeichelNick Sarnicki

Sesquicentennial A mbassadors

These volunteers served as the SesquicentennialCommission staff’s eyes and ears and helped en-gage citizens in their county. They were a touchpoint for providing information to the communitiesin their area and for updating the Commission staffon local activities. Their contributions helped make


Supplemental Sesqui Information

STAFF SHOWSOFF THE NEWSESQUI HIGH-WAY ENTRANCEWELCOMESIGNS THATWERE IN-STALLEDTHROUGHOUTTHE STATE.


the Sesquicentennial a truly grassroots, memorableand meaningful event. Thanks to all of you!

Ambassadors by county

Becker: Roxann DaggettBeltrami: Doug FullerBig Stone: Norm ShelstaBrown: Charles EnterCarlton: Patti Almquist, Anne Dugan, Milo Ras-

mussenCarver: Joe HoppeChippewa: Tim DouglassChisago: Scott FridayClay: Arlen Stangland, Lisa VedaaClearwater: Allen PaulsonCottonwood: Linda Fransen, Norm Holmenn,

Cheryl Hanson, Cathy PetersonCrow Wing: Carrie RuudDakota: Arlen Erdahl, Denny MacNamar, Mike

McGinn, Sean Nienow, Bob StassenDodge: Randy Demmer, Kathy DemmerDouglas: Rachel Barduson, George CassellFaribault: Don Ziegler, Clara VereideFillmore: Greg Davids, Kenric ScheevelFreeborn: Jean EatonGoodhue: Steve SviggumHennepin: Diana Houston, Barb SykoraHouston: Greg DavidsIsanti: Robert EastlundItasca: Don BoeseKanabec: Judy SoderstromKandiyohi: Richard LarsonLeSueur: Jim Donovan, Peg DonovanLyon: Arlene Lesewski, Ellayne Velde-Convers, Harry

WeilageMartin: Scott HigginsMcLeod: Lori Pickell-StangelMeeker: Dean Urdahl, Steve DilleMille Lacs: Pat Braun, Michelle McPhersonMorrison: Greg BlaineMurray: Doug MagnusNorman: Don MerkensOlmsted: Fran Bradley, John Hunziker, Sheila

KiscadenOtter Tail: Roxann Daggett, Bob BlockPennington: Faye AuchenpaughPine: Becky LoureyPipestone: Bud Johnston, Mick MeyersPope: Tim Douglass, Jim Palmer, Karna PalmerRamsey: Warren Anderson, Lee BradfordRice: Ray Cox, Dianne HohrmanRock: Jane WildungSherburne: Ramona Doebler

Sibley: Eldrene EbertStearns: Jim KnoblachSteele: Laura ReslerStevens: Mary HillSwift: Marlys GallagerTraverse: Marcie Conroy, Tammy ConroyWashington: Pat Conley, Karen KlinzingWinona: Michael Charron, Karin SonnemanWright: Tammi DahlmanYellow Medicine: Tim Douglass, Dave Zmiglewski

State A gency WorkingGroup

This group of dedicated state employees ensuredcoordination of Sesquicentennial-related events andinitiatives throughout the state agency system. Theyworked closely with key agencies that created theirown Sesquicentennial planning committees, such asthe Secretary of State’s office, the court system andthe departments of agriculture, education, naturalresources and tourism. The State Agency WorkingGroup also helped plan, along with the Commis-sion's Program Committee, the activities of theStatehood Day and Weekend events.

Representing their respective government bodies,agencies or departments were:

Dean Alger, Secretary of StateBryce Anderson, Department of Natural ResourcesPaul H. Anderson, Supreme CourtRoger Bjork, Minnesota Pollution Control AgencyKeith Bogut, FinanceGary Caldwell, HealthBrianna Chambers, Education

MEMBERS OF THESTATE AGENCYWORKING GROUPMET TO PLANSTATEHOOD WEEKEND.


Jane Cunningham, SesquicentennialKathy Dummer, DNRSue Gens, Minnesota State Arts BoardLinda Gremillion, Minnesota State Council on

DisabilityTerry Gunderson, Human ServicesCay Shea Hellervik, SesquicentennialGeorgie Hilker, Iron Range ResourcesKristine Hiller, DNRBlane Iffert, Minnesota National GuardAndrea Kajer, Minnesota Historical SocietyDavid Kelliher, MHSJames Kirkpatrick, Human RightsLeann Kispert, TourismJane Leonard, SesquicentennialLinda McDonald, Veteran AffairsJennifer Osborne, Metropolitan Mosquito Control

DistrictJames Pointer, DNRNate Prouty, Public AffairsDave Radford, DNRLinda Radimecky, DNRLisa Reiter, Employee RelationsDarla Riley, AgricultureNoah Rouen, Public AffairsMary Somnis, Iron Range ResourcesPaul Strandberg, AgricultureColleen Tollefson, TourismPat Turgeon, Veteran Affairs

Minnesota Milestones Survey Summary

In 2008, the Minnesota Legislature directed theCommission to provide ways for Minnesota citizensto give input to the Minnesota Milestones, a seriesof goal statements for the state’s progress, whichwere produced in the 1990s and updated most re-cently in 2000.

A grand total of 3,223 respondents from more than444 different Minnesota ZIP codes completed theMinnesota Milestones ballot. The majority of partici-pants declined to provide geographic or demo-graphic information but opinions of all kinds wereexpressed; some regarding the 19 Minnesota Mile-stones, while others focused on the general state ofMinnesota as we move into the future.

Full results of the survey were given to the Legisla-ture and the Minnesota Milestones committee, or-ganized by the Departments of Administration andManagement and Budget for consideration in the2009 legislative session.

Sesquicentennial Grant Program

Through Micro and Legacy grants, the Sesquicen-tennial had a lasting, meaningful, and even fun, im-pact on every community and region of the state.The following dedicated individuals made up theGrants Review Panel and rose to the challenge ofchoosing which projects would receive grants froma large and impressive group of proposals:

Pamela Holt Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis

Ruth Johnson, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter

Reatha C. King Sesquicentennial Commission member, Minneapolis

Sen. Ann H. Rest Sesquicentennial Commission member, New Hope

Lois Schmidt Bremer Foundation, Tracy

Reena Shetty Whitney Senior Center, St. Cloud

Judy Sutter,Minnesota Department of Education, Coon Rapids

Mike Worcester Cokato Historical Society

Grant Recipients(by county)

AitkinHeritage Reunion, McGregor Area Historical Society,for tours, historic demonstrations and activities dur-ing Heritage Reunion week

AnokaCelebrating the Season: A Civil War Christmas,Anoka County Historical Society, for historic re-en-actment of Christmas at a recreated Civil War en-campment

Sesquicentennial Wagon Train, Minnesota Sesqui-centennial Commission, for a wagon train travelingfrom Cannon Falls to St. Paul

Anoka, Carver, Hennepin, St. Louis, WashingtonUnder the North Star: Music of Minnesota, TheSingers-Minnesota Choral Artists, for presentationsof choral music at community sites

BeckerForest Township: A 150-Year History, Forest Town-ship, for research and a historical plaque for displayin the township hall

Becker, MahnomenPhotos and narrative exhibit Celebrating Changeand Resilience: White Earth Land Recovery Project,for creation of an interpretive exhibit exploring 150years of Ojibwe culture

Beltrami2008 Head of the Lake Picnic/Commemoration,Headwaters School of Music and the Arts, for re-creation of a 19th-century, day-long picnic & festival

Benton, Otter Tail, Wadena, TraverseMinnesota’s Ordinarily Unsung Concerts, IntermediaArts, for research and performances about “un-sung” Minnesotans

Big StoneClinton 125th Quasquacentennial Celebration, Clin-ton 125th Committee, for history programs to cele-brate the 125th anniversary of Clinton and thestate’s Sesquicentennial

Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Swift, Yellow MedicineSesquicentennial Visual Art Display, Upper Min-nesota Valley Regional Development Commission,for original art depicting Sesquicentennial themes

Blue Earth150 Years of Statehood, 155 Years of Blue EarthCounty Celebrating Together: Exceptional People atan Exceptional Place, for support of a concert, li-brary programs, and interpretive programs to markthe state’s and the county’s anniversaries

Junior Historians Talking Back to Tomorrow, BlueEarth County Historical Society, for oral history inter-views to be broadcasted on local radio by studentsin grades 6-12

BrownGuide to Brown County History Outdoor Signs,Brown County Historical Society, for creation andplacement of five interpretive maps throughoutBrown County

CarltonJay Cooke State Park Open House, Carlton CountyHistorical Society, for historic demonstrations, dis-plays, and re-enactments at the state park

Carver Celebrating 150 Years of Farming & Agriculture,Waconia Chamber of Commerce, for a one-day fes-tival and farmers market celebrating the importanceof agriculture in Carver County

Twilight Camp in the North Star State, AutumnRidge/Southern Stars Girl Scout Twilight Camp, forspecial Sesquicentennial programs about Minnesotageography at the 16th annual Autumn Ridge GirlScout camp

Under the North Star: Music of Minnesota, TheSingers-Minnesota Choral Artists, for presentationsof choral music at community sites

CassBoys and Girls Club of Leech Lake Area, Boys andGirls Club of Cass Lake, for an intergenerationalcommunity mural project in Cass County

Leech Lake Agency Oral History Project, CassCounty, for collecting and editing oral histories fromthe Onigum Ojibwe community

ChippewaSesquicentennial Visual Art Display, Upper Min-nesota Valley Regional Development Commission,for original art depicting Sesquicentennial themes

ChisagoWeekend Guest Program-Series 2008, Friends ofWild River State Park, for a series of programs aboutOjibwe culture, historic flint knapping, black-smithing and natural history

ClayWest Across Minnesota, Rourke Art Museum, for atraveling exhibit of works by noted Minnesota artistson the theme of settlement and expansion

Keeping in Touch in Clay County, Clay County His-torical Society, for an exhibit about the use of vari-ous communication technologies

Clearwater Courthouse Signage, Clearwater County, for newpublic signage at the Courthouse

Traveling Through Time: 150 Years in Minnesota’sHistoric Northwest, Minnesota’s Historic Northwest(plus 13 northwestern Minnesota counties) for atraveling exhibit and postcard book exploring thehistory of the region


CookHam Lake Fire, 1st Anniversary, Gunflint Trail ScenicByway Committee, Gunflint Trail Association, forplanting 150 white pine trees to replace trees lost inthe Ham Lake fire

Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center, GunflintTrail Historical Society, for acquisition of AV equip-ment, displays and dioramas for a new facility

CottonwoodCottonwood County Student Art Show, Cotton-wood County Historical Society, for a county-wide,juried student art competition exploring 150 yearsof Minnesota and Cottonwood County history

Celebrating our Cultural Heritage in CottonwoodCounty, Cottonwood County Historical Society, for acounty-wide arts project to create an intergenera-tional fabric arts project, theater production and acommunity-generated sculpture

Crow WingAnnual Butterfly Release, Pelican Woods Cemeteryand Nature Center, for a butterfly release programfeaturing 2008 Sesquicentennial themes

County Lines Anthology, League of MinnesotaPoets, for support of a state-wide poetry anthology

DakotaArt for Kids, Past and Present, Dakota Center for theArts, for children’s arts activities, including printmak-ing to celebrate the work of Wanda Gag, Min-nesota artist and author

Dakota County Sesquicentennial Celebration,Dakota County Library, for a series of programs fea-turing artists, historians, and musicians in celebra-tion of Dakota County’s diverse history and cultures

Building Minnesota: General William LeDuc’s Questfor Minnesota Statehood, Dakota County HistoricalSociety, for a series of historic dramatizations featur-ing the life and times of General William LeDuc

Life in the Yards An End of an Era, City of South St.Paul, for an exhibit and video documenting the his-tory and significance of the South St. Paul stock-yards

Celebrating Our Past as We Serve the Future, City ofFarmington, for mounting of historic photos in thenew City Hall building

DouglasSesquicentennial Book Project, Douglas County His-torical Society, for research and compilation of acommemorative history text/DVD/CD and relatedcommunity activities

Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, StevensEvansville History Project, Evansville Arts Coalition,Fond-du-Lac, White Earth and Lower Sioux commu-nities, for re-creation and/or collection of indigenousand traditional structures, stories and artifacts toaugment the Evansville pioneer historic site

FaribaultRestoration of Pink Schoolhouse, Walnut LakeTownship, for restoration of flooring and deskswithin the Walnut Lake Pink Schoolhouse living his-tory site

Freeborn, MowerTales of Two Counties, Albert Lea Friends of the Li-brary, for creation of two history plays based onlocal oral histories and other resources

GrantCelebrating our Heritage, Sister City Fellowship ofElbow Lake, for a series of musical programs cele-brating the Sister City Fellowship with Flekkefjord,Norway

Evansville History Project, Evansville Arts Coalition,Fond-du-Lac, White Earth and Lower Sioux commu-nities, for re-creation and/or collection of indigenousand traditional structures, stories and artifacts

Hennepin, Washington, St. Louis, Carver,AnokaUnder the North Star: Music of Minnesota, TheSingers-Minnesota Choral Artists, for presentationsof choral music at community sites in several counties

Hennepin, RamseyMany Languages, Many Voices, One State: TheirLegacy Past and Present, Minnesota Council on theTeaching of Languages and Cultures and MinnesotaNew Visions in Action, for an exhibit on languagesspoken in the state

Hennepin150 Years of Hennepin Hospitals, County MedicalCenter History Museum, for an exhibit exploring thechanging role of medicine and hospitals in the city’shistory


Land of 10,000 Lakes: Minnesota’s 150-Year Con-nection to Water, In the Heart of the Beast Puppetand Mask Theatre, for creating and presenting apuppet theater production exploring Minnesota’shistoric and contemporary relation to water

The Wireless Pond, Minnesota Independent Schol-ars’ Forum and Minnesota Coalition on GovernmentInformation, for a day-long public conference ex-ploring issues relating to the preservation of and ac-cess to information

Partners in Minneapolis History, Marcy Open School,for research and development of a project on impor-tant people, places and events in history

Documentation of Minnesota Barns and Farm-steads, Friends of Minnesota Barns, for a state-wideeffort to inventory historic barns and farmsteads

Twin Cities Juneteenth and Minnesota SpokesmanRecorder African American History Timeline, TwinCities Juneteenth, Inc., for a state-wide historicaltimeline to be featured during Juneteenth activities

Great River Road Travel Guide and Activity Book,Minnesota Mississippi River Parkway Commission,for a travel guide featuring the history and geogra-phy of 21 Minnesota counties

They Also Chose Minnesota, Friends of the Immigra-tion History Research Center, for an oral history proj-ect and DVD capturing the experience of “older”and “newer” immigrants to Minnesota

Minnovation: 150 Years of Ingenuity, MinneapolisPublic Library, for an exhibit exploring inventions de-veloped in Minnesota

Speaking of Home, Public Interest, Inc. and Interme-dia Arts, for creation of public art in downtown sky-ways exploring cross-cultural notions of “home”

Walldogs on Nicollet, Lyndale Neighborhood Associ-ation, for community-conceived, professionally ren-dered murals along Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis

150 Years of African American Artists in Minnesota,Obsidian Arts, Minneapolis, for a visual arts exhibi-tion and digital catalog about black artists in Min-nesota since the time of statehood

Minnesota Voices, American Composers Forum, fornew compositions to premiere at the 2008 Min-nesota State Fair

HoustonSpring Grove Music in the Park, City of SpringGrove, for a series of concerts celebrating aspects ofMinnesota history

HubbardOpening of the Great Northwest: Transportationand Tourism in Northern Minnesota, HeadwatersCenter for Lifelong Learning, for a series of publicprograms on the history of tourism and transporta-tion in the Hubbard County region

IsantiCambridge Historic Overlook Walking Loop and In-terpretive Signage, Cambridge, for an interpretivewalking loop and signage

ItascaPengilly Centennial Celebration, Pengilly CentennialCommittee, for a community-wide celebration andcreation of a “community memory book” to markPengilly’s centennial

Jackson, Murray, Lyon, Lincoln, PipestoneSesquicentennial Environmental History Programs,Prairie Ecology Bus Center, for intergenerational en-vironmental programs in southwestern Minnesota

KandiyohiSibley State Park Open House, Sibley State Park Im-provement Committee, for exploring stories, history,music and food that define the area and region

Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk,Red LakeArt Reflecting on Minnesota’s 150 Years of State-hood, Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, for newart and traveling exhibit exploring the history of Kitt-son, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk and RedLake Counties


ANYONE DRIV-ING OR WALK-ING INDOWNTOWNMINNEAPOLISCOULD VIEWTHE SPEAKINGOF HOME EX-HIBIT IN ONE OFTHE CITY’S SKY-WAYS.

Lac Qui ParleLac Qui Parle Heritage Celebration, Lac Qui ParleCounty Economic Development Authority, for acounty-wide celebration and educational programson the history of the county’s ethnic groups

Sesquicentennial Visual Art Display, Upper Min-nesota Valley Regional Development Commission,for original art depicting Sesquicentennial themes

LakeCollecting Oral Histories of Two Harbors, Independ-ent School District 381, for an oral history and DVDproject by students in the school district

LeSueurHistory for Kids, Le Sueur County Historical Society,for youth activities in five school districts as part ofLe Sueur County’s celebration of its Scandinavianheritage

LincolnHendricks Troll Town, Hendricks Norwegian HeritageCommittee, for locally created troll art as part ofHendricks’ celebration of its Scandinavian heritage

Sesquicentennial Environmental History Programs,Prairie Ecology Bus Center, for intergenerational en-vironmental programs in southwestern Minnesota

LyonBox Car Days, Tracy Area Chamber, for support ofthe annual Box Car Days celebration in Tracy

Sesquicentennial Environmental History Programs,Prairie Ecology Bus Center, for intergenerational en-vironmental programs in southwestern Minnesota

MahnomenMahnomen Health Center Art Project for the 50thanniversary, Mahnomen Health Center, for enlarge-ment, mounting and framing of historic photos andnew outdoor signage

Photos and narrative exhibit Celebrating Changeand Resilience: White Earth Land Recovery Project,for creation of an interpretive exhibit exploring 150years of Ojibwe culture

MarshallHighlighting our History, Friends of the Old Mill,Newfolden Lions Club, Marshall County HistoricalSociety, for a series of historic re-enactments and liv-ing history programs at the Old Mill Park

Art Reflecting on Minnesota’s 150 Years of State-hood, Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, for a newart and traveling exhibit exploring the history of Kitt-son, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk and RedLake Counties

MartinFairmont Songs and Martin County Stories, MartinCounty Sesquicentennial Committee, for an originalmusical theater piece by Fairmont native WarrenNelson, founder of Big Top Chautauqua

McLeodOakland Cemetery Restoration Project, City ofHutchinson, for restoration of significant headstonesin the historic Oakland Cemetery

MeekerRemembering 150 Years of Minnesota and MeekerCounty History, Meeker County Historical Society,for a research and documentation of a project ex-ploring significant people, places, and events

Mille LacsSesquicentennial and Mille Lacs Lake Birthday Party,Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Management Group, forinterpretive programs and events in Mille LacsCounty

MorrisonRural School History and Events, Morrison CountyHistorical Society, for programs exploring the signifi-cance and history of rural educators and ruralschools

MowerRededication of M4 Sherman tank, Mower CountyHistorical Society, for refurbishing and rededicating aWWII memorial erected during the 1958 Centennialcelebration

Tales of Two Counties, Albert Lea Friends of the Li-brary, for creation of two local history plays basedon local oral histories and other resources

MurraySesquicentennial Environmental History Programs,Prairie Ecology Bus Center, for intergenerational en-vironmental programs in southwestern Minnesota

NicolletNorseland Community Sesquicentennial Celebra-tion, New Sweden Township, for compilation of acommunity history book about the unincorporatedcommunity of Norseland


Treaty of Traverse des Sioux Central Exhibit, NicolletCounty Historical Society, for renovation of an ex-hibit to interpret the circumstances surrounding thesigning of the treaty

NormanArt Reflecting on Minnesota’s 150 Years of State-hood, Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, for a newart and traveling exhibit exploring the history of Kitt-son, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk and RedLake Counties

OlmstedMinnesota at Its Sesquicentennial: Exceptional Peo-ple in an Exceptional Place, Rochester CommunityCollege and University of Minnesota-Rochester, fora series of educational, travel and study programs

Hail, Minnesota! Choral Arts Ensemble, Rochester,for a premiere of four new works by Minnesotacomposers and CD recording

Otter Tail, WilkinRothsay 125th Anniversary Celebration, City ofRothsay, for a series of educational events held aspart of the city’s 125th anniversary and in honor ofthe Sesquicentennial

Otter TailA County on Stage, Otter Tail County Historical Soci-ety, for support of student theater workshops culmi-nating in a community history performance

Evansville History Project, Evansville Arts Coalition,Fond-du-Lac, White Earth and Lower Sioux commu-nities, for re-creation and/or collection of indigenousand traditional structures, stories and artifacts toaugment the Evansville site

Minnesota’s Ordinarily Unsung Concerts, IntermediaArts, for research and performances about “un-sung” Minnesotans

PenningtonArt Reflecting on Minnesota’s 150 Years of State-hood, Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, for a newart and traveling exhibit exploring the history of Kitt-son, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk and RedLake Counties

Rivers and Waters in Pennington County: Their Im-portance and Significance, Pennington County His-torical Society, for a traveling exhibit exploring thehistory and impact of rivers in the development ofthe county

PineMinnesota: 150 Years, Pine City Public Schools, ISD#578, for a series of educators’ professional devel-opment workshops and community programs ex-ploring Sesquicentennial themes

Fire Relief House Project, Hinckley Fire Museum, forconstruction of a “fire relief house” replica to serveas new meeting and research space

PipestoneCivil War Days, Pipestone County Museum, for his-torical re-enactments exploring Minnesota’s role inthe Civil War

Sesquicentennial Environmental History ProgramsPrairie Ecology Bus Center, for intergenerational en-vironmental programs in southwestern Minnesota

PolkGully 100! Celebrating and Sharing our History,Gully 100! Committee, for a community-wide cele-bration, including history displays and re-enact-ments to mark the Sesquicentennial and Gully’sCentennial

Historic Tent and Camping Gear Display, City of EastGrand Forks Parks and Recreation, for a living his-tory display of camping styles used by Native Ameri-cans, explorers and early settlers

Art Reflecting on Minnesota’s 150 Years of State-hood, Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, for a newart and traveling exhibit exploring the history of Kitt-son, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk and RedLake Counties

PopeMedallion Series, Friends of Glacial Lakes State Park,Inc., for a commemorative medallion celebrating thenatural history of the region


Native American Heritage Programs, Pope CountyHistory Society, for a series of lecture-discussion pro-grams on Native American cultures

Ramsey“Como Te Quiero Minnesota,” Adams Spanish Im-mersion School, for recording and dissemination ofan original song


Minnesota Territorial Pioneers Traveling Exhibit, Min-nesota Territorial Pioneers, for creating a travelinghistory exhibit on the life and experiences of Min-nesota’s earliest settlers

Minnesota Territorial Pioneers Portrait CollectionPreservation, Minnesota Territorial Pioneers, for astate-wide project to support ongoing archival workand digitization of a collection of 2,000 portraits

L’Etoile du Nord Mosaic, L’Etoile du Nord French Im-mersion School, for a mosaic created by studentsand East Side community members

Evening in the Park Series, Fort Snelling State ParkAssn., for a series of four musical programs cele-brating the history of the park site

Benson Airport Airshow and Histori-cal Exhibit, White Bear Lake AreaHistorical Society, for documentationand outreach related to the area’saviation history

Mississippi River Eco Journey, Art-Start, for a school-based curriculumexploring the history and signifi-cance of the Mississippi River water-shed

At the Center: 150 Years at Univer-sity and Prior Avenues, UniversityUNITED, for research and exhibit de-velopment on the history of Univer-sity and Prior Avenues

Many Languages, Many Voices, One State: TheirLegacy of Languages and Cultures, Past and Pres-ent, Minnesota County on the Teaching of Lan-guages and Cultures and Minnesota New Visions inAction, for an exhibit on languages spoken in Minnesota

CitiZing! MAP 150 Project, Citizens League, for cre-ation and beta testing of an online civic-networkingplatform

Minnesota Voices, American Composers Forum, for new compositions to premiere at the 2008 State Fair

German POWs in the Midwest, 1943-46, TRACESCenter for History and Culture, for exhibits andcommunity dialogues on the experiences and inter-action of “captors and captives”

2008 Vietnamese Community’s Summer Festival,Vietnamese Community of Minnesota, for supportof a Minnesota “Knowledge Bowl” and an essaycontest for youth

Capitol River Council’s Sesquicentennial Tree Project,Capitol River Council, for a commemorative plaqueabout the Sesquicentennial Norway pine on theState Capitol grounds

Penumbra Theatre Archives, Penumbra TheatreCompany, for digitization of the theatre’s videoarchives

They Also Chose Minnesota, Friends of the Immigra-tion History Research Center, for an oral history proj-ect and DVD capturing the experience of “older”and “newer” immigrants to Minnesota

“Greetings from Minnesota,” Minnesota State FairFoundation, for permanent installation of a tile mo-saic on the grounds of the Minnesota State Fair

Looking Forward: Invent Minnesota’s High SchoolInvention Initiative, Invent Minnesota, for studentparticipation in an innovative initiative

Minnesota Heritage Songbook and CD, Fort SnellingState Park Assn., for research and recording of Min-nesota’s traditional music and songs

Minnesota Writers Hall of Fame, Friends of the Li-brary, St. Paul Public Library, for development of aWeb-based resource on Minnesota writers


THE “GREETINGS FROM MINNESOTA” MOSAIC WAS PER-MANENTLY INSTALLED ON THE STATE FAIR GROUNDS.

Dialogues with Great Leaders Series DVD Project,Concordia University, St. Paul, for distribution of aDVD of historic dramatizations featuring key writ-ings of Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas and Mar-tin Luther King, Jr.

Red LakeThe Story of Old Crossing of the North, Associationdes Français du Nord, for a readers’ theater programand educational materials exploring the 1863 Treaty

Art Reflecting on Minnesota’s 150 Years of State-hood, Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, for newart and traveling exhibit exploring the history of Kitt-son, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk and RedLake Counties

RedwoodFrom the Inside Out: Celebration of Minnesota’s Pi-oneer Women in Fashion and Song, Note-able Fash-ions, for living history programs at Redwood Countylibraries

RenvilleMinnesota River: Gateway to Renville County Travel-ing Exhibit, Renville County Historical Society, for atraveling exhibit on the significance of the Min-nesota River

RiceHistoric Musical Stage Play, Northfield MiddleSchool, for a historical musical stage play by stu-dents at the Lockwood Opera House

Minnesota Sesquicentennial Vintage Base Ball Festival, Washington County Historical Society, forhistoric interpreters and players in the Vintage BaseBall Festival

RockBlue Mounds State Park Historical Prospective, BlueMound Park Partners, for living history programs onnatural history and the experiences of native Ameri-cans and early settlers

RoseauFalun’s 100th Anniversary and State’s 150th An-niversary, Falun Township for a commemorative ex-hibit for the township’s centennial celebration

Roseau Scandinavian Festival, Roseau HeritageCommittee, for community arts programs, includingScandinavian dance workshops

Walking the Pembina Trail, Palmville Press, for sup-port of an authentic ox cart journey along the Pem-bina Trail by Orlin Ostby and colleagues


ORLIN OSTBY,HIS FAMILYAND PUM THEOX RETRACEDTHE 400-MILEJOURNEY FROMPEMBINA TO ST. PAUL.

ScottScott County Baseball, Scott County Historical Soci-ety, for research and publication of a history of base-ball and baseball players in the area

Murphy’s Landing Historic Oak Savanna Project,Great River Greening, for establishing a historic oaksavanna at the living history site in the MinnesotaValley

SherburneOld Minnesota: Song of the North Star, Elk RiverArea Arts Alliance, for a school and community per-formance of Old Minnesota: Songs of the NorthStar by Big Top Chautauqua

St. LouisStoryteller Series, McCarthy Beach State Park, for aseries of storytelling and living history programs onthe culture and natural history of St. Louis County

Fire Days Celebration, Chisholm Area Chamber ofCommerce, for hosting 2008 Fire Days, a commu-nity commemoration of the centennial of the firethat destroyed Chisholm

Virginia’s First Mural, Virginia Community Founda-tion, for community mural project to celebrate theregion’s diverse history and culture

Under the North Star: Music of Minnesota, TheSingers-Minnesota Choral Artists, for presentationsof choral music at communities in several counties

StearnsPaynesville Sesquicentennial-Looking Back, MovingForward, Paynesville Area Historical Museum, for anoutdoor mural and new historical timeline

Lake Wobegon Trail Covered Bridge and Sesquicen-tennial Historical Park Project, City of Holdingford,for creation of historical and interpretive markers aspart of a larger park development

The State We’re In: Critical and Creative Approachesto Minnesota History at 150, St. John’s University,College of St. Benedict, and the Stearns CountyMuseum, for a public conference and publishedproceedings exploring contemporary scholarship onMinnesota history

SteelePreservation and Restoration of the Village of RiceLake, Rice Lake Church Restoration and PreservationGroup, for restoration of a historic landmark churchin Rice Lake

Celebrate with the State in 2008, Willow Creek In-termediate School, for interdisciplinary communityactivities and intergenerational programs

Stevens2008 Donnelly Threshing Bee, Donnelly CommunityClub, for the annual community threshing bee cele-bration and installation of a flag site on the localfairgrounds


Footsteps on the Trail, Stevens County Historical So-ciety, for development of a children’s book and ex-hibit on the early history of Native American andsettler interactions

SwiftSesquicentennial Visual Art Display, Upper Min-nesota Valley Regional Development Commission,for original art depicting Sesquicentennial themes

ToddFireworks/Veterans Tribute, Prairie CommunityGroup, for a program honoring veterans as part ofSesquicentennial activities and Long Prairie’s 125thanniversary

TraverseMinnesota’s Ordinarily Unsung Concerts, IntermediaArts, for research and performances about “un-sung” Minnesotans

WabashaWabasha Sesquicentennial Community Spirit Proj-ect, City of Wabasha, for programs and art activitieswith Sesquicentennial themes

WadenaMinnesota’s Ordinarily Unsung Concerts, IntermediaArts, for research and performances about “un-sung” Minnesotans

WasecaHistory of Minnesota Agriculture, Farmamerica, foran interpretive exhibit on the importance of Min-nesota agriculture, past and present

Portrait of Waseca County, Waseca Arts Council, forphoto documentation and display of present-daypeople, landscapes and towns


WashingtonMinnesota Sesquicentennial Vintage Base Ball Festi-val Washington County Historical Society, for sup-port of historic baseball re-enactments

Under the North Star: Music of Minnesota, TheSingers-Minnesota Choral Artists, for presentationsof choral music at community sites

WatonwanPreserving the History of Minnesota Veterans,Madelia Veterans Memorial, Inc., for documentationand preservation of war veterans’ stories

WilkinRothsay 125th Anniversary Celebration, City ofRothsay, for a series of educational events held aspart of the city’s 125th anniversary and in honor ofthe Sesquicentennial

WinonaWinona Symphony Orchestra and Winona Sym-phony Orchestra Commemorate Minnesota’s State-hood, Winona State University Concert Assn., for anoriginal composition and concert marking theSesquicentennial of the Winona State University andthe Winona Symphony Orchestra

Historic Church Building Preservation Project, Min-nesota City Historical Assn., for renovation and cre-ation of a function archive at the historic BaptistChurch site

150 Years Ago in Pleasant Hill Township, RidgewayCommunity School, for a township celebration andliving history display and activities, “circa 1858”Ridgeway Township

WrightWright County Celebrates Minnesota’s Sesquicen-tennial, Wright County Historical Society, for a day-long, county-wide celebration and living historyprogram celebrating Wright County’s past

Yellow MedicineGranite Falls Community Celebration, Granite FallsHistorical Society, for research and displays pertain-ing to the region’s tradition of ethnic and commu-nity festivals held as part of Western Fest

Sesquicentennial Art Display, Upper Minnesota Val-ley Regional Development Commission, for originalart depicting Sesquicentennial themes

Grants of Statewide Significance

Capital Improvement Grants ProgramMinnesota Historical Society, historic preservationgrants for properties central to community redevel-opment

CitiZing! MAP 150 ProjectCitizens League, creation and beta testing of an on-line civic-networking platform

Chautauqua at the 2009 Minnesota State FairMinnesota State Fair Foundation, planning for anew historical Chautauqua program for the 2009State Fair

Documentation of Minnesota Barns and Farmsteads

Friends of Minnesota Barns, state-wide effort to in-ventory historic barns and farmsteads

Excursions on the 261Friends of the 261, excursions through the Missis-sippi Valley on a historic steam locomotive

German POWs in the Midwest 1943-46 TRACES Center for History and Culture, traveling ex-hibits and community dialogues on the experiencesand interaction of “captors and captives”

Great River Road Travel Guide & Activity BookMinnesota Mississippi River Parkway Commission,travel guide featuring the history and geography of21 Minnesota counties

“Greetings from Minnesota”Minnesota State Fair Foundation, design and perma-nent installation of a tile mosaic on the grounds ofthe Minnesota State Fair

Minnesota Heritage Songbook and CDFort Snelling State Park Assn., research, recordingand distributing a CD of Minnesota’s traditionalmusic and songs

Minnesota History Education Program Minnesota Historical Society, student field trips andeducation program curricular support statewide

Minnesota Lincoln Bicentennial Advisory Committee

Minnesota Historical Society, activities undertaken aspart of the Lincoln Bicentennial national andstatewide project


Minnesota Territorial PioneersPortrait Collection Preserv-ation

Minnesota Territorial Pioneers,state-wide project to support on-going archival work and digitiza-tion of a collection of 2,000portraits

Minnesota Writers Hall ofFame

Friends of the Library, St. PaulPublic Library, development of aweb-based resource on Min-nesota writers

Missing Markers ProjectGeological Society of Minnesota,erection of permanent markersat significant geological sites inMinnesota parks

Old Minnesota, Song of theNorth Star

Big Top Chautauqua, develop-ment and presentation Chau-tauqua-style historicpresentations at the 2008 Min-nesota State Fair

Orlin Ostby Ox Cart ProjectPalmville Press/Minnesota Al-liance of Local History Museums,re-enactment of the 1958 ox cartjourney along the Pembina Trail

Science/Technology/Engineer-ing/Mathematics (STEM)Mentoring and InternshipInitiative

Minnesota High TechnologyFoundation, connecting studentsstatewide with internships andmentors in high-technology re-lated fields

Sesqui Community Celebrations

From Afton to Zumbrota, hun-dreds of communities in everycorner of the state celebrated theSesquicentennial in their ownunique ways. Some created spe-cial activities while others com-bined Sesqui celebrations withtheir traditional events. Lectures,exhibits, performances, hikes,tours, fairs, festivals, storytelling,shows — the list goes on, en-compassing more than 500 com-memorations. One thing they allhad in common: a deep bondwith this place they call home,Minnesota.

Afton2008 Afton State FairBison ReintroductionPrairie Walk

Albert Lea Freeborn County Sesquicenten-

nial CelebrationMyre Big Island State Park Walk“Tales of Two Counties”

AlexandriaAlexandria Celebrates the Min-

nesota SesquicentennialDouglas County Historical Society

Open HouseKnute Nelson Open HouseMinnesota Firefighters State

Convention

AlturaFishing FestivalFishing Techniques of the PastGames of Minnesota’s PioneersOrdinary Men, Extraordinary

SoldiersPioneer Home Fall Color TourSongs & Stories with Charlie

Maguire

AmboyAmboy Area Community Theatre

AnokaLibrary Celebration of Minnesota

Sesquicentennial

Apple ValleyDakota County Sesqui-Celebra-

tionTribute to the Hall BrothersNew Orleans Jazz Band

ArgyleFrom Field to FlourGrinding DaysNatural History Hike on the Ox

Cart TrailStories in Log & StoneUnder Cart Wheels

Austin“Tales of Two Counties”

BagleyBagley Sesquicentennial Parade

& Fireworks

BancroftBig Island Rendezvous & Festival

Battle LakeFly Fishing on Heritage LakeIf These Walls Could Talk

BaudetteLake of the Woods Master Gar-

dener Tour

BaytownBaytown Township’s 150th

Celebration

BemidjiCapital for a DayCorn MazeGeocaching 101, the History

ChallengeHead of the Lake PicnicItasca’s Mysteries in HistoryMigrations: Minnesota Birds

Since StatehoodMinnAqua Fishing History DayMuskie Mania 2008Tour of Paul Bunyan Foot PrintWalking Tour of Park Historic

DistrictWednesday History Walks


Big ForkBuilding of a Park

BloomingtonBloomington Loves Kids CarnivalBloomington State of the City

AddressBloomington 150th Anniversary

Celebration

Blue EarthCelebrate the Sesquicentennial at

the Faribault County FairGiant Days

BrainerdBrainerd History WalkCrow Wing Canoe DayMinnesota Poetry AnthologyVoyageur Canoe Tour: Paddling

into Minnesota’s Past

Breezy PointButterfly Release

Brooklyn Center 150 Years in the BrooklynsNew Schwen Swiss Family Picnic

Browns ValleyMinnesota’s Ordinarily Unsung

Concert by Elisa Korenne

Brunswick Township150 Year Celebration

BuffaloWright County Historical Society

CaledoniaHouston County FairSongs of Old Minnesota with

John Berquist

CalumetGeology Rocks!Hike Through History

CambridgeCambridge Swedish Festival

Cannon Falls Homesteaders Hoedown Live

Music (wagon train)

CarlosGeocaching 101, the History

ChallengeStories in Log & Stone

CarltonBiking Through the PastGeocaching 101, the History

ChallengeHydroelectric Power Plant TourJay Cooke Open HouseVoices of the Park

Cass LakeMuskie Mania

Center CityAncient Art of Stone ToolsArt of Blacksmithing in 1858From Prairie to Potatoes & Back

AgainGet Your Dancing ShoesHistorical Herbs for HealthLoggers’ Tales-The Story of the

Great White Pine Logging EraMaple Syrup From Tap to TableSeegwan, a Celebration of

SpringVisit with Anna Sheldon, 1876Wildflowers of the 1800s on the

Old Military Road

CarverChrist Community Lutheran

School Grandparents Day

ChanhassenTwilight in the Northstar State

ChisagoKi-Chi-Saga Days

ClintonClinton 125th Quasquicentennial

CloquetSesquicentennial Car Show

CollegevilleSt. John’s/St. Ben’s

Columbia Heights Celebrating the Season: A Civil

War ChristmasLibrary Celebration of Minnesota

Sesquicentennial

ComfreyBefore There was a Minnesota

Coon RapidsLibrary Celebration of Minnesota

Sesquicentennial

Crane Lake Crane Lake Voyageur Days

CrystalMinnesota Stamp Expo

CurrieLake Shetek in Nicollet’s TimeOn the Trail of Joseph NicolletGeocaching 101, the History

ChallengeLake Shetek Revisited

Detroit LakesCapital for a Day

Dodge CenterDodge County Ghost Town Tour

Donnelly2008 Donnelly Threshing Bee

DuluthAmerican Indians & Human

RightsAmerican Indians in Minnesota: • Karen Diver• Heid E. Erdrich & Louise Erdrich• David Treuer• Paul LaRocheAnn Reed’s Troubadour SeriesFinnFestHistory of American Racism &

How It Affects Us as PeopleHome Grown Music FestivalLicense Plate Unveiling/Dedica-

tionMinnesota State ConstitutionMinnesota Statehood

CelebrationOwens Yacht Duluth Maritime

Festival

EaganEagan Art Festival


Elk RiverAgriculture OpenerBaby Animals WeekendOld Minnesota: Song of the

North StarWinter on the Farm: A Women’s

Perspective

ElyBear Head Lake State Park Walk Blueberry Art FestivalBoundary Waters Blues FestivalEly Winter FestivalHarvest Moon FestivalHistory of the Lumber IndustryMinnAqua Bear History Fun

ErskineUnder Cart Wheels

EvansvilleMany Nations One Circle

FairfaxDigging into Fort Ridgely History

Fairmont Fairmont Songs & Martin County

StoriesWalking Tour of Downtown Plaza

Falcon HeightsMinnesota Mineral Club

Faribault Faribault County Fair, Celebrate

Sesquicentennial

FarmingtonCivil War WeekendDakota County ChautauquaDakota County Sesqui-

CelebrationSaving Dakota County BarnsMinnesota Scottish Fair & High-

land GamesSpring Festival Open HouseVillage Holiday

Fergus FallsMuseum Days: The Fur Trade

Forest TownshipForest Township: A 150-Year

History

ForestvilleFounders Day at Historic

ForestvilleLake Louise State Park WalkThey Built This Town

Fort RidgelyMinnesota’s Pioneer Women in

Fashion & Song

FosstonHistoric Landscapes Presentation

of 13 Townships in PolkCounty

Art Reflecting on Minnesota’s150 Years of Statehood

FrontenacFrontenac State Park Guided

WalkLighting up the Night: The His-

tory of Coleman LanternsVoyageur Canoe Tour: Paddling

Into Minnesota’s Past

GeorgetownHistory of Potatoes & PiePhotos & Memories of George-

town

GilbertGilbert Centennial

GlenwoodOld Minnesota: Song of the

North Star

GlyndonPrairie History HikeStories in Log & Stone

Grand ForksArt Reflecting on Min-

nesota’s150 Years of State-hood

East Grand Forks Heritage DaysHistoric Tent & Camping Gear

Rendezvous

Grand MaraisStorytelling with Auntie Bev of

the North Woods

Grand PortageGrand Portage 154

Grand RapidsHERStory

Granite FallsRiver & History WeekendWestern FestGeocaching 101, the History

ChallengeHistoric Paddle on the Minnesota

RiverTribute to Western FestYellow Medicine Agency in 1858

HallockHallock Turns 125 Years Old

HastingsHarvest HauntingHastings August Concert SeriesHastings Artist ShowLeDuc Historic Estate: • General William LeDuc & Min-

nesota Statehood• Civil War Weekend• Currier & Ives Lecture• Harvest Haunting• Hastings Needlework Day• Hastings People in the Civil

War• Simmons Country Market• Quality Antique Show/Sale/Ap-

praisals• Modern Interpretations of His-

toric Designs• Needlework Antiquities• Musical Program & Reception• Remembering Carroll Simmons• Friends of LeDuc Estate LectureVermillion Falls Walking TourMinnAqua Fishing History Fun

Prairie Walk

HinckleyFoundations of the PastRaising the “Relief House”

HitterdalCommunity Crime Watch

HoustonPleasant Hill Township 150th

Anniversary


HuotThe Story of Old Crossing:

Chautauqua & French Festivalat Old Crossing & Treaty Park

IvanhoeMinnesota’s Pioneer Women in

Fashion & Song

Inver Grove HeightsBrave Journey of an Orphan Train

Rider

IrontonCuyuna Iron Range Biking History Tour

IsleMinnAqua Fishing History FunRediscovering Our State HeritageVoyageur Canoe Tours: Paddling


JacksonBefore the Plow in the Des

Moines River Valley

JordanScott County Main Street to

StatehoodGhost Town-Boom TownMinnesota River Historic Canoe

Trip

KabetogamaLand of the Lady Slipper Festival

KingstonSave the Round Barn Bluegrass

Concert

Lake BronsonStories in Log & Stone

LakefieldBefore the Plow in the Des

Moines River Valley

LakevilleBrave Journey of an Orphan Train

RiderDakota County Sesqui-

CelebrationFaces of HistoryAn Afternoon with Maud Hart

LovelaceSesquicentennial Shots: 150

Years of Minnesota Photography

“Up North” storytimeTribute to the Hall Brothers New

Orleans Jazz Band

Leavenworth Leavenworth Township is 150

Years Old

Little FallsExploring With Lieutenant PikeThe Natural Environment of

Charles A. LindberghWPA Brought to Life, 1936Voyageur Canoe Tours: Paddling


LongvilleMuskie Mania

LutsenSalmon Run History Cart

LuverneBuffalo Days & Prairie History

LyndGreat Camden CampoutLegacy of Company 2713

MadeliaGood Ol’ Days

MadisonLac Qui Parle Heritage Celebra-

tion

McGregorGeocaching 101, the History

ChallengeHeritage Reunion

MankatoBetsy Tacy Neighborhood WalkBlue Earth Concert on the Court-

house LawnDay at the DamHistory of Seppman MillNorth Mankato Fun Days

Marine on St. CroixBoom!Ice Cream SocialLighting Up the Night: History of

Coleman LanternsMinnAqua Fishing History FunTrain Rides Through HistoryVoyageur Encampment

MendotaDo ArcheologyFur Trade Adventure Day CampHistory River WalkMendota’s Fête de la

St. Jean-BaptisteMendota Sesquicentennial

MilacaThe Legend of Paul & Babe

MinneapolisBdote Rivers & People Coming TogetherBall of the WildCDI Back in Shape5K Run/WalkCelebrating Our Minneapolis

HistoryCelebrate Northeast ParadeCommonBond Playhouse ParadeCrosby, Stills & NashFriends of Minnesota BarnsThe Story of Grey Cloud Historic Main Street Walking TourInterpretive Historic Bike TourJesus Christ SuperstarJohn H. Stevens DayLiterary Legends: • Khaled Hosseini• David McCullough• David Sedaris• Armistead MaupinLittle House in the Big Fort Day

CampLong Time Coming: Minnesota’s

SesquicentennialLove Flute


Make a Difference Day: FortSnelling

MinnAqua Fishing History FunMinneapolis SesquicentennialMinnesota Innovation: 150 Years

of IngenuityMinnesota & Its PeopleMinnesota Lynx Home OpenerMinnesota River Historic Canoe

TripMinnesota Sesquicentennial Statehood StampMonthly Music in the ParkNational Geographic Live!National Service Learning

ConferenceNatural History of Minnesota

WineNecohundah, the Eagle CatcherNew Year’s Eve Candlelight WalkNorway DayOld Minnesota: Song of the

North StarOpen House Day & Photo

Contest Plan for our FuturePlan for our Future, Northeast

MinneapolisRelive the Second Minnesota

State FairSam Abell, National Geographic

Live!Sesqui-BoxingSesquicentennial Bike RideSesquicentennial Concert: Lake

NokomisSesquicentennial Concert:

Calhoun-IslesSpamalotSpielmannszug Minnesota’s

PrinzenkronungSummer of 150th Celebration

Kick-OffTimeline of the American SoldierU.S. Pond Hockey ChampionshipsWomen of Mill CityWorld War II Weekend

Minnesota City First Baptist Church Open HouseMinnesota City DayNative American History &

Archaeology

MinnetonkaMinnetonka Fire Dept. & City-

Wide Open HouseSupreme Court Hearing

MontevideoHorse Power Event

MontgomeryKolacky Days

MonticelloFishing Technique of Minnesota’sHistory & CulturesOpen House Day

Moose LakeJunior Naturalists-Minnesota

State SymbolsMoose Lake State Park Walk

MoraBrunswick Township 150th Year

Celebration

MorrisAnn Reed ConcertPower of Small: Building Solu-

tions for Energy Self-RelianceWorld Touch Cultural Heritage

Week

NerstrandLand Remembers: The Outside-In

Tour of Nerstrand Big Woods

New LondonFishing Techniques of the PastGranite, Oak & MenSibley State Park Open HouseSongs & Stories with Charlie

MaguireU.S. Dakota War of 1862

New UlmBavarian BlastBuild a Park on a Dollar a DayCapital for a DayHistoric Marker DedicationKey Ingredients AmericaNew Ulm Popcorn Wagon

DedicationNew Ulm Pictorial CancellationThe State We’re In: Stories of

Minnesota’s PastWanda Gag House

Northfield“Harvest” Sculpture DedicationLockwood’s Brightest StarsMedicine Dream JourneysWild West Roundup

Norseland Norseland Community Sesqui-

centennial

OakdaleOak Meadows 10-Year Celebra-

tion

OnamiaAncient Villages, Log Drives &

Homesteaders: History on theLakeshore

Biking into the PastExplorers & ArchaeologyMemorial Day Pow-WowMille Lacs Indian Museum &

Trading Post, The People’s DaySummer Solstice ConcertVoyageur Canoe Tours: Paddling

into Minnesota’s PastVoyageur Canoes on the Rum

River

OrtonvilleBabou, the French Fur Trader

OwatonnaExtravaganzaSongs of Old Minnesota with

John BerquistSteele County Historical SocietySteele County Fair

Park RapidsItasca’s Mysteries in HistoryMinnAqua Headwaters History

FairOzawindib Walk/5K, 21st AnnualTell Tales Told ‘Round the

CampfireWednesday History Walks

Pelican RapidsHistoric Hallaway HillTurkey Days 125th AnniversaryStorytelling with Auntie Bev of

the North Woods

Pine CityPine City Open House


Pine RiverPine River SummerfestLakes Bluegrass Festival

PipestonePipestone Civil War Days

PlymouthModern Indian Dance AcademyMusic in Plymouth

PrestonHardwoods Home CompanionIron Mines in the CornfieldLegends & Lore of Fillmore

CountyMigrations: Minnesota Birds

Since StatehoodValley of Forestville - 1858

PuposkyMinnesota Sesquicentennial Fall

Fest

RamseyMonroe Crossing Bluegrass Band

Red WingRed Wing Collectors Society

RiceMinnesota’s Ordinarily Unsung


RochertEarly Settlers/Logging

EncampmentTamarac History Tour

RochesterChoral Arts EnsembleEd Fischer: 25 Years of

CartooningHonors Choirs of Southeast

MinnesotaHow to Talk MinnesotanNorwegian Centennial

CelebrationRochester 150 Year BanquetRochester Rotary Club Honors

Statehood WeekRoosters Classic Vintage Base Ball

Festival

RollagBreakfast on the Farm

RoseauArt Reflecting on Minnesota’s

150 Years of StatehoodHickory WindHike Through HistoryRed River Ox Cart in the Park

RosemountLeprechaun Days

RosevilleRoseville Winter Jazz BlastWild Rice Festival

Rush CityRush City Music & Art Festival

SandstoneBanning Quarry HikeBanning State Park Walk

Sauk RapidsMinnesota’s Ordinarily Unsung


ScandiaStatehood Day

SchroederCelebrate the Sesquicentennial

on the North ShoreTemperance River History Cart

ShakopeeEagle Creek FairIndependence CelebrationMinnesota 150Minnesota River Bike TourPa & Me DaysRiver Town DaysScott County Cemetery Walking

TourScott County Celebrates 150

YearsScott County Historical SocietyStrait House Picnic

ShevlinClearwater County Birthday Party

Side LakeLocal Area Tales• Mining, Settlement, Logging• Music & Tall Tales• Music on the Range• Tales of Side Lake• Songs & Stories That Make

You Smile• When I Came To This Land

Silver BayTettegouche History Cart

SolwaySolway Celebration

SoudanSoudan Underground Mine State

Park WalkHeritage Days

SpicerArcheology Day & Grand Open-

ing of History of Corn Exhibit

Spring GroveSpring Grove Music in the Park

St. Anthony6th Annual Fourth in the Park

ParadeSt. Anthony Village Historical

Society Open HouseSt. Anthony Civic Orchestra

St. CloudSt. Cloud 4th of July Fireworks &

Freedom FestSt. Cloud Technical College 60th

Birthday

St. MichaelRound Barn Move

St. PaulAfloat in the Wireless PondAnn Reed’s Song for MinnesotaCLAC 30th Anniversary Dinner

Celebrate MinnesotaCharging Forward – 30 years of

Groundbreaking MusicCookbook Day at the State FairDakota Conflict TourDry Bones Blues Music FestivalHistoric Statehood Day

Celebration


Irish Heritage at the Hill HouseLake Phalen Summer FestivalLeap in for the Love of

MinnesotaMinnesota Statehood WeekMinnesota Turns 150!Minnesota Sesquicentennial Call

for ArtistsMinnesota Transportation

MuseumMinnesota Supreme Court His-

torical SocietyMinnesota Territorial Pioneers

Log CabinMinnesota VoicesMinnesota’s Ordinarily Unsung

Concert by Elisa KorenneMinnesota’s Progressive Republi-

can TraditionMonthly Music in the Park SeriesOld Minnesota at the State FairReliving the Second Minnesota

State FairRemembering Supreme Court

JusticesSesquicentennial Wagon TrainSt. Paul Saints Step Back To Statehood CampStatehood Weekend FestivalSupreme Court Justice Loren W.

Collins (1838-1912)

Supreme Court Law Clerk Reunion

Trial of Alvin “Creepy” KarpisWalking the Pembina TrailWelcome to the State FairWild West Frontier Fest on the

MississippiWorld War II Weekend

StarbuckPrairie History Hike

StillwaterCelebrating Minnesota’s Sesqui-

centennial Art ExhibitMinnesota Sesquicentennial Vin-

tage Base Ball FestivalMinnesota Statehood

CelebrationMinnesota Territorial Pioneers

Annual Banquet Old Minnesota: Song of the

North StarSaluting Minnesota’s 150th

BirthdaySummer on the Porch

SunburgFishing Techniques of the Past

Taylors FallsNation’s 1st Interstate Park: Gla-

cial Pothole History Walk

Thief River FallsArt Reflecting on Minnesota’s

150 Years of StatehoodCapital for a DayView from the Ox Cart

Tracy81st Box Car Days Celebration

TrimontTrimont Chocolate Festival

Two HarborsBiking Into the North Shore’s

Past“CCC Boys” Stone & Log

Legacy WalkChildren’s DayGeocaching 101, The History

ChallengeOpen HouseSplit Rock Lighthouse Park His-

tory CartStatehood Day“Young Men Building the Park”

History Cart

VestaPioneer Women in Fashion &

Song

VikingViking Good Old Days


NUMEROUSCOMMUNITY PA-RADES FEATUREDTHE SESQUICEN-TENNIAL.

WabassoPioneer Women in Fashion &

Song

WadenaMinnesota’s Ordinarily Unsung


Waite ParkQuilt Minnesota

WalkerMuskie ManiaSnowshoe at Shingobee Hills

Walnut GroveWilder Pageant

WasecaChautauqua 2008 150 Years of Minnesota

AgricultureHomestead TourIce Harvest 2008Portrait of Waseca County

WaskishHistoric Fish Hatchery Tour

WatonwanGood Ol’ Days

WatsonLac Qui Parle Heritage

CelebrationPhotos from the Past

WayzataBushaway Road 150 YearsMinnesota Stamp Expo

WheatonK-2 Field DayMinnesota’s Ordinarily Unsung


White Bear LakeCelebrate the Bald EagleChildren’s CarnivalCivil War Encampment, 1st

MinnesotaFlyers, Food & Fun at Benson

Airport Minnesota Territorial Pioneers

Annual BanquetSesquicentennial CelebrationWhite Bear Lake Rotary Club

BanquetWhite Bear Lake All-School

Reunion

WilliamsHike to the Zippel Townsite &

Fisheries

WillmarGlacial Ridge Model T Tour

WindomMinnesota Sesquicentennial

Legacy Grant UnveilingWindom Riverfest

WinonaCapital for a Day21st North American Prairie

ConferenceSongs of Old Minnesota with

John BerquistWinona State University

Sesquicentennial Winona Symphony Orchestra

Centennial

WorthingtonKing Turkey Day CelebrationWindsurfing Regatta &

Unvarnished Music Festival


GOV. TIM PAW-LENTY PRESENTSTHE CAPITALSFOR A DAY CERTIFICATES.

Minnesota @ 150, Real & Imagined

Thanks to a generous grant from the Bush Founda-tion and partnerships with Twin Cities Public Televi-sion-the Minnesota Channel and the CitizensLeague, the live discussions held at the 2008 Min-nesota State Fair were edited and reproduced in re-tail-ready DVD format.

Called “Minnesota @ 150, Real & Imagined: WhatMinnesotans need to know for the next 50 years,”the discussions were tied to Sesquicentennialthemes. Each of the five, 60-minute DVDs featureMinnesota’s best thinkers, creators, and doers in theareas of education; health and wellness; environ-ment and great outdoors; arts and culture; andbusiness and innovation.

The following is a list of the DVDs, their subjectsand panelists.

Minnesota @ 150, Real & Imagined: What Min-nesotans Need to Know for the Next 50 Years

Arts & CultureWhat is Minnesota doing at its Sesquicentennialyear to ensure a thriving future? How has Min-nesota changed since the 1958 State Centennial?What are the current images and stories we use todescribe Minnesota?

Conversation One: The Minnesota SesquicentennialCommission’s Plan for Our Future Initiative

Conversation Two: The State We’re In: Image andIdentity, Then & Now

PanelistsAnnette Atkins, Department of History, St. John’s

University John Davis, director, Lanesboro Cornucopia Arts

CenterRachel Garaghty, Sesquicentennial staffJeff Kolick, professor of history, Southwest State

UniversityMary Lahammer, TPT TVJane Leonard, Sesquicentennial staff Rebecca Peichel, Sesquicentennial staff Kate Roberts, curator, Minnesota Historical Society

Business & InnovationWith its long history of entrepreneurship and inno-vation, especially in technology and health care,what does Minnesota need to do now to preserveits robust economy in the decades to come?

Conversation One: Sustaining a Culture of Innova-tion in Minnesota

Conversation Two: Young Inventors from The Inven-tion Crew

Conversation Three: Taking Care of Business: The View from Main Street

PanelistsBruce Corrie, College of Business & Organizational

Leadership, Concordia UniversityDavid Gundale, St. Paul Public SchoolsDeb Hess, Minnesota Inventors CongressMary Mathews, Northeast Entrepreneur FundTom Misa, Babbage InstituteKate Rubin, Minnesota High Tech AssociationKen Stone, Rock Solid Media

EducationWhat will our education system be like during theState’s Bicentennial Year in 2058? Are we doingwhat’s needed now for Minnesota to continue toprosper?

Conversation One: Vanishing Grads and Min-nesota’s Future

Conversation Two: 21st Century Schools: What’s Needed?

Panelists:Angie Eilers, Minnesota Growth and JusticeJoe Graba, Education: EvolvingBill Green, Minneapolis Public SchoolsRobert Holst, Concordia UniversityPeter Hutchinson, Bush FoundationVinodh Kutty, Hennepin County Office of Multicul-

tural ServicesTraci Parmenter, Admission PossibleMitch Pearlstein, Center of the American

ExperimentLori Sturdevant, StarTribuneJohn Wade, Rochester Chamber of Commerce


Environment & Great OutdoorsKnown for its abundant natural resources, Min-nesota has historically been a leader in environmen-tal health and stewardship. What’s needed toensure this legacy for future generations?

Conversation One: Understanding and ProtectingOur Legacy

Conversation Two: Going Green in Morris: Building Sustainable Communities

PanelistsMarti Erickson, Center on Early Education and De-

velopmentDavid Fluegel, Center for Small Towns, University of

Minnesota, MorrisAmy Kay Kerber, Minnesota Department of Natural

ResourcesPeggy Knapp, Hamline UniversityCharlie Maguire, Mello-Jam MusicLowell Rasmussen, University of Minnesota, MorrisDeb Swackhamer, Water Resources Center, Univer-

sity of Minnesota,Cathy Wurzer, TPT TV

Health & WellnessMinnesota is recognized as one of the nation'shealthiest states. Will we maintain this distinction incoming decades as costs rise and society ages?

Conversation One: Untangling the Health CareKnot: Prospects for Reform?

Conversation Two: All Above Average? What Kids Need to Thrive

Conversation Three: Age Wave

PanelistsKathy Bakkenist, EcumenMary Brainerd, HealthPartnersJim Fries, Mercer Health BenefitsKaren Gervais, Minnesota Center on Health Care

EthicsJan Hively, Vital Aging NetworkCatherine Jordan, Achieve MinneapolisSean Kershaw, Citizens LeagueDr. Jonathan Larson, Carver County Health Partner-

shipSanne Magnan, Minnesota Department of HealthPat SamplesJim SchiebelKen Stone, Rock Solid Media

Sesqui Books

For the Sesquicentennial, a number of authors fo-cused their thoughts and creativity on the issues,history, people, culture and heritage of Minnesota.Following is a sampling of books published aboutMinnesota during the Sesquicentennial Year.

Creating Minnesota: A History From the Inside OutAnnette Atkins

Dakota Philosopher: Charles Eastman and AmericanIndian ThoughtDavid Martinez

Harriet Bishop: Woman of ContrastCarolyn A. Ayres

Make It Minnesotan! Sesquicentennial CookbookEdited by Claire Plank

Minnesota 150: The People, Places, and Things thatShape Our StateKate Roberts

Minnesota, Hail to Thee! A Sesquicentennial HistoryKaral Ann Marling

Minnesota on the Map: A Historical AtlasDavid A. Lanegran

North for the Harvest: Mexican Workers, Growers,and the Sugar Beet IndustryJim Norris

North Star Rising: Minnesota Politicians on the Na-tional StageBarry Casselman

Riding Into the Sunrise: Al Quie, a Life of Faith, Serv-ice & CivilityDr. Mitchell Pearlstein

Shaping Minnesota’s Identity: 150 Years of StateHistorySteven Keillor

State Fair: The Great Minnesota Get-TogetherSusan Lambert Miller

Tales of the Road: Highway 61Cathy Wurzer

What Does Justice Look Like? The Struggle for Liber-ation in Dakota HomelandWaziyatawin, Ph.D.

Where One Voice Ends Another Begins: 150 Yearsof Minnesota PoetryEdited by Robert Hedin

Wonders on Ice: Figure Skating in MinnesotaMoira F. Harris


Thanks to the following people for their con-tributions to this report:

Denise Cumming, office assistant & archivist

Jane Cunningham, grants & development manager

Rachel Garaghty, Sesquicentennial fellow

Kim Gordon, Open Cupboard Designs

Cay Shea Hellervik, Commission chair

Jane Leonard, executive director

Andrew Ranallo, Sesquicentennial fellow

Karen Rickert, executive assistant & financial officer

Patricia Miller, Laughing Cat Communications

Mong Vang, multi-media specialist

Audrey Williams, office volunteer


Published by the Minnesota Statehood Sesquicentennial Commission, January 2009www.mn150years.org

The Commission's archives are located at the Minnesota Historical Society, 345 West Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102

a sesquicentennial journey - minnesota legislature

Documents