The Mower County Historical Society is among dozens around the state to receive thousands of dollars in new Legacy grants.

The local historical society received $1,078 for a World War II exhibit and $6,922 to acquire microfilm copies of the Austin Daily Herald through 2007.

The grants were among many, in which the Minnesota Historical Society awarded 64 new Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage grants of up to $7,000 each.

“It’s great that we have this grants program to allow us to do things like this, and we’re really glad that the voters pushed through and got it approved as a constitutional amendment in 2008,” said Dustin Heckman, Mower County Historical Society executive director.

Heckman said the grants will allow research to begin on a future World War II exhibit with information about veterans and the homefront in Mower County. While the local historical society already has much of the microfilm of the Daily Herald from 1891 to 1999, the second grant will allow the organization to nearly complete its records through 2007. Heckman expects the 85 new canisters of microfilm to be ready by this summer.

The latest round of statewide grants marks a 1,000-grant milestone since the grants, funded by the Legacy Amendment, began in 2009.

“This 1,000-grant milestone is significant. It means that Minnesotans are building a lasting legacy now for future generations by preserving what makes our state a great place to live,” said David Grabitske, manager of outreach services for the Minnesota Historical Society. “While a lot has been accomplished in just three years, the demand for the grants for the cause of history and historic preservation remains strong and enthusiastic.”

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

 

Historical Socity to host ‘Minnesota on the Map’

MCHS will host “Minnesota on the Map,” a traveling exhibit, from March 17 to May 22. The exhibit features dozens of maps ranging from Louis Hennepin’s 1683 map of the upper Mississippi River Valley to a satellite map of Minnesota produced by NASA.

“Minnesota on the Map” illustrates how maps have documented and helped influence our understanding of the state, from early exploration to the present. Drawing from the extensive map collection of the Minnesota Historical Society, the exhibit features 23 reproduction maps and atlases, a video station with commentary by local historians, and a bin of laminated maps that allows for an up-close look at Minnesota geography and history. Plus, an oversized jigsaw puzzle map of the state will provide an engaging element for schoolchildren and other young visitors.

This exhibit is on temporary loan from the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. It came to Austin as a partnership between the Mower County Historical Society and Austin Public Library.

A local exhibit has been created by the Mower County Historical Society to run concurrently during this period. The complimentary exhibit, Mapping Mower County: 1849-1960, uses maps to show the first 100 years or so of Mower County history.

The exhibit will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday at the MCHS building.

Admission is $1 for the general public and free for members of the historical society and children 17 years of age or under. For more information on the exhibits, contact the historical society at (507) 437-6082 or via email at info@mowercountyhistory.org.