A look at the early days of the Great American Pastime in Minnesota, from its beginnings post-Civil War up to the arrival of the Minnesota Twins.

Baseball in Minnesota: the Early Years

Immigrants are an important part of the Minnesota story. This episode looks at immigration through what people brought with them to their new home. What was useful, what held memories, what shows why they had to leave?

They Chose Minnesota: Immigration to the North Star State

Prisoner of war camps during the Civil War were often more dangerous than the battlefield. Watch to learn more about the system of prisoner exchanges and how circumstances deteriorated as the war dragged on. Andersonville is particularly noted, as many Minnesota soldiers spent time there.


Learn More:

Civil War Daybook
Civil War Collections
Minnesota and the Civil War Exhibit

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Andersonville and Civil War Prisoners

This episode features Victorian valentines from the Minnesota Historical Society’s collections, dating from 1840 to 1900.  While the designs are vintage, the feelings expressed are timeless.


Produced by Lizzie Ehrenhalt
For more valentines, see Collections Online.

Believe Me True: Victorian Valentines, 1840 – 1900

As Minnesotans, we love to talk about the weather. Talk about it, obsess over it, live in it, love it. Or love hating it, at least. Since the Saint Paul Winter Carnival and Crashed Ice start soon, we thought this a good time to look at a variety of winter weather from images and film [...]

Weather or Not: Winter in Minnesota

View a selection of holiday greeting cards from the Minnesota Historical Society’s extensive collection. These are dated between 1878 – 1967. Enjoy!

Season’s Greetings!

The Minnesota Historical Society holds the Walter F. Mondale Papers and has one of the nation’s premier collections of government, politics, and public affairs materials. Watch to learn more about the collections and how to use these fabulous materials.


Learn More:

Walter F. Mondale Collection
Government, Politics, and Public Affairs
Attend an Evening with Mondale and the Public Affairs [...]

Walter Mondale and the Public Affairs Collection

View footwear highlights from the Minnesota Historical Society’s Collection featuring styles from the 18th century, through the 1920s, into the 1960s, and beyond.

Created by Lizzie Ehrenhalt
Learn More:

More shoes! in Collections Online
Materials about shoes in the Library Collection

Shoes on Parade: Highlights from the Minnesota Historical Society’s Footwear Collection

On September 30, 2012 a memorial for Minnesota’s fallen firefighters will be dedicated on the State Capitol grounds.  This podcast highlights both the memorial and the Minnesota Historical Society’s collections related to firefighting in Minnesota.
Sondra Reierson, Collections Assistant


Learn More:

See Collections Online to view photographs and artifacts related to firefighting in Minnesota
See History Center Library website to search [...]

Firefighting in Minnesota: A Salute to the Fallen

In 1919 the Eighteenth Amendment was passed, banning the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol in the United States.  Just a year before the law went into effect, Minnesota could boast 37 breweries producing over a million barrels of fermented liquors and distributing them to over 3,000 retail liquor dealers.  In Minnesota, as in the [...]

The Road to Prohibition

For many Americans, the word “breakfast” conjures up images of hearty bowls of cereal and toasters popping out slices of golden-brown bread. But it hasn’t always been this way.  Explore how breakfast has changed over time and learn about Minnesotans’ impact on this most important and delicious meal of the day!

Inventions of Champions:  How Minnesota Changed Breakfast

A recent acquisition of the State Archives came from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Included in this was a complete set of State Park Entrance Stickers. This podcast provides a brief history of use of Minnesota State Parks entrance stickers. State Archives collections are available through the Minnesota Historical Society’s Library.


Music Credit: Jason [...]

Have Sticker, Will Travel: Minnesota State Park Stickers

Minnesota is governed by two constitutions – why? Watch this short video to learn more. Hint: politicians not getting along is nothing new.


Learn More:

We the People: The First Official Printing of the U.S. Constitution is on view at the History Center through July 4, 2012
See full scans of the two Minnesota State Constitutions

Music credit:
“Indiana Polka” [...]

Two Constitutions?

With summer just around the corner and prime picnicking season already upon us, we present a century’s worth of images of that perennial warm-weather sightseeing destination:  Minnehaha Falls.  Tourists and naturalists alike have long appreciated the falls and surrounding parkland for their dramatic views, shady woods and abundant wildlife. Luckily for future generations, [...]

Photographing Minnehaha Falls

This short video addresses the release of the 1940 Federal Census,  including what kind of information it contains and how to access it. It  also mentions the resources the Minnesota Historical Society has to help  find people in it, as indexing will not be complete for another six  months or so.

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Release of the 1940 Federal Census

The Minnesota Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie, recently requested the transfer of the state’s Session Laws to the State Archives of the Minnesota Historical Society. This podcast describes these important historical records, shows the moving process, and explains how they will be preserved for future generations.

Moving the Sessions Laws

Have you been wondering how to use our fabulous new search tool, Collections Online? Take a look at this video for helpful hints to get started finding photographs, objects, artwork, oral histories, moving images, maps, and more! You control the search; you have the power to make it as wide or narrow as need be, [...]

Introducing Collections Online

When genealogists set out to piece together the lives of their research subjects, they often concentrate on text-based sources like letters, city directories and vital records.  But photographs also provide a wealth of information about the lives of the people they capture, and can be used to fill in gaps in written histories.  [...]

What a Picture is Worth: The Sadie and Emma Ray Photography Collection

In a nation of immigrants, becoming a citizen — being “naturalized” — has  been an important part of our personal and national history.  The  naturalization process, and the records that document that process, have  changed over time.   Learn about these changes and about related  resources available at the [...]

Becoming a Citizen: Naturalization Records, 1850 – 1930

Ice skating has long been part of Minnesota’s identity and winter traditions. In this podcast we examine the beginnings of the sport in the state as well as some early innovators who had national and worldwide impact. Enjoy the history, and then get out there – the ice is perfect!
Sondra Reierson



Music credit:  Chabrier – España [...]

Museum Collections Up Close : MNHS.ORG

Museum Collections Up Close : MNHS.ORG

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