Celebrate Minneapolis History with Sesquicentennial Events at Minneapolis Central Library
What: Celebrate Minneapolis during its sesquicentennial with eight special events on four nights – from July through October – at Minneapolis Central Library. Details and event descriptions follow.
Who: Local historians, authors, educators and experts will present information on history, culture, architecture, immigration and growth. Authors available for book sales and signing.
When: July 22, Aug. 19, Sept. 23, Oct. 21; 5-6 p.m. social hour (boxed dinners can be ordered for $15 by calling 612-630-6081); 6-7 p.m. first session; 7:20-8:20 p.m. second session
Where: Minneapolis Central Library, Pohlad Hall, 300 Nicollet Mall
Cost: Free
Program Details:
July 22
Session 1: 6-7 p.m.: Before Minneapolis: The Land, Native People
Learn about the pre-Minneapolis landscape and lives of the native people, contrasting views of archaeology and Dakota and Ojibwe oral histories, perspectives on inter-tribal conflicts and Native-Anglo conflicts, and the evolving lifestyles and relocations of indigenous populations during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Scott Anfinson, Minnesota State Archaeologist
- Joe Bendickson, Dakota language educator and author
- Brenda Child, University of Minnesota, professor of American Studies
- Moderator: Amy Ollendorf, environmental consultant specializing in archeology and history, Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission
Session 2: 7:20 -8:20 p.m: American Indians 20th Century Relocation to Minnesota Cities
Discussion will include Native American urbanization of the last 50 years, resettlement programs, formation of the Indian community in Minneapolis, assimilation, political movements and more.
- Roger Buffalohead, University of Minnesota, former faculty member of American Indian Studies
- Clyde Bellecourt, founder and director of the American Indian Movement
- Laura Waterman Wittstock, author, Native American community activist
Aug. 19
Session 1: 6-7 p.m.: Building Minneapolis
This illustrated program will cover the establishment and development of FortSnelling, St. Anthony and Minneapolis, including the squatters, the settlers, the entrepreneurs.
-Penny Petersen, author, historical researcher, Hess,
Roise, and Company
-Tom Balcom author, historical researcher, community
activist
o Moderator Pam Albinson, Friend of the
HennepinHistoryMuseum and past board member
Session 2: 7:20-8:20 p.m.: Minneapolis Late 19th and Early 20th Century Growth
Topics include population explosion, new technologies and business development and expansion, dynamic financial swings, and how business, finance, politics, government and labor were affected as Minneapolis expanded geographically.
- Iric Nathanson, author, educator, community activist
- Judith Martin, professor of Geography, University of Minnesota, board member of Heritage Preservation Commission
- Moderator Kathleen O’Brien, University of Minnesota, Vice President of University Services
Sept. 23
Session 1: 6-7 p.m.: Our People and Their Stories
Why did 19th and early 20th century immigrants choose Minneapolis? How did they get here? What was their experience of local culture? How were they accepted?
- Bill Green, Superintendent of the MinneapolisPublic Schools and author of A Peculiar Imbalance, the fall and rise of racial equality in early Minnesota
- Iric Nathanson, author, historical researcher, educator, community activist
- Nina Clark, American Swedish Institute’s Education Programs Coordinator
- Moderator Hy Berman, University of Minnesota History professor, Twentieth Century Minnesota labor movement and immigrant history
Session 2: 7:20 -8:20 p.m.: New Stories from New Arrivals
How did 20th and 21st century immigrants get to Minneapolis? What was their experience of this new culture and community?
- Hussein Samatar, Executive Director of the AfricanDevelopmentCenter, past board member, Minneapolis Public Library
- Ramon Leon, Executive Director, Latino Economic DevelopmentCenter
- Moderator Renee Reed, Department Head of Music, Art, Literature, History and Social Sciences, Minneapolis Central Library
Oct. 21
Session 1: 6-7 p.m.: Buildings and Their Tales
This panel will discuss the current state of the Minneapolis-built environment and an overview of post-WWII growth, flight to suburbs, urban renewal and new urbanism.
- Charlene Roise, principal, Hess, Rosie and Company, architectural historian, author
- David Lanegran, author, professor of geography, department chair, MacalesterCollege
- Moderator-John Crippen, director, MillCityMuseum
Session 2: 7:20 -8:20 p.m.: Architecture and the Future
Discover the city’s “not-to-be missed” buildings, and learn more about new homes, rediscovery of the riverfront and new cityscape trends.
- Larry Millet, architecture critic for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, author of AIA Guide to the Twin Cities: The Essential Source on the Architecture of Minneapolis and St. Paul
- Linda Mack, architecture critic for Star Tribune for 21 years, writes about architecture and design for regional and national publications
o Moderator Bob Roscoe, Preserve Minneapolis, owner of Design Preservation
Founded in 1922, Hennepin County Library is nationally recognized as one of the top libraries in the United States. Following the Jan. 1, 2008, merger with the Minneapolis Public Library, the 41-library system serves 1.1 million residents of the city of Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County and offers more than 5 million books, cds and dvds, materials in more than 40 languages and 1,600 public computers. The library is a service of Hennepin County.
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4/18/2008
