Summer 2024: Make sure you've done your research before setting off on a field trip. Is the location open on the day you wish to visit? What are the hours? You cannot use these locations for a virtual paper (except Fort Snelling and State Capitol) -- these are only for the in-person IRL paper option. When in doubt, ask Linda before you go! And most importantly: remember to bring your Student ID with you; many places will offer discounts to college students!
MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY -- all are Pre-Approved
1. Minnesota Historic Sites. Scroll down to see a list of all the available options. Admission is approximately $12 for college students (bring that ID!), some have free admission, like the State Capital Building. Over 25 possibilities throughout Minnesota. (All are Pre-Approved)
**All students planning to visit the Mill City Museum or the James J. Hill House should read "Empires in Green" (Selection on D2L Content) to acquire necessary background about flour milling, logging, or the Iron Range. Be sure to read ahead if this applies to you.**
**All students who wish to visit Fort Snelling should be sure to read about the Fort in North Country as well as the readings about Fort Snelling that are assigned during the last week of class. These perspectives should inform your visit there. Remember if you are writing the virtual Fort Snelling paper you cannot visit it to write a second paper about the same location.**All students who wish to visit the State Capitol might find it helpful to read the selections of North Country that are assigned during the last week of the class. Those critical perspectives will help inform your visit there. Remember if you are writing the virtual State Capitol paper you cannot visit it to write a second paper about the same location.
**Students who choose to visit the Minnesota History Center: Since this is a large museum, there are going to be numerous exhibits there, and some exhibits might not align with our course topics very well. Others might match up quite well. You do NOT need to describe each and every exhibit in your paper. You may instead choose to focus your paper on a smaller number of exhibits, preferably the ones which connect to the themes and topics of our class. You will likely produce a stronger paper if you do a "close reading" of a few exhibits rather than trying to describe the entire Minnesota History Center in a short paper.
LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES -- pre-approved IF they have a museum and exhibits available.
List of all local historical societies. These will vary in terms of admission and offerings. (All societies with a museum are pre-approved, those without a museum need pre-approval.) Keep in mind that local historical societies, even those with a museum, might not provide enough material to generate a good paper. If you choose to visit one of these museums, be sure their exhibits CONNECT TO THE THEMES AND TOPICS IN THIS COURSE. You might wish to investigate first or ask Professor Janke.
Look through this entire list, or click on these links for Metro Area Historical Societies. It is quite possible these locations have not re-opened their museums in person yet; click through to research. You can NOT use these as a virtual field trip, as the virtual field trip options were carefully written for the two locations.
* Anoka County Historical Society (a popular field trip, but exhibits vary. Be cautious! Be sure you can find something that connects to a topic covered in class. In past years, students have enjoyed visiting here but often have trouble when it comes to writing the paper. Discuss this with Prof. Janke if you'd like to visit here yet want to be mindful of how to prepare to write the paper.)
*Carver County Historical Society
*Hennepin History Museum, Minneapolis
*Ramsey County Historical Society (includes the Gibbs Farm.)
*White Bear Lake Area Historical Society
*Scott County Historical Society
OTHER MISC. LOCATIONS -- Pre-Approved.
1. Minnesota Discovery Center, Chisholm. (Formerly "Ironworld.") Museum about life on the Iron Range. (pre-approved). Students attending this field trip must read "Years of Change on the Iron Range" as a supplemental reading . Located on D2L Content.
2 Soudan Mine. Journey down 2,400 feet inside an Iron Range Mine! (pre-approved.) Students attending this field trip must read "Years of Change on the Iron Range" as a supplemental reading . Located on D2L Content.
3 Pipestone Quarry, Pipestone. Be sure to think about what the pipes can tell you about changes in Native American society and religion. See this link from the National Park Service. Pre-approved. You should also read about this in the Epilogue to North Country.
4. Grand Portage National Monument. Be sure to visit the Heritage Center museum while you are there. Pre-Approved.
5. American Swedish Institute. (pre-approved -- but may be more challenging in terms of writing the paper)
6. Giiwedinong Treaty Rights and Culture Museum. "The Mission is to honor, empower, and inspire Anishinaabe and Dakota through immersive exhibitions, dynamic public programs, and transformative education." Park Rapids, MN.
7. Bois Forte Heritage Center, Tower MN.