Latest news with #MinnesotaHistoricalSociety
Yomiuri Shimbun
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Beloved Dog Joined Minnesota Lawmaker, Husband as They Lay in State
Thousands of people lined up at the Minnesota Capitol to pay tribute to slain lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as they lay in state Friday, ahead of Saturday's funeral. Between Hortman's casket and that of her husband was an urn containing the ashes of the family's golden retriever, Gilbert. A former service-dog-in-training, Gilbert was with Hortman, the Minnesota House speaker, and her husband this month at their home in a Minneapolis suburb when the couple were fatally shot in a case that made national headlines and has left young lawmakers questioning whether politics is too dangerous as a career. Gilbert also received multiple gunshot wounds, and despite attempts to save him, he was euthanized. Vance Boelter, 57, from Green Isle, Minnesota, is facing state and federal murder charges in the June 14 killing. He is also accused of shooting state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, who were seriously wounded in what state and federal prosecutors allege was a broader plot to assassinate politicians. On Saturday, a private funeral will take place. Gov. Tim Walz (D) and former vice president Kamala Harris are expected to attend, with Walz delivering a eulogy. Hortman was the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans to lie in state at the Minnesota Capitol. Mark Hortman, meanwhile, was the first Minnesotan to lie in state who was not a public official or a military figure. It also appeared to be the first time a dog received such an honor, according to a list from the Minnesota Historical Society. The Hortmans had volunteered with Helping Paws as foster home trainers, helping to raise and train service dogs, the nonprofit said in a statement after the couple's deaths. The family had trained another dog, who now works with a veteran, but Gilbert had been too friendly to complete his training. He 'eventually career changed and became a cherished member of their family,' the group said. 'She loved Gilbert so much. The day Gilbert didn't graduate doggy school was one of her happiest [days], because that meant Gilbert could stay with her. Gilbert was truly the best dog ever,' fellow Minnesota Rep. Kaohly Vang Her (D) wrote on Facebook. In a post on X on Friday, the Minnesota House of Representatives Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus said: 'We are incredibly touched by the amount of people who are visiting the Capitol today to pay their respects to Melissa, Mark, and their Golden Retriever Gilbert.' The Hortmans' coffins were topped by large flower arrangements, with portraits set beside them. Gilbert's ashes were on a pedestal between them, in a golden urn encircled with paw prints, accompanied by a photo. As mourners came to pay their respects to the Hortmans, some also left tributes to Gilbert, including a box of dog biscuits with a note reading: 'For the best boy, Gilbert.' Another note read: 'Well done, faithful servant.' Alyssa Golob, executive director at Helping Paws, said in a phone interview Saturday that she offered the Hortmans' children, Sophie and Colin, an 'honor guard' of dogs at the funeral, which is something the group offers to members of the community. She said around 20 dogs took up a sentry position for 30 minutes each on Friday, with one patted by former president Joe Biden as he paid his respects. 'For me and my staff, it's been very, very difficult. People in our community just knew them on different levels. I think everyone is still in shock,' she said. Allied Emergency Veterinary Service, which treated Gilbert after the shooting, said its team had worked with several experts 'to fully understand the extent of Gilbert's injuries and explore every possible outcome' and had ensured that he 'received the very best of our knowledge, care, and compassion' before euthanizing him. The group has launched a fundraising drive in Gilbert's memory for police and service dogs in need of emergency care. Sophie and Colin Hortman previously released a statement saying they were 'devastated and heartbroken' by the deaths of their parents. Those who wanted to honor their memory could consider planting a tree, baking food to share with a friend, standing up for justice and peace, or petting a dog, their statement said. 'A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.'
CBS News
23-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Split Rock Lighthouse one step closer to restoration after first phase of project completed
Meet the man who cares for Split Rock Lighthouse Meet the man who cares for Split Rock Lighthouse Meet the man who cares for Split Rock Lighthouse Split Rock Lighthouse in Two Harbors, Minnesota, is one step closer to being restored after crews completed the first phase of an improvement project. The Minnesota Historical Society said in a release Friday that workers completed initial repairs this week, and visitors now have access to the lighthouse grounds, museum, visitor center and fog signal building. Some areas of the iconic site on the North Shore had been closed since May 5 to allow for the repairs. The entire project is expected to last through late October. Planned work includes updating and replacing walkways, restoring "historic circulation patterns" and extending a platform in an effort to provide improved views of the area. The state agency urges anyone visiting the lighthouse to check its website and social media channels for offerings and programs that may be impacted by construction. Split Rock Lighthouse guided freighters across Lake Superior for 59 years, from 1910 to 1969, according to historians. Note: The above video first aired on Sept. 23, 2024.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
House passes housing budget, must hash out differences with Senate
The Minnesota State Capitol. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society. The Minnesota House passed a housing budget bill Tuesday, featuring funding boosts for homelessness prevention and affordable housing development, plus $100 million in bonds for financing housing developments statewide. But the Senate's housing budget, which passed the chamber last week, is about $62 million smaller than the House version and it doesn't include bonds. The details must be hashed out in conference committee and re-approved by both chambers before the legislative session adjourns on May 19. Neither the budget bill nor a housing policy bill that passed Thursday includes the sweeping zoning reforms proposed by a bipartisan coalition of advocacy groups and lawmakers, including all housing committee leaders. Those bills would have allowed apartments in areas currently zoned for commercial use; legalized duplexes on every residential lot in the state; required municipalities to allow higher-density development along transit corridors; and barred city governments from requiring builders to use certain materials, colors or designs. Supporters of those bills argue that they would encourage the construction of more housing, alleviating Minnesota's housing shortage and lowering prices. The outlook is bleak for those bills, as city governments and their lobbyists oppose any legislation that rolls back local control over zoning. In floor discussion of the budget bill, housing leaders said the budget doesn't go far enough in addressing the shortage. 'I'm a little disappointed,' said Rep. Jim Nash, R-Waconia, a member of the housing committee and the coalition pushing for zoning reforms. Regulatory reform is needed to make a major dent in the housing crisis, he said. The 'Yes to Homes' coalition got one minor win: the House budget bill instructs the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to prioritize developments in communities that have zoning rules that make it easier to build multifamily homes, allow smaller homes and don't require certain materials or designs. The House housing budget contains significantly more funding than the Senate version for a homelessness prevention program. The Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program, or FHPAP, provides emergency assistance to families that are at risk of homelessness, or who have already lost their housing. Lawmakers have allocated between $7 and $10 million per year to the program between 2014 and 2023; during the 2023 legislative session, lawmakers directed $120 million to the FHPAP for 2024 and 2025. The House budget would give the program $50 million in 2026 and 2027; the Senate budget allocates $30 million. Jenny Larson, executive director of Three Rivers Community Action, which manages FHPAP in several southern Minnesota counties, said despite state investments, the program is already oversubscribed. Her agency opens up a round of funding every quarter, and they are never able to help all of the families in need, Larson said. Brooklyn Park resident Ta-Metta Gaines, who lives in the embattled Huntington Place apartments, works as a customer service representative for a health care company. She fell behind on rent while dealing with medical issues, she said, and she's looking for a new place to live as Huntington Place's future is in limbo. When she became homeless after her landlord died, FHPAP helped her come up with a security deposit and first month's rent to move into a new apartment. Now, FHPAP is helping her get caught up on past-due rent, and covering some of the cost of relocating, Gaines said. 'I'm just imagining what type of things can actually go on if they remove those funds, and how many people will be destitute,' Gaines said. While the House housing budget authorizes the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to issue $100 million in bonds to finance housing projects, lawmakers and Gov. Tim Walz have not agreed on targets for a bonding bill. Bonds are a tool governments use to finance infrastructure projects, including housing. Bonding bills require a 60% majority to pass the Legislature, so they require robust bipartisan support. Walz and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they want to pass a bonding bill this session, in addition to the regular two-year budget. If the parties can't make a deal on bonding — as was the case last year — the bonding in the housing budget is likely to be eliminated in conference committee.
New York Times
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
As It Turns 100, ‘The Great Gatsby' Takes Several Turns in the Spotlight
Beyond the skyscrapers of Manhattan and the boxy industry of Queens, the lawns stretch, the houses grow and the city gives way to villages. Out here on Long Island, the Great Neck Library sits on an unruffled inlet that might not be so different from the 'courtesy bay' separating East Egg and West Egg in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel 'The Great Gatsby.' Inside, canvases evoke the world of the novel. Pink hydrangeas bloom in the character Daisy's garden. Gatsby's yellow Rolls-Royce cuts across a meadow, the driver and passenger shadowy abstractions. Nearby, East Egg/West Egg landscapes pulse with fluorescent pink shot through with black, each beneath a moody twilight sky. 'I can imagine he had a view of the Sound,' said the painter of the canvases, Catherine Abrams, about Fitzgerald, who had spent time living in Great Neck on Long Island Sound while writing the novel. 'So most probably, I mean, as an author, had experienced this sky.' The Great Neck show, 'The Great Gatsby Revisited: An Art Exhibition by Catherine Abrams,' which opened March 1, closes Wednesday. But several active exhibits — in Minnesota, New Jersey and South Carolina — continue to mark the 100th anniversary of the novel, which debuted on April 10, 1925. The novel — and the celebration — has its deepest roots in Fitzgerald's hometown, St. Paul, Minn. A letter that Fitzgerald, then 22, wrote in 1919 is one item included in the Minnesota Historical Society's exhibit, 'That's My Middle West: F. Scott Fitzgerald's St. Paul,' running through May 31. In response to a letter a local librarian had written to his mother, Fitzgerald himself replied, saying he had written a few short stories and his first novel, 'This Side of Paradise,' was to be published. 'And of course, then the book changed his life,' said Kate Hujda, the historical society's curator of manuscripts. The letter he wrote, she added, is 'a snapshot of him kind of at the very cusp of fame, right before his whole life would change.' The exhibit, curated by Hujda and Jenny McElroy, the society's library manager, takes its title from a line in Gatsby when the narrator, Nick Carraway, waxes poetic about his Midwestern hometown. The exhibit, in turn, rhapsodizes about Fitzgerald. As McElroy put it, 'We get to tell the story of a hometown boy who rises to fame — which, who doesn't love a hometown boy, right?' Objects in a case, including his birth announcement and a reproduction of a photo of him as a baby, set the scene, and displays explore his growing-up years and meteoric rise. His Midwestern roots are underscored with a map showing his home, dancing school and social club, and his class clown persona shines through in snapshots of him and his friends, and in some early writing he did in a textbook, 'The Farewell Address of George Washington.' Patrick Coleman, the former acquisitions librarian at the historical society, remembered the thrill of discovering the textbook. He said that, on the front free endpaper, Fitzgerald had written a 'frighteningly spot-on' self-assessment. 'Playwrite [sic], poet, novelist, essayist, philosopher, loafer, useless, disagreeable, silly, talented, weak, strong, clever, trivial, a waste,' the young Fitzgerald wrote. 'In short a very parody, a mockery of one who might have been more but whom nature and circumstance render less. With apologies for living, Francis Scott Fitzgerald.' And, Coleman added, 'He's signed this with this incredible flourish under the last letter, and you can just see him doing that.' Nearby sits Fitzgerald's World War I service record where, in the 'return to civil life' section, to a question on occupation, he wrote, 'was student — am now writer.' And then it was so: A copy of 'This Side of Paradise' — which Fitzgerald signed for the historical society — follows, along with many editions of 'The Great Gatsby.' A sequined party dress, made in the 1920s, nods to Zelda, Fitzgerald's wife and muse; a manual typewriter acknowledges the era's analog means of production. At Princeton University, the eyes from the original Gatsby cover are featured prominently in the centennial celebration. Fitzgerald attended Princeton from 1913 to 1917, before dropping out to join the military, and the university now holds the F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald Papers in its Special Collections. The archive includes 'Celestial Eyes,' the 1924 Francis Cugat painting that became the novel's cover. Dan Linke, the acting associate university librarian for Special Collections, said William Noel, the associate university librarian for Special Collections who died last year, had wanted to 'take the Cugat cover and project it onto a building somewhere.' That idea stuck with Linke and his colleagues. So, for the centenary, the university partnered with the Arts Council of Princeton on a Gatsby-inspired mural near campus. 'When I sat down,' said Allison Wong, an artist from Edison, N.J., who responded to the council's call for pitches, 'I just sort of thought to myself, 'What are the most iconic symbols from the book?'' Her design was chosen, and the mural, 'Bright Lights' (unveiled March 24, and up through early June), features the Rolls-Royce, the green light and the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg. Linke said Special Collections staff members view the mural as a tribute to their former boss. 'What he would've said about the mural is — and you know he would've said this — 'It's awesome,'' Linke said, banging a hand on the table and using a colorful adjective. The celestial eyes greet patrons of the Tiger Tea Room, on campus in Firestone Library, where 'Living Forever: The Archive of The Great Gatsby' runs through November. Large-scale reproductions of Special Collections materials track the novel's creation, including pages from the earliest surviving manuscript draft, written in Fitzgerald's neat cursive. Emma M. Sarconi — the Special Collections reference and outreach specialist, who curated the show with Jennifer Garcon, the librarian for Modern and Contemporary Special Collections — said the carefully written draft reveals 'just what a meticulous craft he put into this book.' 'It started in the early 1900s with his relationship with Ginevra [King]' — the woman widely believed to have inspired the character of Daisy — 'and we're still crafting the novel right up until the moment of publication,' she said. There is also a reproduction of the Armed Services Edition of the book, distributed to American G.I.s during World War II, which many credit with catapulting the book to success after a tepid initial reception. Before the title entered the public domain at the end of 2020, it had sold more than 21 million copies; reproductions of the covers of some of its foreign-language editions are on view here. At the University of South Carolina, students from the jazz ensemble visited the Gatsby exhibition one time and played 1920s-era jazz. That fits with the philosophy behind the university's show, ''Something significant, elemental, and profound': Celebrating 100 Years of 'The Great Gatsby,'' (through July 18). The curator, Michael C. Weisenburg, director of the Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, wanted to evoke the world of the Fitzgeralds and the novel. He did so by drawing from the university's Matthew J. & Arlyn Bruccoli Collection of F. Scott Fitzgerald, which includes more than 4,400 books, periodicals and personal objects collected by Bruccoli and his wife, with Frances, known as Scottie, the Fitzgeralds' daughter. Weisenburg pulled objects like Ginevra King's calling card, and her dance card, on which Fitzgerald's name is written, with the next dance crossed out. After King and Fitzgerald parted ways, Fitzgerald met Zelda, who gave him an engraved silver flask. That flask is on view, along with a letter in which Fitzgerald — a lapsed Catholic — wrote that 'Zelda's the only god I have left now.' Seeing these kinds of objects up close is powerful, said Kirk Curnutt, the executive director of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Society and a professor at Troy University. 'In a weird way, it becomes a little bit like a talisman or something,' he added. The show also provides glimpses of the Fitzgeralds' life together, including sheets of paper from the couple's attempt to draw up a budget. 'There's literally a line — and it's all just handwritten with pencil — it just says 'wild parties' and then a number,' Weisenburg said. Much of the exhibit highlights the book's life beyond that first 1925 edition, including as a musical (twice) and a feature film (at least four times). On one wall hangs original Charles M. Schulz 'Peanuts' artwork referencing Gatsby. There's a Daisy Buchanan porcelain doll, a ceramic Christmas village version of Gatsby's mansion, even an F. Scott Fitzgerald finger puppet. Of the book's reach, Hujda said, 'There's a passage where Gatsby says, 'Can't repeat the past? Of course you can repeat the past.' And he's very obsessed with the past. And I think that feeling of wanting to return to a time in our lives when things were better, things were different, is a very human impulse.' She added, 'And that last line? It's just gold.'
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
10 experiences you can't miss on your next trip to Minnesota
Welcome to the land of 10,000 lakes—Minnesota! The North Star State offers locals and visitors alike pristine national and state parks, a culture of welcoming communities, and a rich Scandinavian history—but that's only a small portion of what awaits you on this Midwest adventure. If narrowing down your options sounds daunting, we recommend you start with this list of not-to-be-missed experiences in Minnesota. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is a million pristine acres of glacially-carved lakes and boreal forest along 150 miles of the Minnesota-Canada border—the place to go for a remote backcountry experience. Its western edge segues directly into Voyageurs National Park's similarly stunning 218,00 acres. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the park is nearly 40 percent water, and almost exclusively accessible by boat, which makes houseboating an iconic way to explore beyond a day trip. 'It's basically your floating hotel suite in the park,' says Scott Lennander, Voyagaire Lodge and Houseboatsgeneral manager and guide. Upscale rentals include a full kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a rooftop hot tub, and swim slide. It's news to some that Minneapolis is not, in fact, the capital of Minnesota. That honor goes to its twin across the river, Saint Paul, where architecture transmits compelling state history along Summit Avenue, the country's longest surviving Victorian high street. Nearby, the Cass Gilbert-designed white marble capitol building offers free guided tours every day but Sunday. 'When it's nice out, tours take you up to the roof, right next to the golden Quadriga statue, where you get one of the best views in the city,' says Jacob Rorem, Public Programs Specialist at the Minnesota Historical Society. 'You can see the Mississippi River Valley, the entire cityscape, all the way over to the Minneapolis skyline. It's pretty spectacular.' (Related: Paddling Minnesota's 'ancient superhighway'.) Mining companies stripped northcentral Minnesota's Cuyuna Range of its manganese-rich iron ore. Eventually, the companies left and nature took over. The mine pits filled with water, the shoreline emerged, and trees grew and thickened over decades. State and local organizations stepped in, creating Minnesota's first State Recreation Area, Cuyuna Country, which eventually included 70 miles of mountain bike trails. 'They're purpose-built,' says Aaron Hautala, an avid mountain biker and Cuyuna booster who helped with trail expansion. 'Every inch of the terrain was looked at to maximize flow, roll and momentum, engineered specifically for a two-wheel bicycle.' One of the few clues to the land's former use: the red, iron-rich dirt that clings to bikes and bikers like a trail souvenir. Cyclists travel from well beyond state lines for red dirt riding, creating a new, more gentle economy for the tiny twin towns of Crosby and Ironton (combined pop. 3,000). Hautala describes the low-key tourist vibe of the towns as similar to small mountain towns. Itasca State Park, Minnesota's oldest state park, was established in 1891 to protect the Mississippi River's humble origin. The park is where the iconic river begins its slow and steady stream. Visitors can access it at the end of a wide, paved path just 900 feet from a parking lot. 'It's very, very popular, especially in the summertime,' says Heather Funk, Itasca State Park Ranger and Visitor Services Coordinator. 'Any day of the week, it's going to be pretty busy with people splashing around and swimming and taking that perfect photo at the historic headwaters post.' For a less-crowded mid-week getaway, consider visiting the park in full fall splendor from September and October. There's more to the park than the headwaters, too. 'You can really have whatever experience you want, whether that's remote, rustic backcountry camping, the driving tour, or short little walks here and there,' Funk says. 'It's very accessible to everybody.' (Related: The essential guide to visiting Minnesota.) The urban melting pot that is the Twin Cities Metro is ringed in farmland—two key ingredients that feed a dining scene that's more ethnic and inspired than visitors often expect. 'Everybody knows somebody who has a farm,' says Diane Moua, James Beard-nominated Executive Chef () and owner of Diane's Place, one of the upscale Hmong American restaurants trending in Minneapolis. It's known for its airy scallion croissants, gingery Hmong pulled pork, and sticky rice. While you're in the Twin Cities, visitors should also try Vinai, a 2025 Best New Restaurant semifinalist for a James Beard Award. Moua's advice to visiting diners is to 'try everything,' including the small taco shops, including her favorite, El Taco Riendo, and market stalls, like HmongTown Marketplace in Saint Paul. Also on her list is the old-school Midwestern Matt's Bar, purported creators of the Twin Cities-famous Juicy Lucy, basically an inside-out cheeseburger popular enough to inspire a long line of patrons out the door. Prince is arguably Minnesota's most famous native, and tracing his roots introduces you to the arts community—deep and varied across mediums. Fans of the royal rocker should consider visiting Paisley Park, the compound where he lived and worked, located in Chanhassen, a suburb of Minneapolis. First Avenue, the star-studded indie club where he performed numerous times, multiple Prince-inspired murals, and his preferred record store can all be found in Minneapolis. And this fall, the State Theatre will host the world premiere of the Broadway-bound stage adaptation of Purple Rain. Go deeper with In the Footsteps of Prince, a highly-reviewed self-guided walking tour written and narrated by local writer Frank Bures. (Related: The most absurd foods you can eat at the Minnesota State Fair.) Visit the Paleozoic Plateau that includes southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and the northwestern corner of Illinois. This Driftless Area was never covered by ice during the last ice age. Today, Minnesotans and visitors appreciate the Driftless Area's cold-water trout streams and winding roads that run along tree-blanketed bluffs. Head to the Root River for outdoor fun, including fly fishing and tubing, or go cycling on the 42-mile paved Root River Trail, a former railroad located along the river's banks. Motor beyond that well-traveled valley for less well-known Driftless gems. The Newburgh Vintage Home and Garden and Small Batch French Bakeryoutside of tiny Mabel, Minn., for one, has a dedicated following for its classic brioche, scones, and croissants, despite only being open for a few hours on select Saturdays. Visitors from around the world travel to Highway 61 along Minnesota's North Shore, and for good reason. The North Shore Scenic Drive separates forested glacial ridges from basalt cliffs that plunge into saltless, sea-like Lake Superior, cutting a 150-mile two-lane path through unparalleled wild beauty. Along this famed route, roadtrippers will find eight state parks and the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail. There's so much to experience; you can simply bypass full parking lots and follow whims to find relative solitude. 'Don't drive to make great time, drive to have a great time,' says Kevin Hanson, a regular North Shore visitor before landing the general manager position at Northern Goods, a new outfitter in artsy, outdoorsy Grand Marais. Two of his roadside favorites are Castle Danger Brewery, which uses Lake Superior waters in its brews, and Black Beach Park, with its otherworldly color created by the fine-grain waste from the taconite pellets once processed nearby. (Related: Best hotels in Minnesota for every type of traveler.) A New York newspaper correspondent visited Saint Paul in 1885 and deemed it, 'Another Siberia. Unfit for human habitation.' By the following year, local boosters had pulled together the first Saint Paul Winter Carnival, 10 days of parades, ice sculptures, and other outdoor-based revelry that's still held today, starting at the end of January. It set the example for hundreds of cities and towns to celebrate the embrace of winter's snow and frigid temperatures. In the Twin Cities alone, multiple options overlap each weekend. A more recently-established favorite, The Great Northern is a 10-day event filled with activities and amenities such as a sauna village, guided nature walks, and specialty cocktails served at a 50-foot ice bar—all designed to foster community and conversation about climate change. It, too, takes place towards the end of January. (Related: How Minnesota helped me find the magic of winter.) It's a myth that Minnesota has 10,000 lakes—there are actually 11,842 of them. They're sprinkled throughout the state, including the Twin Cities, where a chain of seven well-loved lakes—surrounded by trails, beaches, and restaurants—that offer classic easy-access recreation with a city skyline view. Drive 'up north' for a full week in the summer for a true lake experience. It's a Minnesotan's rite of passage. The beauty lies in its customized simplicity. Lake days are as active or chill as you want them to be with the prerequisite of knowledge about watersports and safety. It's not uncommon to hear the sound of the state bird common loon call at some point, and maybe catch the Northern Lights, if you're lucky. Choose your own adventure and visit one of Minnesota's popular lakes areas—Brainerd Lakes Area, Alexandria Lakes Area, Otter Take Lake Country, Detroit Lakes. Berit Thorkelson is a Minnesota-based freelance writer specializing travel, home and other lifestyle topics.
