Tour our History Center!

What will we see on a tour?

On a one-hour tour, visitors will see highlights from the collection related to subjects such as geology, natural history, archaeology, Native American history, the military, immigration, business and industry, sports and leisure, clothing, rural schools, and agriculture. Tour groups may choose to have a more focused tour of just a few of the exhibits. Let us know what your interests are when you make your reservation.

     Name of group
     Contact person/phone number/mailing address
     Desired tour date and time (We are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday,
     1- 5 p.m.on weekends, closed on Mondays)
     Number of persons in the group
     Age group (Seniors/adults/children under 16)
     Length of tour (A tour is usually one hour in length.)
     Do you want a tour guide or will you guide the group yourself?
     Subjects of special interest

Outreach

National History Day encourages young people to explore a historical subject related to an annual theme.  The 2009 theme is “The Individual in History:  Actions and Legacies.”

Students in grades 6 through 12 participate in History Day fairs where their projects are evaluated by historians, educators and professionals.  Many students will also be eligible to advance beyond school fairs and participate in the regional and state History Day events in the spring.  The top two entries in each category of the State History Day even are eligible to participate in the National History Day contest in June near Washington, D.C. 

We have many sources available to help the student construct their project.  Some of our sources are oral histories, letters, diaries, memoirs, photos, to name a few. 

  Full of fun activities, research information, and hands-on artifacts:

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• Women's History How did women in Goodhue County live 100 years ago? This was a time when household goods were not bought at the store. Women produced clothing, candles, toys, quilts, soap, toys, medicines, and many other things. Learn about the important contributions of women to our society.
   
• Immigrants The major populations in Minnesota in the 1880s-1920s were American Indian and  European American. What was life like for these two groups of people? How did they impact each other's lives? Learn about their parallel lives.
   
•  Rural Schools When was the first school in the county founded?  How did someone become a teacher? What do students today have in common with the pioneers?  What subjects would you have studied 100 years
  
• Archaeology  A  look at the facts and issues surrounding the earliest inhabitants of Goodhue County. What is an archaeologist? What is a dig? What are some of the sites that have been studied in the county? What can be learned from these studies?

Military lesson

Rural School lesson

 What?     D.A.S.H. stands for "Developing Awareness of Students' History."

Who?      D.A.S.H. is open to all 4th, 5th, and 6th graders in Goodhue County school districts.

Where?   All sessions are held at the Goodhue County History Center,  Red Wing.

When?     D.A.S.H sessions are offered annually in October.

How?   Small groups of students will rotate through the history center, as they are guided to learning stations to explore various topics of history with experienced session leaders. Station focuses may include: Native American Life, Rural Schools, Cultures and Immigration, Military History,  Pioneer Living and Skills, Technology and Industry, Reptiles, Woodcarving and Agriculture.

For further information please contact Outreach Coordinator at (651) 388-6024 or e-mail: goodhuecountyhis@qwestoffice.net

Volunteers are always needed for leading sessions and to assist in many other ways. Call (651) 388-6024 if you would like to find out more about participating in this important school program.

Opportunity: Library/Archives Interns

The GCHS is seeking library/archives interns.   Interns will gain hands-on experience in working with archival materials, cataloging, registration, and records management.

The Jean M. Chesley Library serves approximately 800 patrons a year, researching topics from genealogy to business history to county geography. The archives contains some 100,000 artifacts, making for endless project possibilities.

2008/2009 Internship Opportunity:  The project is assigning call numbers to all of the 2000+ books in the history center's holdings to the LCC.   Currently, no books in our library and archives have call numbers.  This project could take multiple interns over a course of time.    

Qualifications: course work in library or museum science, history, American studies, or related fields.  Strong organizational, written, and oral skills required. Familiarity with PC and Macintosh computers desirable. Required commitment of at least 75 hours. Hours are flexible.

To apply, submit cover letter and resume. Applications reviewed year around.

For more information contact:
Diane Buganski
Outreach Coordinator
Goodhue County Historical Society
1166 Oak Street
Red Wing MN 55066
(651) 388-6024
goodhuecountyhis@qwestoffice.net