Lanesboro Venues, Lanesboro, The 33th Annual Statewide Historic Preservation Conference will be held at the Commonweal Theatre and the St. Mane Theatre in beautiful downtown Lanesboro.The conference is the largest annual gathering of the Minnesota preservation community and will feature multiple tracks of educational sessions, mobile workshops, and tours that will address a range of current issues. From exploring how communications strategies support advocacy, to dealing with building codes in historic buildings, to tackling white elephants through community activism, the sessions explore issues and trends for both new and experienced preservationists as well as local history advocates. Sponsored by the State Historic Preservation Office of the Minnesota Historical Society in association with the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota and the Lanesboro Heritage Preservation Commission.

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul, Guides will lead visitors on a tour where they will meet historical characters Channing and Elizabeth Seabury, who will tell stories about the Capitols construction, decoration and history. In the Governor's Reception Room, guests will view Civil War paintings and see equipment and a uniform worn by Union soldiers. Following the tour, the group will climb to the rooftop for a rare opportunity to view the Quadriga the golden horses on the Capitol rooftop against the backdrop of the lighted skylines of the Twin Cities. Tours are 90-minutes long and leave every half-hour from 7 to 8 p.m. For more information call 651.296.2881.

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, *THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT*Learn about railroadings past and future and its impact on life in Minnesota. Author Steve Glischinski offers an enlightening, entertaining and picturesque look at Minnesota railroads from near the end of the romantic era of steam locomotives and luxury passenger lines to the reemergence of railroads as one of the few profitable transportation industries. Programs include a 10-percent discount at the History Center's Museum Stores. Cafe Minnesota will be open for lunch following each program. Funded in memory of Marney Brooks.

Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, Little Falls, The Charles A. Lindbergh house hosts a FREE monthly Film Series featuring a historic film or documentary. More information will be forthcoming.

Harkin Store, New Ulm, Experience an afternoon of activities that grandparents of more than a century ago enjoyed with their grandchildren.

Morrison County Fair Grounds, Little Falls, Lone Eagle Auto Club Car Show features more than 500 show cars, including Charles A. Lindbergh's fully restored 1916 Saxon Six, which is regularly on display at the Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site. The car show is located at Morrison County Fair Grounds (County Rd 43 Hawthorne Rd., Little Falls, MN). A shuttle bus will run between the fairgrounds and the Little Falls downtown area, where the Annual Arts and Crafts Fair will be held.

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, The Civil War divided the United States in two, left more than 750,000 dead and resulted in the release of four million people from bondage. Explore the role of Minnesota's men and women on the battlefield and the home front during the Civil War in an exhibit that draws heavily on the Minnesota Historical Society collections. Through artifacts as well as firsthand accounts drawn from letters, diaries, memoirs and reminiscences, learn about the everyday lives and the often extraordinary witness of individual Minnesotans during the war.Minnesota and the Civil War is made possible by the Legacy Amendment through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008.

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, Learn about the darkest chapter in Minnesota historythe U.S.-Dakota War of 1862and how it changed the state and nation forever. View the evidence: documents, images and artifacts related to the wars causes and aftermath, plus hear the personal stories of people whose lives were torn apart.2012 marks 150 years since the U.S.-Dakota Wara war that followed years of broken treaties and promises to the Dakota people at a time when homesteaders were pouring into Minnesota. The war was waged over six weeks in southern Minnesota in the late summer of 1862, but the wars profound consequences are still felt today.The exhibit incorporates multiple points of view on what happened and why and was developed in collaboration with descendants of those touched by the war. Throughout, visitors are encouraged to add their own comments and reactions.

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul, Fort Snelling has a long association with Scouting in Minnesota. During this fun-filled afternoon, Scouts will step back to the earliest days of Scouting and try their hand at outdoor skills such as building shelters, hatchet safety, hiking and fire-starting, just like Scouts did 100 years ago. Space is limited.

Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul, Experience the sights and sounds of 1861 in this one-hour, family-friendly program. Children (ages 6 and up) and their parents will use a timeline map to explore the Ramsey House and discover the events made 1861 so special. Along the way, guests will sample popular foods of the era, learn about the new inventions and technology of the day and also learn about the Civil War. Before and after the event, children will be able to create their own time capsule to take home.

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia, Watch museum staff process wild rice including how to dry, parch, thresh and winnow the rice. Visitors will be able to see the entire process from raw to finished product.

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia, Children will learn a basic stringing technique while beading a ring to take home. Stories and refreshments are free, the beaded ring kit is $3 and includes materials for the ring and an instructional handout. Please allow an hour to make the ring. This project is recommended for children age 8 and up.

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul, Groups are invited to bring their buses to Historic Fort Snelling for a special step on tour that goes inside the historic fort gates as well as past the Upper Post. A costumed guide will spend an hour with the group discussing the history of the fort and share stories of the people who lived there. A stop inside the Commandants House, the oldest house in Minnesota, is optional. After the tour, guests can go inside the Visitor Center to look through exhibits, shop in the gift store and watch the 20 minute film "Where the Waters Meet: Stories of Fort Snelling." The fort's gate opening accommodates buses up to 13 ft. wide.

Harkin Store, New Ulm, The west arrives to the town of West Newton as Lonesome Ron, the King of the Valley Yodelers, shares cowboy ballads, yodels and stories told through song.

Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, Join the Minnesota Historical Society for blue ribbon entertainment and historic fun at Carousel Park featuring live entertainment, trivia, kids' crafts and more. Meet important Minnesotans from the past, learn about our states history and win prizes.Brought to you by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation and the Minnesota Historical Society. This event is made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis, A public reception will open an exhibit of photographs by Dick Bancroft, whose work is featured in the new book, " We Are Still Here: A History of the American Indian Movement in Photographs" (MHS Press, May 2013.) The American Indian Movement, founded in 1968 in Minneapolis, burst into that turbulent time with passion, anger and radical acts of resistance. Spurred by the Civil Rights movement, Native people began to protest the decadescenturiesof corruption, racism and abuse they had endured. They argued for political, social, and cultural change and they got attention. The photographs of activist Dick Bancroft, a key documentarian of AIM, provide a stunningly intimate view of this major piece of American history from 1970 to 1981. The unofficial photographer of AIM since 1970, Bancroft joined them for key events such as the takeovers of federal buildings, the founding of survival schools in the Twin Cities, the Wounded Knee trials, The Longest Walk of Survival and bringing American Indian voices to the United Nations. The exhibit will include photographs from the book and as well as unpublished images.

Historic Forestville, Preston, Experience Historic Forestville at dusk when the residents are in evening business and repose. Visitors can explore the site as farm laborers interact and unwind in the barn, ladies of the house discuss such important topics as voting rights, medicines are compounded in the general store, and Thomas Meighen finishes points of business in his office at the end of the day. Live music will be played throughout the evening.

Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site, Comfrey, Play games popular among American Indians of the past including the moccasin game, awl game and the double-ball game. While at the site, view the rock carvings and learn more about the people who created them on guided tours at 10:30 a.m., 1 or 3 p.m.

Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River, Celebrate Labor Day Weekend at the Kelley Farm. Threshing the grain harvest was the culmination of an entire growing seasons toil. Join the Kelley Farm hands as they bring grain bundles in from the field with the oxen, Toby and Colter. Help haul bundles and bag up grain at the 1856 horse-powered Cox and Roberts threshing machine and help stack the straw.

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul, Visit Historic Fort Snelling for a special Labor Day Weekend program that focuses on major life events for people living in the early 1800s. Visit with costumed staff, explore the historic site and watch theatrical performances that highlight how birth, marriage and death were viewed during the early 1800s.