Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul, In todays fast paced world the art of social graces can get lost along the way. Victorian girls, like the Ramsey granddaughters Anita and Laura Furness, were expected to attend finishing school where they learned the arts of personal interaction and good manners. In this one-of-a kind day camp, young ladies will dress up in Victorian outfits and learn about Victorian fashion, etiquette, dancing and poise culminating with a tea on the porch and a dance recital for families. Open to girls 9-12.

Lac qui Parle Mission, Montevideo, Visit on Mission Sunday, held annually the second Sunday in July. Join Missionary and Dakota descendants for worship and to celebrate the Lac qui Parle Mission. Worship service begins at 10:30 a.m. with a guest pastor each year. The Dakota Ascension Choir sings several Dakota hymns, and the entire congregation sings the hymn Lac qui Parle" also known as "Many and Great Oh God Are Thy Things." A potluck picnic will follow at noon near the Lac qui Parle dam area. At 1 p.m. speakers will lead a program of reflection. For more information got to www.chippewacohistory.org.

Harkin Store, New Ulm, German immigrants to the Minnesota River Valley contributed a new cultural concept on the frontier, taking Sunday afternoon for quieter work and socializing. Women would come together to knit, tat, crochet and do other handiwork. Take a break, bring a picnic and enjoy a relaxing afternoon as you learn about these frontier hobbies.

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul, During WWII, over 300,000 members of Minnesotas Greatest Generation began their military careers at Fort Snelling. They were introduced to military life, were tested and assigned to units, and finally sent on to training bases around the country. Military police and railroad engineers, as well as translators of the Military Intelligence Service Language School received their specialized training at Fort Snelling.Friends of Fort Snelling tours are 90 minutes and cover various aspects of Fort Snelling's 20th century history, including officers' row and administrative areas (walking and architectural tours), as well as the stables and warehouse district (biking tours). All tours start at 9 a.m. in front of the HQ building, which is the main building on the post with the clock tower on the corner of Taylor Ave. and Colville Ave. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring water!

Barnes and Noble-Har Mar Mall, Roseville, Please join Dick Bancroft and Laure Waterman Wittstock for a signing of their new book We Are Still Here: A Photographic History of the American Indian Movement. 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 decades centuries of corruption, racism, and abuse they had endured. They argued for political, social, and cultural change, and they got attention. Dick Bancroft, an activist and key documentarian of AIM, provides a stunningly intimate view of this major piece of American history from 1970 to 1981. Veteran journalist, Laure Waterman Wittstock, who participated in events in Washington, DC, has interviewed a host of surviving participants to tell the stories behind the images. This is the inside record of a movement that began to change a nation. Dick Bancroft has been the unofficial photographer for the American Indian Movement since 1970. He has traveled the world to take these photographs. Laure Waterman Wittstock (Seneca Nation), a writer and media consultant, covered the early years of the American Indian Movement as a journalist. For more information call 651-639-9256.

Fort Ridgely, Fairfax, Independent historian Curt Dahlin will discuss the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 and the roles played by Fort Ridgely and St. Peter. Curtis Dahlin grew up on a farm near Sisseton, South Dakota, on the Sisseton-Wahpeton Indian Reservation. He has spent decades researching the history of the Minnesota River Valley.

Sibley House Historic Site, Mendota, In the 1890s, Minnesota artist Burt Harwood taught a summer art school at the Sibley House property. Visit the same beautiful place that inspired him and create art as well as memories with family and friends. Try out different kinds of art, inspired by history and nature, at art stations around the site. Have a picnic, enjoy the beauty of the site, and have your Victorian-style silhouette made to take home.

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis, Mill City Summer Opera returns for its second season in the museums Ruin Courtyard with a production of Gioachino Rossinis popular and comedic masterpiece, The Barber of Seville. Under the artistic direction of David Lefkowich, an outstanding cast and artistic team will present Rossinis two-act tale of love, disguise, and deceit set against the backdrop of 18th-century Spain and just steps from the Mississippi River.Food and beverage will be available for purchase by DAmico Catering. In the event of rain, performances will move inside. Tickets go on sale May 20 at midnight online at tickets.mnhs.org, and at 10 a.m. by phone by calling 612-341-7582, or in person at the Museums ticket desk.

Forest History Center, Grand Rapids, A good cook and plenty of food held a logging camp together. While meat, potatoes and beans were the cook shack staples, it was the pies the men loved most. Cooks worked with ingredients they had on hand to make delicious and wholesome pies. This event allows visitors to compare and contrast pies served in the logging camps with modern day creations. Visitors are encouraged to bring a recipe to share.

Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River, Youth members of the National Grange organization will perform a historical reenactment of an 1873 Grange meeting. The performance will describe the first four degrees of Grange membership, similar to levels of achievement, and includes music and regalia. The performances begin at 10:30 a.m. in a tent set up in the prairie part of the farmstead. Admission to this special event is $6 and is in addition to regular site admission. The public may attend any or all of the performances.

Historic Forestville, Preston, It wasn't until the 1800s that a machine was made to mass produce horse shoes. But those shoes still needed to be shaped and fitted to each individual horse. In 1899, the residents of Forestville would do this fitting on the farm. Join us as farrier Jarred Lund demonstrates and interprets the art of shoeing horses. Lund will describe historic methods as well as methods used today.

Alexander Ramsey House, St. Paul, This 90 minute tour explores the "unmentionable" topics of the Victorian era such as addiction, mental illness, sexuality and birth control. Hear excerpts from family letters and journals which provide a glimpse into the private lives of the Ramsey family, their friends and neighbors. Discover what issues they faced, the "cures" they used and what was really discussed behind closed doors.This tour features adult content and is not suitable for children under age 18.

Historic Forestville, Preston, Showing movies outside had a long tradition in 20th century America. Often the movie screen was the wall of the corner drug store or barber shop. Visit Historic Forestville as this tradition is brought back to life using the side of the barn as a screen. Popcorn, ice cream and pop will be available for purchase. The film title is to be announced.

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul, Discover the role Minnesota soldiers played in the Civil War during this one-day summer camp. Campers will create a newspaper front page that records stories from the Minnesota home front and the role state regiments played in the Civil War, visit with a costumed historical character, learn about Civil War flags and statues and go on a Capitol scavenger hunt and more. Each camper should bring a bag lunch. Snacks will be provided. Designed for children ages 9-12.

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, Take a tour of St. Pauls oldest neighborhood and hear vibrant tales of the Yankees, Czechs, Germans and Italians who gave it life. Roll from beautiful Irvine Park to the German Brewery District and on to the lost world of the Upper Levee, enjoying bar stops at two great neighborhood joints along the way. A trolley will take participants to historic stops and watering holes. Ages 21 and up only. Drink purchases are not included in the tour price. Drink specials will be made available at participating locations.

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, The History Center's popular outdoor music concert series continues with mariachi band Mi Tierra.Enjoy "9 Nights of Music" every Tuesday in July and August. The series, now in its 16th year, presents the rich and vibrant sounds of Minnesotas multicultural community in free performances held on the terrace of the Minnesota History Center. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Live music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Caf Minnesota terrace grill. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances will be held inside the History Center in the 3M Auditorium.9 Nights of Music is presented by Xcel Energy. Additional support is provided by 99.5 Classical MPR and the Tapestry Folkdance Center.

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, In their new book, "Legendary Homes of the Minneapolis Lakes," photographer Karen Melvin and architectural writer Bette Hammel turn their attention to the finest homes around Minneapolis' Chain of Lakes: Lake of the Isles, Cedar Lake, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. In this program, they will share photos of the homes, stories of construction, renovation and interior design, and homeowner interviews from these architectural gems. Hammel and Melvin will sign copies of their book afterwards.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.

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, Conquer summer boredom and level up your history skills during this fun, hands-on camp to learn the basics of game design. This camp is perfect for history-lovers who like to dig up clues from the past and want to learn about game design. Using ARIS, location-based gaming software, participants will work with each other and experts to create an epic game with real content and characters from the past. Open to ages 12-15. Drop off is available up to an hour before camps begin, and aftercare is available up to an hour following each session. Lunch is available for an additional fee of $10 per day.

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, Conquer summer boredom and level up your history skills during this fun, hands-on camp to learn the basics of game design. This camp is perfect for history-lovers who like to dig up clues from the past and want to learn about game design. Using ARIS, location-based gaming software, participants will work with each other and experts to create an epic game with real content and characters from the past. Open to ages 12-15. Drop off is available up to an hour before camps begin, and aftercare is available up to an hour following each session. Lunch is available for an additional fee of $10 per day.

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis, Build creativity with this dynamic hands-on arts focused day camp. Play music, create stories, build books and bake bread all while exploring how the riverfront district was built, rebuilt and is now a rich cultural area. Arts on the River Camp offers children a new experience each day to build their own creativity at four top arts centers, including Mill City Museum, the Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Center for Book Arts and MacPhail Center for Music. Campers will start each day at Mill City Museum and walk with camp leaders, less than three blocks, to each art organization. For ages 9-11.