March 2008 Show

Minnesota at 150 A Sesquicentennial Program Overview

Landmark & Legacy Opportunity

year of commemoration to reflect on & learn from our past

year of statewide celebration to rediscover our state, showcase our people and achievements, and connect us as Minnesotans

once-in-a-lifetime catalyst to unite us, to re-dedicate ourselves to creating a thriving and innovative future

Commission Mission

The Sesquicentennial Commission is the official Statehood Sesquicentennial coordinating body, created by the State Legislature and appointed by the Legislature and Governor to plan statewide activities and coordinate with other entities all activities to commemorate and celebrate Minnesota’s Sesquicentennial in 2008

Goals

The Sesquicentennial Commission and its staff & volunteers will strive to increase pride in our state by:

Achieving broad participation of the people of Minnesota, visitors, local communities, institutions and organizations in activities across the state;

Raising awareness and educating Minnesotans by telling the stories of our past, recognizing the indigenous people of Minnesota, and learning from them and the many ethnic groups that have come and continue to come to Minnesota;

Developing a shared vision for the state’s future, by engaging Minnesotans in civic dialogue;

Leaving a lasting legacy through print, visual, musical, and other reminders, as well as media documentation;

So that all might have a meaningful perspective on the impact our state has had in the past and will have on the future for Minnesotans, the nation, and the world.

Sesquicentennial Themes

Arts & Culture

Education

Health & Wellness

Innovation

Natural Resources & Our Great Outdoors

Key Commemorations & Celebrations

Commemorative Medallion October 3, 2007

United States Postal Service Minnesota Commemorative Stamp Unveiling Day Oct 6, 2007 and Issuance Day in May 2008

MN150 Exhibit opened October 13, 2007

Sesquicentennial Song premièred January 12, 2008 – “Shines for All to See”

Ann Reed Song for Minnesota Tour – January 12 – May 3 (Duluth, Morris, St. Joseph, Winona, Bemidji, St. Paul)

Sesquicentennial Wagon Train – May 4 -11, 2008

Statehood Week, May 11 – 18, 2008 – Statehood Festival & Ceremony

Capitals for a Day week May 12-16

Regional Sesquicentennial Spotlight Tours June through September

Orlin Ostby and Ox Walk the Pembina Trail – July – August

Minnesota State Fair, August 2008

Old Minnesota Song of the North Star Chautauqua tent show

All-County Minnesota Commemorative Mosaic/Tile creation – “Greetings from Minnesota”

Hundreds of community and organizational events & celebrations across the state led by local, regional, and state entities

2008 Minnesota State Fair

Old Minnesota Song of the North Star

All County Mosaic

Community Engagement Catalyst

Micro Grant and Legacy Grant program began in July 2007

100+ micro grants across the state

25 legacy grants

Community Spirit & Spruce Up program began Sept 18, 2007 in Stillwater

Banners, flags, street graphics

Plan for Our Future Sesquicentennial Plan for Our Future Snapshot of Minnesotans hopes, dreams, and commitments to and for the future. Conversations across the state and online.

www.mn150years.org -- info@mn150years.org Capitals for a Day regions Tall grass aspen parklands Coniferous forest Deciduous forest Driftless area Prairie grasslands

Bemidji * Thief River Falls * Detroit Lakes New Ulm * Winona

Ambassadors Council

Each county represented

Liaison to the Commission

Help engage citizens in their county

Help keep the Commission informed of events and programs to help promote

Opportunities

Capitals for a Day tour

Statehood Week May 11-18

Sesquicentennial Spotlight Tours June - September

State Fair 08

Special contests in photography, cake decorating, quilting

Sister city, homecomings, reunions

Mpls, Gully, Pengilly, Bloomington, others celebrating their big anniversaries

150 programs at State Parks

Signature events at each historic site/once per month

Sesqui promotion

Print, radio, television & web

Sesquicentennial spirit kit: street graphics for communities, organizations & businesses

Sesquicentennial Minutes

Sesqui blog & weekly features on history, culture, counties, communities, organizations & businesses

Sesqui-What? video contest

This day in history & calendar of events

Sesquicentennial Lottery game & Highway signs & license plates

www.mn150years.org

Website

Blog

Grants

Logo

Events

Sponsors

Sesqui

stuff

U. S. Postal Stamp

Ox-Cart Journey Walking the Pembina Trail Sesquicentennial Stroll St. Vincent to Saint Paul Beginning July 1, 2008 Orlin Ostby of Gatzke, Minnesota, will set out with his family and a sturdy pair of oxen to recreate Delmar Hagen’s 1958 trek down the historic Pembina Trail to Saint Paul. The Pembina Trail is one of the main historic oxcart trail routes from St. Paul to Winnipeg, Manitoba. The trails were pioneered in the 1600’s and most heavily traveled between 1849 and 1901. Primarily used for fur trading, the oxcart trail routes helped establish St. Paul as a central commerce point in the Midwest. 400 miles in 40 days.

State Entry Signs

Cookbook