VISIT the
History Museum
10200 Penn Ave. S.
Bloomington
Minnesota

HOURS:
Tu, We, Th, Sa
Noon - 4 p.m.
Sundays
1 - 5 p.m.

TOURS:
952-881-4114 or
952-881-4327

At the Museum

Unless noted, events are at Bloomington Old Town Hall, 10200 Penn Avenue South. Call 952-881-4114 or 952-881-4327 for information.

The First Annual Spring Gala

An evening of entertainment

Friday, April 16, 2010 – 6 to 10 p.m.

Minnesota Valley Country Club
6300 Auto Club Road, Bloomington

Ticket prices are $75 per person attending. Cocktail or 1920s period dress is suggested. For reservations, please call 952-881-4327 before April 9, 2010.

The Evening’s Schedule
with Master of Ceremonies Jack Carlson

6:00 - 7:15

Bobby Jones Putting Challenge Reception
1920s Music performed by the Normandale College Jazz Combo

6:00 - 8:30

Silent Auction
Last call at 8:15

7:30 - 8:30

Honor Guard--Bloomington VFW Post 1296
America the Beautiful--Carolyn Pratt
Dinner

8:30 - 9:00

History on Stage: Bobby Jones & Friends
Performed by Normandale College Historian Chuck Chalberg with his sons Stephen and Michael

9:00 - 10:00

Live Auction & Door Prizes

The Bloomington Historical Society would like to thank the Minnesota Valley Country Club for hosting the event; Hendler-Johnston LLC for design and print services; and all who have contributed their money, time, goods, services and talent to make this event a success!

The 2010 Spring Gala is a fund raising event with proceeds directed to further the corporate purposes of the Bloomington Historical Society, a 501(c)3 corporation.

An Interesting Artifact

Dugout canoe antiquity ~ Circa 1600s

The Bloomington Historical Society-owned dugout canoe antiquity was found by George Hopkins, farmer-historian of Bloomington, on his property between 1966-1968. The canoe was partially buried in mud in the Minnesota River Valley approximately one-third of the way uphill of the lower bluff. Mr. Hopkins sought the opinion of fellow historian Stanley Danielson who realized the significance of finding the rare archaeological treasure. Otto Christianson of the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Division was contacted and Park Maintenance staff uncovered the dugout, Approximately 16 feet in length, the find was transported to the Bloomington Old Town Hall Museum, 10200 Penn Avenue South.

An evaluation was requested from the Minnesota Historical Society conservator, who advised that the dugout be soaked in an ethylene glycol product for an indefinite period so as to permeate the dugout for preservation purposes. Glycol was the recommended conservation product at that time. The canoe was on exhibit in the lower level of the the Museum until 2007 when it was removed during the restoration of the building to its 1892 appearance. At that time, to conserve and stabilize the dugout, the Bloomington Historical Society consulted Minnesota Historical Society experts and then enlisted the expertise of Terry Brown of Museum Professionals, Inc. of Loretto, Minnesota.

The dugout has been cleaned of all sand and dirt embedded deep in the recesses. An archival-approved product (b72) was applied that permeated the decayed cells of the dugout and provided strength to the ancient cottonwood. Mr. Brown will also build and install and archival artifact mount for the canoe. The padded steel mount will provide support and long-term exhibition. A maple surface platform on rollers will be used with the archival artifact mount; a graphic panel will provide historical information about the use of dugout canoes by the various indigenous peoples, and will include the processes used in the construction. Following completion of the project, the dugout canoe will be on exhibit at the restored 1892 Bloomington Old Town Hall. The time period for the dugout canoe was estimated by area historians to be circa 1600s, indicating usage by the ancient Iowa/Oneota tribes and later the Dakota peoples.

Birch bark canoes were not used in southern Minnesota at that time.

Sponsor a custom-designed exhibit case

The Bloomington Historical Society is refurbishing the Old Town Hall History Museum with custom-designed exhibit cases, pedestals and kiosks. These items are donor-sponsored. For further information or if you would like to contribute to this effort, please contact 952-881-4327.