Winter Lecture Series Returns to the Forest History Center in 2025

will again host lectures from an array of selected professionals and expert guest speakers who will touch on unique historical perspectives of Northern Minnesota.

On select Saturdays through March, the 2025 Winter Lecture Series will feature experts sharing their knowledge on topics ranging from the importance of native wildflowers to the historical footprint that Paul Bunyon's legend has left on the state.

North of Nowhere, January 18
Enjoy the stories told by Terry O'Brien about the mystical and historical tales that come from the winters of the north. Deep and penetratingly cold winters gave trappers, travelers, and winterers stories of survival and perseverance. Be taken back in time to hear the stories and lore of the men and women who braved the ice cold. 

Birds, Bees, and Butterflies, February 1
Master Gardener Bonny Siegford shares the importance of pollinators and how humans can best support them. Learn the history of our native Minnesota plants and flowers and how we can provide food and habitats for pollinators in our backyards. 

After the Burn, February 15
The wildfires of 2021 at Isle Royale National Park left a charred and burned landscape. Painter Matt Kania took the opportunity to paint within the destroyed lands and documented the stages of recovery through oil paintings. His digital presentation of his original works will give a personal perspective of his experience painting with the burned brush and also about the map-making efforts he used to document the locations of his work. 

The Wood and Canvas Canoe, March 1
Curious about the art of canoe building? From cedar to birch bark and wood to canvas, learn about how these different canoes are built. Alex Comb has been paddling canoes since he was ten and has built and restored canoes for almost fifty years. Learn about the canoe's history, and its importance in navigating northern Minnesota lakes and streams.

Women in the Fur Trade, March 15
Women played a more crucial role in the fur trade than one may think. In a presentation by Nikki Rajala, she shares the contributions of women in the fur trade and their stories of grit and perseverance. Hear the tales of Thanadelthur, those who worked closely with the Hudson's Bay Company, Magdeline La Framboise, the Grey Nuns, and those who paddled and portaged right alongside men. Their remarkable stories are inspirational. 

Paul Bunyan's Footprints, March 29
Paul Bunyan is an icon whose stories are well-known here in Minnesota. But do these stories perpetuate false narratives about the history of Native Americans, lumberjacks and loggers, and the United States? This presentation by Minnesota native Johnathon Jaeger will explore the symbolic history of Paul Bunyan in Minnesota. 

All events are included in the cost of regular site admission and are free for MNHS members. 

About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories, and connects people with history.