Minnesota History

The 1972 presidential campaign and former Sen. George McGovern's life and work, are the focus of a new documentary, "One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern." All Things Considered host Tom Crann talks with McGovern.
From one-room chapels to grand cathedrals, churches all over the state are part of Minnesota's landscape. Now nearly 100 of those churches are showcased in a new book, "Churches of Minnesota."
People in the west central Minnesota town of Glenwood are celebrating the grand opening of a community centerpiece, the Lakeside Ballroom. In 2003 the original Lakeside Ballroom, which stood on the shores of Lake Minnewaska for 90 years, burned down.
Some 45 years after the predominantly black St. Paul neighborhood of Rondo was bulldozed to make way for Interstate 94, the community's history is celebrated in a new composition, "The Rondo Oratorio."
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson has been diagnosed with liver cancer and told a newspaper in his native Pittsburgh that he is dying. Wilson, 60, who lives in Seattle, was diagnosed with the ailment in June.
We commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II with stories from a variety of viewpoints, including a program from radio dramatist Norman Corwin. We also hear remarks by Tom Brokaw, author of "The Greatest Generation," and World War II recollections from two former Minnesota governors, Orville Freeman and Harold Stassen.
Celebrations this weekend will mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. Events are planned in Minnesota as well. In conjunction with the anniversary, the Minnesota Historical Society is launching "Minnesota's Greatest Generation," a project designed to collect and preserve the stories of Minnesotans who fought in the war, or lived through the era at home.
The Minnesota Historical Society is observing the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II this weekend. One event features music by World War II veteran Charles Beasley and his big band. Beasley was an Army musician during the war, in an all-black unit. The anniversary gives Beasley a chance to reflect on race relations in this country.
The Benjamin Noble disappeared into Lake Superior an April 1914 storm, and it's been the target of a lot of unsuccessful searches over the years. But now a few people know exactly where it is.
A new museum will feature the stories of veterans in their own words. The project, planned for Perham, will collect oral histories from people all around Minnesota.