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Minnesota History

Glenwood's ballroom comes back to life

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.

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Remembering Rondo with music

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."

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Playwright August Wilson has liver cancer

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.

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Memories of World War II

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.

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Minnesota's Greatest Generation

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.

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Reflections on race from a World War II veteran

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.

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Mystery ship found

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.

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In their own words

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.

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In another time of war, Minnesota suspended civil liberties

It was 88 years ago when the U.S. entered World War I, a conflict far more unpopular than the current war in Iraq. Then, as now, officials worried how the country could protect itself at home, and how many civil liberties should be restricted in the interest of national security. The reaction by Minnesota officials was extreme.

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StoryCorps: Extraordinary stories from everyday people

The StoryCorps project is in the Twin Cities. People from all walks of life are stopping by a mobile recording studio on Peavey Plaza in Minneapolis to tell their stories, which will eventually end up in the Library of Congress. People talk about all sorts of things, including how the pope affects local liquor laws. Minnesotan Amy Trojanowski told a story about being in the Peace Corps in Poland during the reign of Pope John Paul II.

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