History Time

Bring the stories of Minnesota's past into your public library or community center!

Costumed characters and playful puppets bring Minnesota's history to life in History-time, a collection of interactive programs designed especially for public libraries and community centers.

Inspire patrons of all ages to read more about the people, places and events that have shaped Minnesota by booking one of these engaging performances.

Schedule

To schedule a History-Time program, call 651-259-3412 or fill out the online request form. 

History Players

Using props and artifacts, costumed characters from Minnesota's past step forward in time to share their memorable stories. Presentation length is 45 minutes, but can be adjusted to meet your needs. Characters distribute bookmarks to audience members at the end of each performance.

History Center History Player characters include:

George Nelson (1786-1859) Fur Trade Clerk for the XY Company
Harriet Bishop (1817-1883) St. Paul's First Public School Teacher
James Goodhue (1810-1852) Editor of Minnesota's First Newspaper
Maud Hart Lovelace (1892-1980) Author of the "Betsy-Tacy" series of children's books
Thomas Lyles (1843-1920) African American community activist and entrepreneur
Virginia Mae Hope (1921-1944) World War II Women's Airforce Service Pilot

Program Cost

Fees apply to presentations on the same day at the same location. Additional fees for mileage and lodging may apply to travel outside the Twin Cities metro area.

• $200 for one 45-minute presentation
• $125 for second presentation
• $75 for third presentation
• $50 for fourth presentation 

Scheduling

To arrange a visit by a History Player, contact:
History Center Players - 651-259-3412 or HPIC@mnhs.org
Mill City Museum Players - 612-341-7556.

NOTE: History Players must be scheduled at least six weeks in advance. Availability of specific characters may be limited and is subject to change.
 

Need a literature connections to our History Players and History Topics for your next Book Club event?  Download a PDF brochure

Z Puppets Rosenschnoz Puppetry

Developed for the Minnesota Historical Society by Z Puppets Rosenschnoz, these delightful performances will charm children and their adults. Presentation length is approximately 30 minutes.

Performances include:

Minnesota Aha
Celebrate Minnesota's 150th birthday with clown scholar Professor Historificus and his astute cat, Walter Mondale, as they unravel stories behind great Minnesota inventions. How did anyone think of SPAM, Scotch tape, rollerblades, kitty litter and water skis? Find out the fun facts about why Minnesota has inspired genius for centuries.
 

What Makes Minnesota, Minnesota?
What people, places, events and things have most shaped Minnesota in its 150 years of being a state? You decide, in this playful tour of the legends, roadside attractions and beloved eccentricities that make Minnesota what it is today. With stops at Paul Bunyan, the World's Largest Twine Ball, and lakes upon lakes, meet key colorful characters that have helped define what makes Minnesota, Minnesota.
 

Beyond Boreas
Summer too hot? Winter too cold? Take a comic frolic into weather myths across the world and throughout the ages with St. Paul Winter Carnival Legends, King Boreas and Vulcanus Rex. For over 100 years, Boreas and Vulcan have helped Minnesotans make it through extreme temperatures. As they get ready to put on a puppet show of the origins of the Winter Carnival, Boreas and Vulcan explore multicultural and Minnesota perspectives on how and why people tell stories about weather as a way to survive the seasons.

Z Puppets Rosenschnoz Puppetry Costs

Fees apply to presentations on the same day at the same location. Additional fees for mileage and lodging may apply to travel outside the Twin Cities metro area.

$660 for each puppet show; 10% discount on each additional show booked on same date in same location

 

 

---