Carver County Historical Society Museum

Purpose: Serving as Centers of Community Engagement The Carver County Historical Society will use these funds to meet its goal of sustaining and engaging residents in the cultural heritage of the county more effectively. The historical society will develop and implement activities and programs to celebrate Carver County's sesquicentennial in 2005. The purpose of these activities and programs is to raise public awareness of the historical society, provide an opportunity for residents to gain a better understanding of local history, and encourage a sense of place and community among new residents in this rapidly growing county. The activities will include (1) creation of a multifaceted local history Web site; (2) design and development of an interactive, traveling local history exhibit that will be displayed throughout the county library system and at the county government center, the Carver County Fair, and various community festivals; (3) development of an educational outreach program for students focusing on historic and contemporary immigrant issues; and (4) design and development of a long-term community exhibit at the historical Society's museum. This exhibit will explore how immigrants have contributed to the County's communities, from the initial settlement in the 1850s to the present.