Minnesotans make case to house American Writers Museum
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
St. Paul is making a long-shot bid to become home to The American Writers Museum. The museum doesn't exist yet and Chicago is considered the front-runner, but that didn't dissuade Patrick Coleman to connect the museum's foundation with area movers and shakers last weekend in the Twin Cities.
The Pioneer Press reports that Coleman, acquisitions librarian for the Minnesota Historical Society, gave American Writers Museum Foundation president Malcolm O'Hagan.
"This is a huge project, but I have every confidence the museum is going to happen. People think this is an idea whose time has come," the affable O'Hagan said Sunday after attending a brunch at the home of former St. Paul Mayor George Latimer.
"We have some tough slogging in terms of raising money, but we will have a place that makes a significant statement about the importance of literature."
O'Hagan, who admits "I had no sense of the literary involvement here," was delighted with his three days in the Twin Cities and Coleman's enthusiasm for the museum.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
There is a lot of money to be raised before the museum can become a reality, but the Foundation is starting to organize exhibits. A touring exhibit "Immigrant Voices in American Literature" is in the works now. Coleman told the Pioneer Press, "The History Center would be a perfect place for this exhibit. ... We could supplement it with lots of material about local writers."
Related
MPR News: Writing Minnesota
On the MPR News Facebook page: Who is your favorite Minnesota writer? What do you love about their work?
Also clicking on MN Today:
Hudson, WI residents rally to recall state senator over union vote
Democrats announced they have gathered enough signatures to begin the process of forcing an election. Republican Senator Sheila Harsdorf is one of 16 Wisconsin lawmakers facing recall efforts (KSTP).
St Cloud Times: Are the Vikings worth it? Your call
But make no mistake as to what not building a stadium will mean. The Vikings will leave. To think otherwise is just foolish.
St. Paul Mayor Coleman: Feds ready to put up cash for light rail
Coleman says deal for roughly $460 million will be signed next week (Pioneer Press).
Marshall struggles with teen suicides
The superintendent of the Marshall School District gave a public statement in response to the deaths of two middle school students over the weekend (Marshall Independent).
YouTube has become a study tool at Farmington High School
Teaching 450 students at once might seem like a somewhat labor intensive process, but Farmington High School math teacher Daniel Pickens says that's not so. And prepping 450 juniors for the annual Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment tests this week was kind of a breeze, too (Farmington Independent).
Cloquet School Board makes painful cuts to keep district in the black
In an effort to curb a mounting budget deficit, Cloquet School Board members unanimously approved more than half a million dollars in budget cuts in a grim Monday night meeting. A few items on the chopping block include student programs, textbook upgrade funds and teaching positions (Pine Journal).
Counting the region's hidden homeless
Surveys were completed in the Northeast Continuum of Care counties, which include Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Lake, Itasca and Koochiching. These surveys represented 407 people without a permanent place to live (Pine Journal).
Minnesota seeks drivers to test potential future mileage tax system
Minnesota transportation officials are looking for a few good drivers for a test program that might someday lead to a mileage-based tax. The 500 volunteers needed in Hennepin and Wright counties will use GPS-equipped smartphones to record and submit travel information. The idea is to see how well such a system works (Grand Forks Herald).
Frontline's Caitlin McNally talks youth concussions
Minnesota native Caitlin McNally discussed the thinking leading up to Football High, a documentary that she co-produced and that debuted on Frontline last week. Sports concussions weren't intended as the focus of the piece, she said, but they became a central theme as more concussion research emerged (Star Tribune).
Frontline: Football High
High school football has never had a higher profile .... but is winning worth the risks?
Minnesota Sounds
Group howls and hunts and the Wildlife Science Center.
Blog Box
Gap between citizens and city administrators too big to solve problems
The disconnect is so large between the public administrators' understanding of the public and the public's understanding of the job which needs to be done that the root of the problem will never be solved and the issues which exist at the local level may never be corrected (Lazy Lightning).
The North Shore...There and Back: Hike Gooseberry Falls...Five falls in one loop
North Shore waterfalls are raging with spring melt right now...it's a great time to head to Gooseberry Falls for a hike! (North Shore... There and Back)
Maple syrup time on the Gunflint Trail
A sugarbush is what they call an area abundant with maple trees for making syrup. There aren't very many places in the world where maple trees grow and we're about as far north and west as you'll find them in the United States (Boundary Waters Blog).