Douglas County Community Calendar

Events for the Alexandria/Douglas County area

history

Hot Chocolate & History: Shipwrecks on Superior

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Discover the Stories of Lake Superior Shipwrecks at Hot Chocolate & History

Join us at the Legacy of the Lakes Museum this February for Hot Chocolate & History, an engaging event diving into the mysteries of Lake Superior. With over 350 shipwrecks and 10,000 lives lost, Lake Superior has tales of tragedy, heroism, and mother nature’s fury.

Shipwrecks on Superior

What You’ll Experience:

  • A fascinating presentation on famous and lesser-known shipwrecks.
  • Stunning images, data, and underwater archaeology scans showcasing decades of exploration.
  • Hot chocolate upon arrival to keep you warm as you dive into history.

📅 Event Details:

  • When: February 13th, 2025
  • Where: Legacy of the Lakes Museum, Alexandria, MN
  • Cost: $14 per person, or $10 for museum members

Register Now

📢 Can’t attend in person? No problem! A recording will be available for those who select this option during registration.

Legacy of the Lakes Museum

320-759-1114

View Organizer Website

Rural Schools Exhibit Open House & Reception

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Let’s go back to school! The Douglas County Historical Society has been hard at work getting the first floor of the Knute Nelson House ready for visitors. We’re pleased to invite you to an open house and reception for our new photography exhibit, “Rural Schools in Douglas County,” which showcases photographs of rural schoolhouses and students from the DCHS collection. Our open house takes place Thursday, October 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at DCHS (1219 Nokomis St. in Alexandria), with staff remarks at 5:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

DHCS Scarecrow Contest

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It’s the Douglas County Historical Society’s 7th annual Scarecrow Contest! The contest is open to any groups, organizations, classes, businesses, clubs, families, or individuals. The entry fee is $10 per scarecrow, with prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place (voting will be held October 21-30, with winners announced on Halloween; watch our website and social media for more!)

To register, or with any questions, please contact DCHS at 320-762-0382 or [email protected]. Scarecrow drop-off days are October 15-18 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) at the Douglas County Historical Society, located at 1219 Nokomis St. in Alexandria.

Note: Scarecrows are displayed on the lawn next to DCHS, which is exposed to weather, including wind and potential snow. Scarecrows must be display-ready and family-friendly. Ten posts are available on the lawn on a first-come, first-serve basis to make set-up easier.

Scan For Keeps – Free Scanning Workshop

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Bring your treasured family photos or letter-sized documents to be scanned and digitally preserved at this free community workshop hosted in the new Reading Room at the Douglas County Historical Society. DCHS staff will scan your items and create digital copies for you to take home.

Limited space available. Registration required.

To register for a one-hour time slot, contact DCHS at 320-762-0382 or [email protected].

Make Your Own Dreamcatchers with Native Artist Jennifer Schmidt

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Learn to create your own Dreamcatcher with Jennifer Schmidt of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.

Class includes:

2 Hours of Teaching Time

All needed Materials

A Food and Drink Voucher

Lots of Fun!

A note from Jennifer about herself:
I am an adopted child; both of my parents are Native American but I was adopted to German/Polish parents. Fortunately my parents were committed to ensuring I knew and was connected to my heritage as I grew up, and I am excited to share this piece of it with you!
I have always loved art! So much that I earned an associates degree in Commercial Art. I simply love any kind of artistic expression: Photography, Drawing, Airbrush, Beading, and of course making Dreamcatchers!
Throughout my life I have always loved learning absolutely anything. Learning is the way of life!
I look forward to meeting you in this new class!

– Jennifer Schmidt

Add a gift or fun treat!

Optional

Whimsy Waffle Treat
$5.00

Fancy Mini Waffle
$6.00

Extravagant Mini Waffle
$7.00

Mini Canvas Kit to practice at home (4″ Canvas, 6 Color Paint Strip, 1 Set of Brushes, Palette)
$10.00

Heart Canvas Kit to practice at home (Heart Canvas, 6 Color Paint Strip, 1 Set of Brushes, Palette)
$15.00

Large Canvas Kit to practice at home (12″x16″ Canvas, 6 Color Paint Strip, 1 Set of Brushes, Palette)
$13.00

Ceramic Item up to $10, 6 Color Paint Strip, 1 Set of Brushes
$15.00

Laser Cut Wood Item up to $10, Six Color Paint Strip, Set of Brushes
$15.00

Date & Time
Sat, Mar 23
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST

Location
ArtisTree Cafe
2020 Fillmore Street
Alexandria, MN 56308

O! The Joy! – Songs & Stories of the Lewis & Clark Expedition

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“Ocian in View! O! The joy!”  is the exact quote from the journal of William Clark.  As the journals of both Meriwether Lewis and William Clark exhibit, spelling was not of major concern.  But the spirit is certainly there.  “Ocean in view; oh, the joy!” were the words that came to William Clark at his first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean after a 13 month journey across land from St. Louis.

It might have been a while since you learned of our history’s Great Exploration of the Corps of Discovery, but it is a story that bears some revisiting.

 

Paulette Friday’s new production is named after Clark’s famous exclamation “O! The Joy! – Stories & Songs of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.”

“The story of the Corps of Discovery is a big story!  Too big for one production; so I’ve chosen some pieces of the story that you might not have learned in your history lesson” says Friday. Along with the historical pieces Friday has written to tell the story, she has researched the music of the era and selected pieces that were, at least to some extent, likely to have been played often on this journey.

Stories and songs played a key and critical role in the Great Expedition, and Friday’s new production will demonstrate this through her written pieces and selection of historical music.

Those who have seen Friday’s other historical productions – Civil War, Great Depression, 19th Century Immigration, Prairie Pioneering, and Women’s Suffrage won’t be disappointed in this new offering.  It promises a range of emotion in story form and toe-tapping as well as familiar sentimental music.

Performing are: David Bengtson, Greg Donahue, Paulette Friday, Chuck Grussing, Patty Kakac, Terry Kennedy, Todd Nelson, Anne O’Flynn, Sara Robinson, and Leah Zenner.

 

Performances will be held at the Alexandria Area High School Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 9, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 10, at 2:00 p.m.; and at Roosevelt Hall in Barrett on Sunday, September 24, at 5:30 p.m.  Tickets for all performances are $20 at the door.

This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Lake Region Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriate from the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.