Minnesota Historical Society awards grants to area organizations

The Minnesota Historical Society has awarded $2 million in grants to eight communities across the state through its Commemorative Statues, Memorials, and Historic Preservation (CSMHP) program, with Marshall receiving the second largest share.

Among the eight, the City of Marshall was awarded $498,000 to hire qualified professionals to replace the existing bandshell at Liberty Park with a new design that meets modern codes and community needs.

In Fairmont, Fairmont Opera House, Inc. received $168,000 to prepare construction documents for preserving the 1901 Fairmont Opera House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Minnesota Historical Society has also awarded $610,846 through 42 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants — $20,000 and less -- totaling $610,846 in 23 counties.

The Murray County Historical Society, Slayton, was awarded $14,040 to hire a qualified consultant to develop a collections storage plan to help the museum best utilize their collections storage areas and make the items more accessible.

The Nobles County Historical Society, Worthington, has been awarded $6,667 to provide appropriate storage materials for a collection of bound newspapers.