Speakers Bureau

Blue Earth County Historical Society Speaker’s Bureau

The Blue Earth County Historical Society presents the history and heritage of Blue Earth County through our Speaker’s Bureau which consists of Educational Programs, Informational Presentations and Historic Site Tours available for groups, organizations, clubs, and more!

Educational programs are a virtual tour of the Society’s collections through a historical topic.Presenters are experts, scholars and/or historians knowledgeable in their topic that represent the Society.Educational programs are $100 per program per speaking engagement.See the list below for Educational Program.

Informational presentations are focused on the Historical Society’s history, a program or upcoming exhibit, publication or a service provided by the Society.Promotional presentations are free.Presentations focused on BECHS publications will include the availability of that book for purchase by participants.See the list below for Promotional presentations.

Group tours are available for groups of 10 or more visiting the Historic R.D. Hubbard House, Heritage Center Museum and Marian Anderson Art Gallery.Admission is $5 per adult for a private guided tour of the Hubbard House or Heritage Center Museum.There is a $25 fee for a private guided tour of the Marian Anderson Art Gallery.For information on School Field Trips, please contact JoLynn at 507-345-5566 or bechsms@hickorytech.net for details.

To arrange an Educational Program, Informational Presentation or Group Tour, contact JoLynn at 507-345-5566 or bechsms@hickorytech.net. All programs and presentations feature a PowerPoint presentation unless otherwise noted.Presenters will bring own equipment if necessary.

Educational Program - $100 fee

1918 Flu Epidemic

Beginning Genealogy

Blue Earth County Poor Farm History

Cemetery Preservation (optional cemetery tour available)

Cemetery Research 101

Demystifying Your Family Photographs

Historic Mankato Floods: 1881-1969

Historic Minnesota Blizzards

How to Do Your House History

Lost Historic Blue Earth County Buildings

Photograph and Paper Preservation 101

Pocket and Purses (no PowerPoint)

Quilt History (no PowerPoint)

Researching Local Newspapers

Researching Probate Records

Researching the Census

Uncovering Your Family History

Welsh in Blue Earth County

Women’s Club Movement in Blue Earth County

More added on a regular basis

Informational Presentation – Free (Limit of 2 per year)

History and Introduction to the Blue Earth County Historical Society

History of the Blue Earth County Courthouse – based on the BECHS book and DVD of the same title (optional DVD showing available)

Meet the Hubbard’s – based on the book by the same title

Remarkable Men of Garden City - based on the BECHS book by the same title

The Front Street Project

The Multifaceted Carp - based on the BECHS book by the same title

History of Minneopa State Park - based on the BECHS book by the same title

Group Tour - $5 per person

Historic R.D. Hubbard House

Guests will be immersed into the turn of the century home of R.D. Hubbard, entrepreneur and founder of Hubbard Milling Company.The home featured the most modern conveniences of the time including the first telephone in Mankato, complete indoor plumbing and electricity.Private Guided Tours are available upon request for groups of 10 or more April through December; $5 per person.

Heritage Center Museum

The museum highlights items from the Society’s collections and reflects the rich heritage of Blue Earth County.Exhibits feature the people, places and events that shaped this county including: Native American tools and artifacts, a diorama of downtown Mankato in the 1880s and an interactive children’s area. Private Guided Tours are available upon request for groups of 10 or more year-round; $5 per person.

Marian Anderson Art Gallery

Marian Anderson is a self-published, nationally acclaimed local artist with numerous credits and awards. Her subjects are majestic and powerful in their beauty set against a background of their natural habitats. Her work today is diversified ranging from Wildlife and Western to Landscape and Nostalgia.Private Guided Tours are available upon request for groups of 5 or more year-round; $25.