Events
- Feb 13, 7:00pm Rochester Reads Music Event and Kickoff Local community members - including Mayor Brede - will present the adult, junior and pictures books, followed by musical guests The New Pearl Buttons, who will be on hand to give us a sample of Civil War-era music.
- March 4, 3:00pm Weapons of the Civil War EVENT HELD AT HISTORY CENTER Join local historian Tom Hosier at the History Center of Olmsted County (1195 West Circle Drive SW) for an exploration of weapons used by infantries and cavalries during the Civil War. Participants will have the opportunity to view artifacts and weaponry from the era.
- March 5, 7:00pm "Women of the Civil War" The War Between the States may have been fought by great armies of men, but women filled many vital roles in society and even in the military. This program highlights the incredible stories of Minnesota women long overlooked and forgotten, bring a new perspective to the history of America’s most bloody war. Presented by Vickie Wendel, Program Manager of the Anoka County Historical Society
- March 28, 7:00pm Rochester and the Civil War Using information from history books, Rochester newspapers of the 1860's, and research from the Historical Society of Olmsted County library, this presentation describes what was happening in Rochester during this period in history.
- April 2, 6:00pm Film: The Conspirator In the wake of the Lincoln assassination, seven men and one woman are arrested and charged with conspiring to kill the President, Vice President, and Secretary of State. Against the ominous back-drop of post-Civil War Washington, Frederick Aiken, reluctantly agrees to defend the lone female defendant before a military tribunal.
- April 4, 7:00pm Film: Gettysburg (documentary) Gettysburg will strip away the romanticized veneer of the Civil War and present the engagement in a new light: a visceral, terrifying experience with everything on the line. Compelling CGI and powerful action footage place viewers in the midst of the fighting, delivering an emotional cinematic experience.
- April 6, 10:00am -12:00pm Civil War Open House Please join us in the library auditorium to journey back in time to the Civil War era. The History Center of Olmsted County will be here to help us envision everyday life during the Civil War period. Come and play games that children of that era played, and see costumes of the period. Also, there will be unique crafts to enjoy, and some engaging Civil War period artifacts to discover.
- April 9, 7:00pm Tony Horwitz visit EVENT HELD AT WILLOW CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL Author Tony Horwitz will be speaking on the topic of the Civil War's origins and legacy at Willow Creek Middle School Auditorium (2425 11th Ave SE) for April 9, anniversary of Lee's surrender at Appomattox, and the middle of National Library Week.
- April 10, 6:30pm Bedtime Stories with special guests Patricia Bauer and David Geister Puppets, stories, and films to give you sweet dreams, with special guests Patricia Bauer and David Geister, authors of the 2012 Rochester Reads picture book B is for Battle Cry.
Dates and locations subject to change - check back here for the most up-to-date information