The map that changed the world

When Benjamin Franklin helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris in 1783 that ended America's Revolutionary War, he used a map called The Mitchell Map, to fix the international boundary.

The Mitchell Map was created by a gentleman named John Mitchell, and one of the interesting things about him was that he was not a professional map maker or geographer. Instead, he was a physician and an amateur (albeit enthusiastic) botanist.

Why should you care about his interest in botany? Mitchell eventually became somewhat of an expert in exotic plants, and his interest in the subject caused him to meet some influential people in government. One of these people was a fellow named George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax.

Halifax is important because he was appointed President of the Board of Trade and Plantations by the British government in 1748. The position was basically in charge of promoting trade in the New World. It was his job to make sure Britain made money and controlled the region.

Britain wasn't the only ones interested in the region, of course. The French had the same idea, and lets not forget the Spanish, Dutch, and Native people.

Anyway, Halifax was so impressed with Mitchell that he asked Mitchell to make him a map of North America, which Mitchell, the physician and botanist, completed in 1750. The map was titled "A Map of British and French Dominion in North America," and was heavily skewed to show British dominance, which isn't surprising.

Most scholars believe it was also intended to show the British that there was a significant French threat in the region, probably because Halifax advocated war with the French, or, at least he thought it was inevitable.

The map was reprinted in 1755, and even though there were heavy criticism of it and it was revised several times up until Mitchell's death in 1768, it was the primary map of North America when Ben Franklin got hold of to negotiate peace with the British.

Now, here's why all this is important to Iron Range history. There were several different Mitchell maps used during negotiations which showed different kinds of boundaries. One area of dispute was the Iron Range.

The Range was very nearly a part of what would become Canada, and, given the region's enormous (but then unknown) natural resources, the future of the nation could have looked vastly different if it hadn't been for a crude map, Ben Franklin's famous red pen and ignorance on everyone's part about what was under those trees on Minnesota's Iron Range.

The SSSSSSSLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW moving Earth

Did you know the ground beneath you is moving?

It’s true. The earth’s upper crust, the stuff we stand on, is actually “floating” along on things we call “plates.”

How fast does it move? Most plates move about two inches per year. That’s about the same rate that your fingernails grow.

It also means scientists calculate that in 15 million years, if the plates continued on their current path and barring any disaster, Los Angeles and San Francisco will be right next to each other.

Right now they’re 400 miles apart.

All sorts of crazy things happen because of these plates. Learn more about them at MDC’s “When the Earth Shakes” exhibit on display now.

"Why Treaties Matter" with our Partner Bois Forte Museum

 

Visit Bois Forte Heritage Museum! They have been a HUGE partner and resource for us with our new permanent exhibits. We've just put out a grant to fund the installation of it, so we're keeping our fingers crossed! In the meantime, living and loving nature the way that most Iron Rangers do, Treaties do Matter. 

Review of "Why Treaties Matter" by Mai Vang, Curator

The exhibit was extraordinarily informative. With only 20 panels and a touchscreen interactive, the exhibit designers were able to teach about the complex history and nature of treaties. Treaties are legally binding agreements between sovereign nations, here it is between the United States and Native nations. One of the great strengths of this exhibit are the first hand quotes like the one below that succinctly sums up what the treaties were all about.

"I understand what you want... from the few words I have heard you speak. You want land."

—Flat Mouth [Aish-Ke-Vo-Go-Zhe, or Bird with Leaf Green Bill], Ojibwe leader at 1855 treaty

Not only were the historical content in the exhibit both deep and thorough covering a long time period and many different tribes and groups in Minnesota, but this exhibit was community-based. Which is, in the museum world, cutting edge. Community members were consulted from different Ojibwe and Dakota bands, which is why I believe this exhibit is so successful and strong. The voices of the people guide the direction of the exhibit adding multiple views but able to maintain a consistent flow. I know I'm biased because I work in this field, but this is one of the best exhibits I've seen. Not once was I bored, and I actually WANTED to read all of the words and labels. Props to the designers. The web companion is full of even more information to explore. So take a trip out to Bois Forte Heritage Center and explore another culture that's in your backyard.

(I'm using "band" here as a general way to describe each sovereign nation, but I understood from the interactive touch screen in the exhibit that some groups do not like to be called bands because they are not merely a group of people who banded together, but a group of organized sovereign people. See?! Case in point, I learned a lot from this exhibit.) www.treatiesmatter.org
http://www.boisforte.com/divisions/heritage_center.htm

Furs!

I received furs in the mail! My exhibit team and I are working on renovating our permanent exhibit. One of the stations we wanted to have is a tactile, touchable, station where visitors can feel different kinds of fur. I searched, and literally, emailed every single email I could find for taxidermists in the state of Minnesota. Viola! I found four kinds that I'm looking for!

Can you guess which belongs to which animal?

Clue:

Bear
Deer
Caribou
Moose

Coming up for air...

from an fantastic week of exciting FUN!

One of the Community Quilts

What a week! We had 140 5th graders, five paraprofessionals, and six teachers, from Roosevelt Elementary School visiting for their Community Quilts' big open with cake and juice. The Going to Pieces Quilters Guild put together five quilts with squares made by the students. These will hang around the town of Virginia, so you'll be seeing it in your neighborhood. One of our major goals this year is to connect with our communities. But we didn't just want to connect with them, we wanted them to connect with each other, too.

That was Kathy Annette's (President/CEO of the Blandin Foundation) major point, that leaders cannot work alone, today at Empowher. That also applies to communities. Kathy pointed out that there are so many elements that must be balanced in order to make create a healthy community. Just looking at the quilts, you can see all the different pieces that puts together a community for these 5th graders. Olcott Park, Thunderbird Mall, Virginia High School, the Minnesota Loon, homes, hockey, the police, Blue Devils are a handful of Virginia's community represented on these quilts. Come and see them at the Minnesota Discovery Center. They'll also be 'hanging' out at the Virginia Public Library this summer and other places in the community in the upcoming year.

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 12 will be a celebration of quilts for the Going to Pieces Quilters who have contributed so much to our communities. They make quilts for shelters, babies, homes, they keep fiber arts traditions alive, and they volunteer so many hours for our communities. Join our community tomorrow to enjoy the quilt arts with your families!

Phew.

-Empowher was an event held at the Minnesota Discovery Center on May 11, to promote and encourage women (and men) leaders in our community.

-Going to Pieces 30 year celebration starts at 9 am. Darlene Zimmerman, accomplished quilt expert, will speak at 10 am. Demonstrators galore. Admission applies for our events.  Members always free.

How are quilts judged? talk at MDC update

Quilt Exhibit at MDC. Photo by Deborah McCauley

The Minnesota Discovery Center will be holding events in honor of National Quilting Day in partnership with the Going to Pieces Quilt Guild 

March 17, 2012 from 11:30 AM – 3 PM

How are quilts judged in contests?

Tips from Karen Lamppa, a previous judge.

• Demonstrations on paper piecing and embellishment by Karen Lamppa
• Share the joy of quilting with children through kids' quilting crafts and a story time about quilts

 Regular admission applies $5/adults; $3/children; members Free.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Karen Lamppa talk about judging quilts in contests

12:30 PM – 3 PM Kids Crafts and story time

1 – 3 PM – Karen Lamppa demonstration

"How are quilts judged?" Talk at MDC

The Minnesota Discovery Center will be holding events in honor of National Quilting Day in partnership with the Going to Pieces Quilt Guild 

March 17, 2012 from 11:30 AM – 3 PM

How are quilts judged in contests?

Tips from Karen Lamppa, a previous judge.

• Demonstrations on paper piecing and embellishment by Karen Lamppa and Barbara Rinne
• Share the joy of quilting with children through kids' quilting crafts and a story time about quilts

 Regular admission applies $5/adults; $3/children; members Free.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Karen Lamppa talk about judging quilts in contests

12:30 PM – 3 PM Kids Crafts and story time

1 – 3 PM – Barb Rinne and Karen Lamppa demonstrations