Minnesota Sesquicentennial Kick Off Celebration

A kick-off celebration of Minnesota's Sesquicentennial will be held in Stillwater on May 3, 2008, in the Stillwater Junior High School auditorium. The event, a Chautauqua type stage show on Minnesota history, is one of several Sesquicentennial events being sponsored by the Washington County Historical Society. It is appropriate that the state's 150th birthday party begins in Stillwater, because the city is "Where Minnesota was Born".

 

Commemoraion of the Sesquicentennial of Minnesota Statehood will open in Stillwater with the original musical theater production: "Old Minnesota: Song of the North Star". The historical program is the creation of Midwest composer, historian, poet, musician, and founder of Lake Superior Big Top Chautaugua, Warren Nelson. He calls it "a hike through history" and it will be presented by 14 musicians, singers, and actors on stage. It portrays the history of the Gopher State in song, story and large-screen visuals. It is actually a return engagement for the "Old Minnesota" show, it was presented here in November 2004, its premier year, also sponsored by the Historical Society.

 

Plan ahead and reserve May 3, 2008, the date to see a Chautauqua performance of "Old Minnesota: Song of the North Star", in a salute to the 150th anniversary of the birth of the state of Minnesota. Two shows are planned and tickets will be available in January 2008.