All Conference Welcome

Make sure you stop by the welcome reception at 5pm the first night of the conference for free appetizers, a cash bar, and a live performance by this awesome local bluegrass band!

Cathedral of Saint Paul

The Cathedral of Saint Paul is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of St. Paul. Along with the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, it is the Co-Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Construction began in 1906 and opened in 1915.  A distinctive cathedral in the United States, it sits on Cathedral Hill overlooking downtown St. Paul and features a distinctive copper-clad dome. It is the third largest completed church in the United States, and the fourth tallest.

Each year, the Cathedral of Saint Paul welcomes over 200,000 guests and visitors. The Cathedral is recognized as a historical landmark, one of the most prominent buildings in the city and as a center of spiritual worship. Guided tours are available to the public Monday through Friday at 1 p.m. If you can’t make it over there to see it yourself, you can take a virtual tour.

History in a Palace

Okay, so a lot of states have historical societies. But where else but Minnesota can you find history housed in a modern, 427,000-square-foot palace of local granite and limestone, not to mention gleaming Minnesota maple and oak wood? How about one with a sky mural, glass etchings, and 36,000 cubic feet of manuscripts?

The Minnesota History Center, built in 1992, is an easy walk from the Minnesota Library Association convention — about half a mile — and it would be worth the trip from any distance. In addition to interactive, family-friendly museum exhibits and a gracious cafeteria, you’ll find a spacious research area with (yes) amazing librarians, plus a collection that will support just about any historical project you can dream up. For starters, you could exercise your microfilm skills to read back issues of your favorite outstate Minnesota newspaper (they have 4,000 periodical titles). So if you’re dying to know what was playing in your local movie theater during the week of, say, October 3, 1912, now’s your chance to find out.

History Center exhibits during MLA’s Oct. 3 to 5 conference include “Weather Permitting,” “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” and “The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862.” Admission is $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 children ages 6 to 17, and free to younger children and MHS members. Hours for Wednesdays through Saturdays are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (They’re open till 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.) See http://www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/ for more.

(Photo is from events.mnhs.org .)

I Make Things Happen : MPR

Minnesota Public Radio® is one of our nation's premier public radio stations producing programming for radio, online and live audiences. With its three services — MPR News, Classical MPR and 89.3 The Current — operating a 43-station regional radio network and serving a regional population of 5 million people, MPR has 127,150 members and one million listeners each week.

Car Talk. Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me. Talking Volumes. American Routes. Sound Opinions. Friday Favorites. Composer's Datebook. Performance Today. The list goes on and on.

The programs offered by our local National Public Radio partner, housed right here in downtown St Paul, are endless and entertaining. The podcasts make fantastic road trip partners or office mates.

MPR is not just another set of stations that take up space on the dial. They bring us local and national news, music and programming that rivals no other. MPR offers tours on a by request basis by just filling out a simple online form. If you're not already a member of this amazing resource, please consider helping make things happen in our community and beyond.

Minnesota State Capitol

The Minnesota State Capitol is located at 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Saint Paul. It houses the Minnesota Senate, Minnesota House of Representatives, the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Governor and chamber for the Minnesota Supreme Court.

The building is set on a landscaped campus with various monuments to its sides and front.  If you can’t make it to view the building itself, you can take the Minnesota Historical Society’s Walking Tour of the Capitol and surrounding area.  If you do have a chance, walking tours are given from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays.

The building was designed by Cass Gilbert and modeled after Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.  It is also inspired by the idea of domed capitols originating with the United States Capitol dome. The Capitol was built at a cost of $4.5 million and work began on the capitol in 1896. Construction was completed in 1905. It is the third building to serve this purpose: the first capitol was destroyed by fire in 1881, and the second was completed in 1883, but was considered to be too small almost immediately.

Grand Ave

Looking for something to do while you are in St Paul? Grand Ave in St. Paul has shops, restaurants, bars, services, and events. It is located just blocks from downtown St Paul and just a block south of Summit Avenue, one of the most historic neighborhoods in Minnesota. Grand Avenue boasts an eclectic and inviting atmosphere, with wide, tree-lined streets, patio dining, and cozy coffee shops.

The main commercial part of Grand Avenue is the mile in between Dale Street and Lexington Avenue. This area has the highest concentration of stores and restaurants and is very walkable. Grand Avenue is known for its many independent shops and stores. You'll find fashion, lifestyle, jewelry and art stores, together with spas, galleries and fitness studios. There are also many wonderful restaurants, cafes, bars and coffee shops on Grand Avenue.

Off the Grid! : Knot Just Another Inn...

The Covington Inn in downtown St Paul is by far one of the most eclectic and unique lodging choices in the Twin Cities. Written up by both professional travel editors and locals alike, this quaint & charming vessel is now a home for those looking for that little getaway within the city limits. What began as a hard working towboat on the river in 1946 is now a gently retired B&B that offers delicious breakfasts, quiet ambiance and a glimpse into times past, all within walking distance of the beautiful St Paul skyline. Rates range from $160 per night up to $235 for the pilot house suite, and all rooms are television free. Unplug, unwind, and consider a little respite from the busy days of the MLA conference by staying either during, or after, the conference (or beyond!)in this true gem on the Mississippi River. Please contact the innkeeper, Liz Miller, at 651-292-1411 for reservations.