How do you make a historical documentary with dramatic reenactments requiring authentic locations, big costumes and lots of funny hair on a public television budget?
Photo courtesy of Stearns County Historical Society
Well, if you live in a place like the Twin Cities, you are in luck,
because our area is home to some spectacular LIVING HISTORY sites.
KTCA's documentary based on Peg Meier's book, Bring Warm Clothes
had some remarkable partners involved in its creation. They helped provide
the elements to paint the pictures of everyday life in early Minnesota.
How people lived in early Minnesota before electricity and central heating is truly fascinating to see. And here in Minnesota, we are lucky to have many locations that are preserved historic sites. That means you and your family can personally visit the 1800s. Walking through an historic site is a very different experience from watching it on television or flipping through a picture book. The personal items of the people who might have lived there--the sound of your feet on the wooden floors--this all gives you an understanding of our own past. The following locations used in Bring Warm Clothes are also available for your own adventures.
- GAMMELGåRDEN MUSEUM
- BARTHOLOMEW HOUSE
- MURPHY'S LANDING
- KELLEY FARM
- FORT SNELLING
- RAMSEY HOUSE
- LANDMARK CENTER
- BAKKEN LIBRARY
Much of the period clothing was provided by
- THE MINNESOTA OPERA COSTUME COLLECTION.
When you look at historic photos you see the kinds of faces that you still see all around you today. What you don't see all around you are the clothes. What people wore tell us a lot about what their lives and ideas were like. For Bring Warm Clothes, we had the help of the Minnesota Opera costume collection and the spectacular Minnesota Opera costume designer, Gail Bakkum. While the Opera often creates the regalia of the courts, they also have an extensive collection of 19th century costumes. The Minnesota Opera's collection is available for rental at reasonable prices--and you don't have to sing to wear the outfits. For more information on costume rental call 333-2700. However, if you do want to see someone who can sing wear these exquisite creations, the Minnesota Opera season includes: La Boheme, January 20 - 28; Don Giovanni, March 9 - 17; Pelleas and Melisande, April 26 - May 4 and The Tales of Hoffmann, June 8 - 15. Tickets range from $17 - $64. For reservation call the Ordway Music Theater at 224-4222.
GAMMELGåRDEN MUSEUMADDRESS: 20880 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, MN 55073
TELEPHONE: 651-433-5053A wonderful Swedish home from 1868 Mrs. Annie Johnson actually lived in the house until 1972. On the property is an immigrants house, transported from Bone Lake in the North East corner of Scandia. This is the kind of very simple one room home with sleeping loft that would have been lived in by very early immigrant workers. It was transported to this site from Bone Lake where a farmer actually used it to store grain. The Scandia Historical Society have restored it to it's original condition.
Perhaps the most spectacular building on the grounds is the Swedish Church, a simple one room building built in 1930's. Subsequently, the building was used as a schoolhouse. It was taken apart many times for moving and alteration. If you look closely, you can see how the original wood planks were labeled for reassembly. Each year, the Church is still used for weddings and a traditional Santa Lucia celebration.
The following scenes from Bring Warm Clothes were shot at Gammelgarden:
Harriet Nichols in the baby's room, bedroom and kitchen
The Day of Prayer and Fasting for the Grasshopper Plague in the Church
BARTHOLOMEW HOUSEADDRESS: 69th and Lyndale Avenue South, Richfield, MN 55423
TELEPHONE: 612-798-6140You have probably driven by this house many times and wondered what was hidden inside. The house first owned by General Riley Bartholomew and built in the early 1850's has been restored by the Richfield Historical Society. This little house is appointed with many personal affects of General Bartholomew. The Richfield Historical Society will open a museum space near the house, in the near future.
The following scene from Bring Warm Clothes shot at the Bartholomew House:
Linda Bennit candling eggs
Helen Ralph writing to Amanda Lee
MURPHY'S LANDINGADDRESS: 2587 East Highway 101, Shakopee, MN 55379
TELEPHONE: 763-694-77841A trip to Murphy's landing is a trip back in history. The 87 acres located in Shakopee offer a village of homes and businesses from the 1870s thru the 1890s. You can tour the Atwater House, a gothic revival home built in the Andrew Jackson Downing style in the 1860's, a one room Schoolhouse, built of Shakopee Red Brick in 1887, and the Chaska Depot, built in 1886, which had two waiting rooms, one for men and one for women.
Each building has its own costumed interpreter who can answer questions. It is truly a beautiful location in the winter, right on the Minnesota River and holidays in each ethnic style are represented in the houses. In October, Murphy's Landing turns into Spooky World.
The following scenes from Bring Warm Clothes were shot at Murphy's Landing:
Daniel Fisher in the School House
The Grasshopper Plague in the O'Connel House
The Christy family at the Berger Farm
Horace Glenn and the loggers at the Fairbault House
N.Q. Puntches at the Chaska Depot
Victor Myllymaki at the Harms House
Newspaper editor at the Printing office
OLIVER KELLY FARMADDRESS: Highway 10, Elk River, MN 55330
TELEPHONE: 763-441-6896The Kelly Farm was built in 1849 and is an actual historic working farm. After you park your car and visit the modern museum building, you walk a dirt road past natural prairie into the 1870s. Visitors can actually participate in the farm chores of harvesting and planting with historically accurate tools and equipment like oxen and horses. The horses are actually being bred back to a similar Morgan breed, accurate to the era. The Kelly Farm belonged to Oliver Kelly who was an innovative farmer and entrepreneur. Oliver Kelly is responsible for founding the Grange, the first successful national organization of farmers. The Kelly farm is operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. It is a stunningly beautiful place.
The following scenes from Bring Warm Clothes were shot at the Kelly Farm:
Edward Drew in the barn and grounds
Harriet Nichols in the kitchen and pig pen and chicken coop and stairway
HISTORIC FORT SNELLINGADDRESS: At MN Hwys 5 & 55, near the Twin Cities International Airport
TELEPHONE: 612-726-1171Fort Snelling is an important landmark in Minnesota's past. Stepping into the restored buildings within the Fort transports you quickly back to the early 1800s. The characters recreated at the Fort are even more interesting. Not only are they dressed in accurate military outfits from the 1800s, but they tell fascinating stories as the actual characters they portray. Fort Snelling has special events like The Glorious Fourth that are not to be missed for a trip back in history.
The following scenes from BRING WARM CLOTHES were shot at Fort Snelling:
Nathan Jarvis in his room
Gustavus Otto on guard duty
ALEXANDER RAMSEY HOUSEADDRESS: 265 South Exchange Street, St. Paul, MN 55101
TELEPHONE: 651-296-8760This beautiful house was built by Governor Ramsey in 1872. He and his descendants lived there until 1964, when the last of the family died. The house was a lively place, known for its elegant politics and parties. A trip through this house will reveal the elegance of the early nineteenth century. During Christmas, the house is decorated in a nineteen century celebration. Another Minnesota Historical Society site, this house is also populated by costumed interpreters. Don't miss their explanation of the house's intercom system located in the kitchen.
The following scenes from Bring Warm Clothes were shot in the Ramsey house:
Philip Longyear's mother reading his letters during World War I in the kitchen, the parlour, the front entry and the dining room.
Governor Pillsbury reading letters from farmers suffering from the grasshopper plague in Governor Ramsey's office.
LANDMARK CENTERADDRESS: 75 West Fifth Street, St Paul, MN 55102
TELEPHONE: 651-292-3225This wonderful building in downtown St. Paul was built in the 1890's. Originally a Post Office, the building was later given over to Federal offices in 1967. It was restored in 1978 and is currently used for a variety of activities including office space for many arts organizations including The United Arts Council, The Schubert Club, and the Minnesota Museum of American Art. The restored court rooms are often rented for lectures or weddings. When not used for those purposes most of the restored rooms are open for your viewing. Peak into the Sanborn Room with contains beautiful wood and marble work, and an exquisite blue painted domed ceiling.
The following scenes from Bring Warm Clothes were shot at the Landmark Center:
Alexander Christy in Washington DC in the Sanborn room
William Haas applying for a job during the depression in the stairs and hallways
BAKKEN LIBRARY AND MUSEUMADDRESS: 3537 Zenith Avenue South, MLPS, MN 55423
TELEPHONE: 612-926-3878This gem is hidden near Lake Calhoun and was built between 1928 and 1930 by William Goodfellow. The collection was put together by Earl Bakken, who invented the battery powered pacemaker, from 1975 through 1976. The library is dedicated to the study of medical electricity and sports a fantastic Frankenstein exhibit. Exhibits chronicle the use of electricity in medicine all the way from the time the Roman Empire to the present. The Bakken Library also has beautiful gardens and is often rented for events and weddings.
The following scene from Bring Warm Clothes was shot at Bakken Library:
Sarah Christy at school writing her father in the library.