Sesquicentennial Banner to Visit Northfield

Two official Sesquicentennial banners are on tour, making stops at libraries across the state.

As the state’s Sesquicentennial draws closer, two ambassadors are making their way across Minnesota. These emissaries are banners that will make stops at libraries in every county in Minnesota before returning to St. Paul on May 11th, 2008 for the 150th anniversary of statehood. The banner will be in Northfield on Thursday, May 8th through Friday, May 9th.

The banner will be presented to Northfield officials by the James Gang. Each banner is accompanied by a leather-bound journal in which visitors can write thoughts about Minnesota and the Sesquicentennial. People are invited to sign the journal at Bridge Square on Thursday, May 8th after a ceremonial presentation beginning at 6pm. The banner and the journal will be at the Northfield Public Library all day Friday from 9:30am – 5:30pm. Booker, the Northfield Bookmobile will transport the banner and journal to St. Paul on Saturday, May 10. Both items will be presented to the Governor at Statehood Weekend in May, and eventually will find a home with the Minnesota Historical Society.

In addition to creating interest in the Sesquicentennial, the banners’ journey is intended to highlight the importance of public libraries in Minnesotans’ daily lives. “We picked libraries to be the official host of this special sesquicentennial banner and journal because libraries are essential to our civic and economic life as a state and in our local communities,” said Sesquicentennial Commission Executive Director Jane Leonard. “Public libraries are lifelong learning labs, filled with the information and knowledge we need to grow as individuals, to start and grow businesses, and to share a civic life with our fellow citizens who gather in those public spaces.”

The first banner began its journey this past May at the Rural Summit in Brainerd. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, Former First Lady Jane Freeman (whose husband, Governor Orville Freeman, was governor during the state’s centennial in 1958) and Sesquicentennial Commission Vice Chairperson Reatha Clark King were among the first to sign the accompanying journal.

To find out more about the Sesquicentennial visit http://www.mn150years.org/.