Maud Hart Lovelace, portrayed by historic interpreter Heidi Grosch, at the Minnesota Historical Society's History Center in St. Paul.
One of six historical characters portrayed at the History Center, the
Maud Hart Lovelace History Player performs in the newly opened and
celebrated Families exhibit. This exhibit explores various aspects of
family life from both historical and contemporary perspectives, including
"coming together," "finding a place," "getting along," "surviving change,"
and "making memories." Maud Hart Lovelace dealt with all of these issues
in her writing, especially in her Betsy-Tacy children's series, which was
based on her own family experiences in Mankato, Minnesota.
The Maud Hart Lovelace History Player wears a reproduction of the outfit that Lovelace wore in 1929 at a military review in her honor at Minnesota's Fort Snelling. Lovelace was the first woman in civilian life to be awarded that honor, which she received because of the historical accuracy of her novel Early Candlelight. This novel, which dealt with life at early Fort Snelling, has been reprinted by the Minnesota Historical Society Press and is available at the museum gift stores.
As the newest History Player, Maud joins a diverse group of historical characters. Her colleagues are Virginia Mae Hope, a member of the select group of Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) who flew planes in service of their country during World War II; Joseph Nicollet, a French cartographer who mapped out much of what became Minnesota; Harriet Bishop, St. Paul's first public school teacher; George Nelson, a fur trade clerk who lived and wrote about the area in the first part of the nineteenth century; and Grey Cloud Woman, a bicultural Dakota woman who was an important part of Minnesota's early bicultural fur trade community.
Meeting a History Player is always a fun and interesting experience,
and because a different character performs each day, visitors always have a
good chance to encounter someone new! Plus, it's free! There is no
admission charge to visit the History Center, and there is plenty to see
and do: three exhibit galleries, programs for all ages, a research center,
an award-winning restaurant and two museum stores.
Want more information about the Maud Hart Lovelace History Player or any of the other History Players? Call (651) 297-7258 or e-mail [email protected].