02/11/2026
The Granite Falls Historical Society teamed up with members of the Chippewa County Historical Society, Granite Area Arts Council and indigenous Upper Sioux Community on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the KK Berge Building in Granite Falls to discuss the development of two historic Art Maps focused on two area landmarks and respective historical figures. Granite Falls Historical Society Director Terri Dinesen is the vision behind the project, successfully obtainging a $10,000 grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council to facilitate the hire of Stefanie Kiihn, a St. Paul-based pen and ink artist, who's body of work revolves around the principal theme of history of a place.
The first project involves the early 1900s Progressive era when Andrew J. Volstead occupied an influential seat in Congress and found his headshot on the cover of Time Magazine as a result of his work developing his namesake Volstead Act, also known as the Prohibition Amendment. More notably, Volstead also co-authored the Capper-Volstead Act, which proved legal protections for farmers seeking to pool resources through cooperative interests and efforts. The historic Andrew J. Volstead residence is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, and is a stone's throw away from the Minnesota River that meanders through the city.
The second project is focused on area around lower Lac qui Parle Lake in the 1840s when the La qui Parle Mission and Ft. Renville was in operation before the WPA flood control project that added dams on the Minnesota River, built WPA timber and stone buildings in two places, and other "improvements." Here, Joseph Renville established a fur trade operation while Dr. Thomas Williamson was invited to lead the development of the Lac qui Parle Mission. Renville and Williamson then led the development of the Dakota alphabet and the introduction of Christ through translation of primary biblical texts.
The two attached posters provide examples that of how the posters will be designed and look.
