Learn to speak and write everyday words and phrases in Dakota – one of the original languages of Minnesota. Joe Bendickson, Dakota language instructor at the U of M, will lead this workshop, which is open to all ages. Children can take home a Dakota language activity book. Website resources and information on Dakota classes in the Twin Cities will be available. The first Dakota alphabet was devised by Gideon and Samuel Pond in 1834, and copies of 19th century documents will be on display. House tours at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Suggested donation $2. Pond Dakota Heritage Society members and youth through high school are free.

Maple Sugaring
Sunday March 7, Drop-In program, 2 – 4 pm
Native Americans produced maple sugar for centuries and passed on their knowledge to frontier settlers. Now you can experience maple sugaring for yourself! Outdoors, learn about choosing the right trees to tap, collecting the sap, and boiling it down to make syrup. Inside the house, watch syrup transform into sugar and sample maple candy. House tours 1:30 to 4:00 pm. Suggested donation $2. Pond Dakota Heritage Society members and youth through high school are free.

Pond Dakota Mission Park
401 East 104th Street (Between Nicollet and Portland Avenues)
Bloomington, MN

http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/main_top/2_facilities/rec_facility/pond/pondhous.htm

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Open House   -   Sunday June 28, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Celebrate Gideon’s 199^th birthday!  Tours of the house will include details of Gideon’s family and growing up years, and the two apprenticeships that would shape his missionary life. Enjoy birthday cake, and sing Happy Birthday to Gideon himself, portrayed by a costumed reenactor.  Programs and tours are free for children and high school youth and members of the Pond Dakota Heritage Society.  Suggested donation of $2 for non-member adults.

Free Band Concert                           -Sunday June 28, 7:00 p.m.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a concert by the John Philip Sousa Memorial Band on the south lawn of the Pond House. Formed in 1970, the band’s goal is to recapture the spirit of bands at the turn of the twentieth century, when bands were an integral part of their communities.  The John Philip Sousa Memorial Band consists of 40 Twin Cities musicians who volunteer their talents, some for over 20 years.

The Gideon and Agnes Pond House is located in Pond Dakota Mission Park, 401 East 104th St., Bloomington, between Portland and Nicollet Aves.  For more information contact Mark Morrison at Bloomington Parks and Recreation at 952-563-8693, or after hours call Jay Ludwig at 952-484-0477, or visit www.ci.bloomington.mn.us, keywords “Pond House”.

Coming soon to the Pond House:

Charles Lanman, Frontier Artist
Sunday July 5,  2 – 4 p.m.
Meet landscape painter, outdoorsman and journalist Charles Lanman, an acquaintance of Seth Eastman, portrayed by local artist Paul Boecher.  Uncover your drawing skills as you sketch with the artist, or watch as he paints “plein air” using watercolors and a paint box.  Discover the life of a frontier artist and what it was like to explore uncharted areas of Minnesota.  Sketching  materials will be supplied, or you may bring your own.

Hope you can join us for these great events at the Pond House!

Jay Ludwig

Pond Dakota Heritage Society

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Hope you can join us this Sunday, February 8th, for our 2nd annual Winter History Festival, noon -  4:00 p.m.

Experience winter on the frontier from a dogsled and a horse-drawn sleigh! Dogsled and Sleigh Rides will be given continuously from noon – 4:00 p.m. . After your ride, stop off at the historic Gideon Pond House to warm up around the fireplace with some wild rice soup, hot cider, and treats. Gideon Pond himself will give tours of the house and bring rich stories of Bloomington’s frontier past to life.

Learn about Minnesota’s Fur Trade during presentations in the Pond House at 1,2, and 3 p.m. Join historian/reenactor John Driscol as he showcases many of the furs and tools related to the fur trading industry.

Outside, participate in an authentic Logging Camp and hear stories about this important part of Minnesota history. Help saw logs and make your own fire-branded log section to take home!  Play Snow Snakes, a Dakota winter game, or try you hand at the Bull Roarer, a Dakota musical instrument and toy.

*Cost for this event is $5 per person (4 and under are free, and maximum $20 per household).  One free entry for Pond Dakota Heritage Society members at the Individual Level, and two free entries for Pond Dakota Heritage Society members at the Household Level.  Must already be a member before February 8th.

* Wild rice soup will be available for $1.

* Free hot cider, cocoa and other treats will be available throughout the day

* Limited parking is available in the Pond Dakota Mission Park parking lot (please do not park along the driveway). Additional parking is available next door at Emmanuel Lutheran Church or across the street in the Kelly Playfield parking lot.

Pond Dakota Mission Park is located at401 East 104^th Street, between Nicollet and Portland Avenues, in Bloomington

For more information on the Winter History Festival please visit the City of Bloomington website at www.ci.bloomington.mn.us (keywords “Winter Fete”) or call 952-563-8877.

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