Explore one of the most famous Twin Cities landmarks, St. Anthony Falls, where the city of Minneapolis began. From the waterfall's origins millennia ago, through its continuing importance to indigenous people, to its role at the heart of the local economy, and to the current revival of riverfront activity, we'll consider the natural beauty, spiritual meanings, and economic power of the falls and the river at the heart of Minneapolis.

Session 1: The Early History of the Falls

In our first session, we will look at the geology of the falls and its role in the lives and culture of the Dakota and Ojibwe people.

For course information, visit https://www.stthomas.edu/selim-center/programs/. Scroll down to find the course title, and then click to open information on the course and registration.

If you are interested in attending a single session, please email the Selim Center (selimcenter@stthomas.edu) to be added to the class list for this day. The single-session fee is $30, payable at the door by cash only/ in exact change.

Explore one of the most famous Twin Cities landmarks, St. Anthony Falls, where the city of Minneapolis began. From the waterfall's origins millennia ago, through its continuing importance to indigenous people, to its role at the heart of the local economy, and to the current revival of riverfront activity, we'll consider the natural beauty, spiritual meanings, and economic power of the falls and the river at the heart of Minneapolis.

Session 2: Owamni Becomes St. Anthony Falls

The first Europeans to see the falls were impressed by its size and power. When the land was first opened for Euro-American settlement in the mid-19th century, the Town of St. Anthony grew on the east side of the waterfall. This week, we’ll learn about St. Anthony’s early years.

For course information, visit https://www.stthomas.edu/selim-center/programs/. Scroll down to find the course title, and then click to open information on the course and registration.

If you are interested in attending a single session, please email the Selim Center (selimcenter@stthomas.edu) to be added to the class list for this day. The single-session fee is $30, payable at the door by cash only/ in exact change.

Attend in person or access the live presentation at the St. Anthony Park Lutheran YouTube channel. A recording of the presentation will be available at the youtube channel for one week after the event.

Free and open to the public: presented as a gift to the community by St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church.

Explore one of the most famous Twin Cities landmarks, St. Anthony Falls, where the city of Minneapolis began. From the waterfall's origins millennia ago, through its continuing importance to indigenous people, to its role at the heart of the local economy, and to the current revival of riverfront activity, we'll consider the natural beauty, spiritual meanings, and economic power of the falls and the river at the heart of Minneapolis.

Session 3: Minneapolis Begins

More than a decade after St. Anthony was established, the west side of the river was available for settlement, and Minneapolis was born. We’ll focus on the city’s early years in this presentation.

For course information, visit https://www.stthomas.edu/selim-center/programs/. Scroll down to find the course title, and then click to open information on the course and registration.

If you are interested in attending a single session, please email the Selim Center (selimcenter@stthomas.edu) to be added to the class list for this day. The single-session fee is $30, payable at the door by cash only/ in exact change.

Hundreds of thousands of Scandinavian immigrants flooded into Minneapolis and St. Paul in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As they put down roots, they established scores of congregations and other religious institutions for worship, service, and fellowship. Many of these places have vanished, but a number of the “descendants” survive, even as their Scandinavian origins are now obscured or hidden. In this slide presentation, we’ll look at some of the earliest congregations through the heyday of the late 1800s-early 1900s and at current buildings and places related to the Scandinavian immigrant traditions.

Explore one of the most famous Twin Cities landmarks, St. Anthony Falls, where the city of Minneapolis began. From the waterfall's origins millennia ago, through its continuing importance to indigenous people, to its role at the heart of the local economy, and to the current revival of riverfront activity, we'll consider the natural beauty, spiritual meanings, and economic power of the falls and the river at the heart of Minneapolis.

Session 4: The Milling Capital of the World

Using the waterfall’s power, local entrepreneurs constructed mills—for timber and for grain—along both sides of the river. The flour milling industry came to dominate the area and made Minneapolis an industrial giant. In this session, we’ll learn about the milling companies, nearby supporting industries, and river infrastructure—including bridges, locks, and dams.

For course information, visit https://www.stthomas.edu/selim-center/programs/. Scroll down to find the course title, and then click to open information on the course and registration.

If you are interested in attending a single session, please email the Selim Center (selimcenter@stthomas.edu) to be added to the class list for this day. The single-session fee is $30, payable at the door by cash only/ in exact change.

Explore one of the most famous Twin Cities landmarks, St. Anthony Falls, where the city of Minneapolis began. From the waterfall's origins millennia ago, through its continuing importance to indigenous people, to its role at the heart of the local economy, and to the current revival of riverfront activity, we'll consider the natural beauty, spiritual meanings, and economic power of the falls and the river at the heart of Minneapolis.

Session 5: Decline and Renewal

The mills nearly closed off access to the riverfront for most people, and when the mills went into decline, the area became largely unknown to—and rarely visited by--many Twin Cities residents. However, beginning in the 1960s, a few pioneers recognized the potential of the river and the falls, planting seeds for a revitalization of the area.

For course information, visit https://www.stthomas.edu/selim-center/programs/. Scroll down to find the course title, and then click to open information on the course and registration.

If you are interested in attending a single session, please email the Selim Center (selimcenter@stthomas.edu) to be added to the class list for this day. The single-session fee is $30, payable at the door by cash only/ in exact change.

Explore one of the most famous Twin Cities landmarks, St. Anthony Falls, where the city of Minneapolis began. From the waterfall's origins millennia ago, through its continuing importance to indigenous people, to its role at the heart of the local economy, and to the current revival of riverfront activity, we'll consider the natural beauty, spiritual meanings, and economic power of the falls and the river at the heart of Minneapolis.

Session 6: The Rebirth of a Vibrant Riverfront

The Stone Arch Bridge has been transformed from an old rail bridge to a popular bike and pedestrian route. Old mills have been turned into housing, offices, and a museum. The Guthrie Theater built its new building near the falls. An award-winning restaurant, serving indigenous-inspired cuisine, is a highlight of the area near St. Anthony Falls. In our final session, we’ll have a look at the dramatic new life that now envelops the area around the falls.

For course information, visit https://www.stthomas.edu/selim-center/programs/. Scroll down to find the course title, and then click to open information on the course and registration.

If you are interested in attending a single session, please email the Selim Center (selimcenter@stthomas.edu) to be added to the class list for this day. The single-session fee is $30, payable at the door by cash only/ in exact change.

Like many Lutheran churches, Mindekirken Norwegian Memorial Church in Minneapolis has a sanctuary filled with beautiful stained glass. One of the windows is a bit unusual: instead of the usual biblical characters and saints, the balcony window includes images of St. Olaf, Martin Luther, and Hans Nielsen Hauge, each an important figure in Norwegian religious history.

In this presentation, we will have a look at the figures in this window, and we will explore their portrayal in other settings, including paintings, prints, and sculpture made over the centuries in Europe and America.

Learn about the origins and changes in the neighborhood’s industrial area south of the Raymond bridge.

Attend in person or access the live presentation at the St. Anthony Park Lutheran YouTube channel. A recording of the presentation will be available at the youtube channel for one week after the event.

Free and open to the public: presented as a gift to the community by St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church.

The Mona Lisa has been described as the world's most famous painting. The numbers don't lie: visits to see this small image approach ten million annually. In this presentation, we will study the painting in depth and consider its place in Leonardo's career. We'll also view it in the context of Italian Renaissance portraiture, and we'll explore its continuing impact in art and popular culture.

For more information and registration, visit Learning Is ForEver

Attend in person or access the live presentation at the St. Anthony Park Lutheran YouTube channel. A recording of the presentation will be available at the youtube channel for one week after the event.

Free and open to the public: presented as a gift to the community by St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church.

The cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris has been famous throughout the centuries as a religious center, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, a place of coronations, and as a tourist attraction, among other things. Sadly, it was heavily damaged in a devastating fire in 2019. This presentation will focus on the building’s site, its importance as an example of the French Gothic style, the restoration plans of the 19th century, and current efforts to bring the building back to life after the 2019 fire.

For more information and registration, visit Learning Is ForEver

Hugo van der Goes painted the Portinari Altarpiece in the mid-1470s for Maria and Tomasso Portinari, Italians living in Flanders. With rich colors and abundant detail, the triptych shows many parts of the Christmas story. The presentation will focus on this complex altarpiece in depth, allowing for a full exploration of its many elements.

For more information and registration, visit Learning Is ForEver

The art of Christmas includes a wonderful range of beautiful images, and none are more spectacular than the scenes showing the three kings. With gorgeous clothes, sparkling crowns, and lavish gifts, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar present a striking contrast to the humble shepherds at the manger. In this illustrated lecture, we will see the various ways that artists throughout the centuries have depicted the Magi.

For more information and registration, visit Learning Is ForEver

Attend in person or access the live presentation at the St. Anthony Park Lutheran YouTube channel. A recording of the presentation will be available at the youtube channel for one week after the event.

Free and open to the public: presented as a gift to the community by St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church.

In this image-filled class, we meet famous angels, like Gabriel and Michael, and we look at important encounters with angels, such as the Visit of the Three Angels to Abraham and Sarah. We'll also see the varieties of angel appearance and the many types of angel tasks in selections of art from across the Christian tradition.

For more information and registration, visit Learning Is ForEver

Attend in person or access the live presentation at the St. Anthony Park Lutheran YouTube channel. A recording of the presentation will be available at the youtube channel for one week after the event.

Free and open to the public: presented as a gift to the community by St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church.

Attend in person or access the live presentation at the St. Anthony Park Lutheran YouTube channel. A recording of the presentation will be available at the youtube channel for one week after the event.

Free and open to the public: presented as a gift to the community by St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church.

Attend in person or access the live presentation at the St. Anthony Park Lutheran YouTube channel. A recording of the presentation will be available at the youtube channel for one week after the event.

Free and open to the public: presented as a gift to the community by St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church.

This class examines the social and historical influences that defined the unique residential styles and trends most associated with the mid-mod era. We'll look not only at common forms like the Cape Cod and the ranch house, but also some high-style examples designed by prominent architects. The fascinating story behind 1950s and 60s homes, neighborhoods, and suburbs will leave you with a new appreciation for Minnesota's mid-century properties.  

Part of the SALT (Senior Adults Learning Together) program. Ticket for the day’s presentations is $8. Learn more about SALT here.

A richly illustrated presentation about the historic and contemporary baseball parks of the Twin Cities. Beginning with the early baseball grounds and simple wooden ballparks of the late 19th century, we'll also visit Nicollet Park and Lexington Park in the early 20th century, see Midway and Met Stadiums at mid-century, and finish our virtual tour with a look at two modern wonders, Target Field and CHS Field.

Part of the SALT (Senior Adults Learning Together) program. Ticket for the day’s presentations is $8. Learn more about SALT here.

Attend in person or access the live presentation at the St. Anthony Park Lutheran YouTube channel. A recording of the presentation will be available at the youtube channel for one week after the event.

Free and open to the public: presented as a gift to the community by St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church.