Minnesota Newspaper Museum News

Minnesota Newspaper Museum News

By: Linda Falkman

Calling all MNA newspaper members:  The “Eighth Wonder of the World” (the Linotype) and the Fourth Estate will again be featured at the Minnesota Newspaper Museum.

IMG_8951In its 28th year, the newspaper museum with its letterpress-era machines will again attract thousands of visitors.  The museum is now housed in a new location, the 4-H building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and is operated by the Minnesota Newspaper Foundation.

Running this museum costs between $15,000 and $30,000, depending on the improvements we are making.  And this year, we are in Phase 1 of bringing new messages to museum visitors, better signage, and opening up the Editor’s Office to welcome visitors to talk about the free press in Minnesota.

That’s why we need your help.

Gene explains the linotypeThe museum board is offering “ONE-DAY SPONSORSHIPS” to be highlighted on the front page of the “Maynard News,” which we publish daily at the museum.

A “one-day sponsorship” costs $1,000.  For this amount, your newspaper’s information box will run for four days, along with three other sponsors.

On the day you sponsor, you’ll have the option of bringing several hundred copies of your hometown newspaper to be distributed to visitors to our museum.  Your paper or group may receive up to three free State Fair entrance tickets, if you wish.

Please sponsor a day at the newspaper museum.  Days available are Friday- Sept. 4, Saturday- Sept. 5, Sunday- Sept. 6, or Monday-Sept. 7 (Labor Day and the closing day of the State Fair).

I’ll need your commitment by July 10, other information by July 17:

  • A photo of you, or your logo, or a photo of your newspaper’s front.
  • A few sentences of copy describing your newspaper or your community.
  • A check for $1,000. (Charitable donation check to Minnesota Newspaper Foundation.  Send to Linda Falkman, 6272 Sandpiper Court, Edina MN 55436.)

The NEW museum in the 4-H Annex BuildingLet me know by email (LindaMinn@aol.com) if we can count on you as a day-sponsor for expenses of our Minnesota Newspaper Museum. We already have eight sponsors for the first eight days of the state fair.

Thanks for your consideration,

Linda Falkman, MNA Executive Director Emeritus

The Minnesota Newspaper Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates the Minnesota Newspaper Museum at the Minnesota State Fair and showcases old presses, two Linotypes and other features of a 1930s-era newspaper.