Discover Deep Valley Bus Tours

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$1,661

Project of

Traverse des Sioux Library Cooperative Legacy Grant SFY 2014 - SFY 2015

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient Type

Libraries

Status

Completed

Start Date

June 2014

End Date

June 2014

Activity Type

Education/Outreach/Engagement

Counties Affected

Blue Earth

Project Overview

1st Tour – Children 5-12 will tour the area of Mankato which focuses on the first four Betsy-Tacy books. Julie Schrader will provide the children with guided tour of Betsy’s and Tacy’s houses, Glenwood Cemetery where Ms. Lovelace is buried and concluding in the Lovelace Unit of the Blue Earth County Library where local artist Marian Anderson will discuss her mural of the book series. 2nd Tour – Adults will be provided a more comprehensive tour of Betsy-Tacy sites as well as downtown Mankato. As with the children’s tour, there will be stops at the characters’ homes, Glenwood Cemetery and the Blue Earth County Library. This event is in conjunction with the National “Deep Valley Homecoming” Convention being held in Mankato from June 28 through July 7, 2014.

Project Details

86 participated

Project Details: 2014 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

Laws of Minnesota for 2013 Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 4

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$1,661

Other Funds Leveraged

$166

Direct expenses

$1,827

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Participants will have a greater understanding of the local Mankato author, Maud Hart Lovelace, and the era and settings that she wrote about from her youth to young adulthood. This will be both a literary and historical tour that will provide younger readers with an opportunity to view an author’s perspective and life in very real locations. It will give adults an opportunity to relive some of their earliest reading experiences and become better acquainted with the author and her characters.

Measurable Outcome(s)

The tours were well-received by those who participated. While many were familiar with the Betsy-Tacy stories, it was a unique experience to tour all the sites, enjoy the costumed actors and listen to artist Marian Anderson discuss her mural which plays prominently in the Lovelace area of the library.