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In this course, we will celebrate the music of this volatile decade, while appreciating the context in which it emerged. The music of the 1970s can be understood as a reaction to the advances of the sixties. While rock styles and audiences become irreversibly fragmented, a new generation of fans emerged, throwing off the 60s burden of creative thought and imploding towards disco. 

Students will discover how Chinese music embodies the nation’s history, philosophy, and cultural values, while examining its regional diversity and global influence. The course features guided listening to both traditional and modern works, demonstrations of instruments such as the guqin, pipa, erhu, and hulusi, and opportunities for students to experience basic playing techniques and rhythmic participation. No prerequisite or prior musical training required—students will learn through active engagement and creative reflection.

This June, the Penumbra Theater presents August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. The play follows Harold Loomis' search for spiritual and emotional healing in a Pittsburgh boarding house, a refuge for fellow travelers during the Great Migration. Staged with intimacy and power, Wilson's lyrical play blends realism and mysticism to capture a solemn crossroads of Black identity and American history. Session 1: Background lecture prior to seeing the production. Session 2: Discussion of the performance after seeing the production. 

Recommended reading: Joe Turner's Come and Gone by August Wilson.

This three-part course explores 1: the Nazi occupation and the Vichy collaboration; 2: the Holocaust in France, including roundups, deportations, murder of 75% of the Jews of France, and networks of resistance; 3: postwar transitional justice in a country divided by Gaullists, Communists, resisters, collaborators, and more. $10 course fee to support World Without Genocide. 

This course explores the dark places of the soul through a discussion of Joseph Conrad's 1899 novella, Heart of Darkness. The class will conclude with a screening of a modern exploration of Conrad's themes in the 1979 Francis Ford Coppola film, Apocalypse, Now! The film has a run time of 2 hours, 30 minutes, and will be spread between the fourth and fifth meeting along with discussion of both the film and book. Note: this class runs 5 sessions. Required reading: Heart of Darkness (1899) by Joseph Conrad (any edition).

 

Protest songs were an integral part of the peace and anti-Vietnam War movement and the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s and '70s, and they play an equally vital role in current sociopolitical events. What makes song such a powerful tool in protest movements? Join us for a dive into protest songs both classic and current! Recommended reading: 33 Revolutions per Minute: A History of Protest Songs, from Billie Holiday to Green Day, by D. Lynskey, 2011.

What happens when life presents impossible choices? In this story-driven class, we’ll explore real moral dilemmas—some hilarious, some profound—through original comic monologues. Each tale sets up an ethical puzzle, then shifts to the question: “What would you do?” The focus is on YOUR perspectives and the lively discussions that follow. No right answers, no lectures—just great conversations about the choices we all face. This is the class where ethics is entertaining.

This creative writing class will introduce you to the journal as a site of play, process, and catharsis. Whether you are journaling for the first time, or you have kept a diary for decades, you will be introduced to a range of methods to try in the journal. 

Recommended reading: “On Keeping a Notebook” by Joan Didion from Slouching Towards Bethlehem, FSG, 2008; Reborn: Journals and Notebooks 1947-1963 (journal excerpts) by Susan Sontag, Picador, 2009.

Ernest Hemingway and Scott Fitzgerald began an intense friendship in 1920s Paris. Over time, their connection unraveled, though it never lapsed. We’ll look closely at the history and dynamics of the relationship between these two icons of American literature.

This course explores the interaction of American health culture and deliberately rustic recreational activities—cottaging, camping, hunting, and fishing—in the North Woods from the mid-1800s to about 1920. It will offer three lecture-discussions, the first introducing new positive ideas about "wilderness" and its health-giving properties; the second considering the relationship between railroads, boosters, and doctors in selling the health advantages of moving to Minnesota; and the third focusing on women's participation in North Woods play.

Sinclair Lewis'It Can't Happen Here appeared in 1935, shortly after the Nazis gained power in Germany. The title captures both the belief in American exceptionalism and the sudden realization of vulnerability. Together we will read the novel, consider the history, and weigh possible lessons for our world. 

Required reading: It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis (several online .pdfs available)

The longer we live, the more personal stories we have to tell. This course will focus on the basics of personal narrative storytelling and the process of adapting those personal stories from written to oral form. By the third session, class participants will have the opportunity to workshop a story in front of the group. No prior performance or creative writing experience necessary.

NO CLASS: JUNE 19

You are likely familiar with the five senses: sight, smell, taste and touch. Yet in the animal kingdom, we find incredible sensory systems that allow animals to see colors on the ultraviolet spectrum, hear infrasonic sounds that can travel for kilometers, and even tap into electromagnetic energy. Other animals lose certain senses completely, like blind cave fish, and make up for it by expanding their other senses. In this course, we will learn about a few unique animal sensory systems, concluding with an optional field trip to the Cavefish Lab on the Saint Paul UMN campus. 

Explore how climate reshapes where wildlife lives. Using real-world examples from North America, this course reveals why species move, how traits and habitats influence their journeys, and what these shifts mean for the future of our natural world.

This course offers an introduction to all things birds! Classroom lectures during weeks 1 & 2 will discuss bird evolution, basic anatomy & physiology, behavior, and ecology. Field sessions at Como Park and Crosby Farm Regional Park during weeks 3 & 4 from 9:30 -11:30 a.m. will focus on bird identification. Terrain: flat, wheelchair accessible paths. Expect walking at a slow pace for about 1-2 miles. Binoculars provided for those who need them. If it rains, we will meet inside for identification lessons.

Many laws and courts have declared there are only two immutable sexes that are determined at birth. This class will discuss the complexity of “biological sex” and how variations occur between the time an egg is fertilized and a person becomes an adult. We will explore the genetic, chromosomal and hormonal influences affecting primary (those present at birth) and secondary sex characteristics (those that develop at puberty). Discussion of gender, a sociological construct, or sexual orientation is beyond the scope of this course. 

This course is geared towards people who want to understand more about personal and collective actions they can take to work towards climate solutions. It includes up-to-date information on climate trends. At one of the four sessions, a guest instructor will share a computer model to help the class game what actions would make the greatest impact on climate. At the final session, participants will assess their own skills and interests to figure out what their unique contributions can be to promote climate solutions.

The last treaty (New START) limiting nuclear arsenals has just expired, yet there is little public demand for negotiating a new one to prevent a nuclear arms race. This is in part a result of misconceptions about the power of nuclear weapons. We will discuss the physics and hardware of nuclear weapons to examine some of these misconceptions, placing nuclear weapons in the historical context of other technological developments that have "made war unthinkable" but not stopped it.

Why are we who we are? Everyone has a worldview, a part of which is political ideology. This class is intended as an interactive discussion to explore the various ideologies from far left to far right and how, according to political psychologists, people acquire their worldviews and ideologies. Bring your thoughts and an open mind.

Recommended reading: “On Being Conservative,” (1956) by Michael Oakeshott, essay online.

Iran has had stormy relationships with countries throughout the region and the world in recent decades—particularly the United States. We will examine the source of this animus and the government upheavals in 1953 and 1979. What exactly happened to cement Iranian hostilities towards so many globally? And where do things stand in 2026? Are hostilities only getting worse? Is there any hope for a future of democratic governance in Iran? What are the implications of the March, 2026 War on Iran for Israel and the United States?

In the popular imagination, lethal injection is a slight pinch and a swift nodding off to forever-sleep, it is performed by well-qualified medical professionals, it is regulated and carefully conducted, and it is certainly the most ‘humane’ form of capital punishment. In reality, not one of these statements is true. Lethal injection is nothing like what people think. This is its untold story.

Recommended reading: Secrets of the Killing State: the Untold Story of Lethal Injection by Corinna Lain, 2025.

The summer term class features morning and afternoon sessions, with time for lunch in between! 

June 2: Session 1 (10-11:30) Merrily Mazza will discuss Anya Varampil’s Corporate Coup: Venezuela and the End of US Empire. The book tells the story of US hybrid warfare on Venezuela harking back to 2019 and the tectonic social and economic shifts reshaping the world. Timely.

June 2: Session 2 (12:30-2:00) Cathy Perme takes the podium to discuss Robert Fritz’ 1984 The Path of Least Resistance: Principles for Creating What You Want to Create. Cathy is a successful entrepreneur who has provided consultative services for businesses and private persons alike.

June 9: Session 1 (10-11:30) Retired social worker Ruth Campbell (MSW, U of Iowa) will take on Father Time: A Natural History of Men and Babies.

June 9: Session 2 (12:30-2:00) Our friend, Dr. John Fredell, reviews Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right, by Laura Field.

June 16: Session 1 (10-11:30) Sherrie Gette will present on Moral Ambition: Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference by Rutger Bregman.

June 16: Session 2 (12:30-2:00) OLLI Program Manager Briana Smith presents on Nobel Prize winning author Svetlana Alexeivich's Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets, an oral history about Russian nostalgia for the Soviet years.

June 23: Session 1 (10-11:30) Course Leader Jim Martin thinks American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard is worth a discussion in light of the continuing polarization of 21st century America.

June 23: Session 2 (12:30-2:00) Steve Birch says he’s never been as excited about a book as he is about Tiny Blunders/Big Disasters: Thirty Tiny Mistakes that Changed the World Forever, by Jared Knott. 

Join us as we partner again with the Ramsey County Library, Global Minnesota, and the Foreign Policy Association for our annual Great Decisions series on the most critical international issues facing America. Study the issues and join the discussions led by expert speakers. Ten copies of the Briefing Book for this series are available for checkout through the generosity of Global Minnesota.

June 6th: Henry Berman on U.S. Engagement of Africa.

Join Bob Frame and Nicholas Malnarcic in conversation with industrial historian Fred Quivik for a discussion of Minnesota flour milling history and the current state of milling in Minnesota. Learn more about Bob Frame’s new book about the Minneapolis flour milling industry and Nic’s work as the Assistant Plant Manager at the large and historic Ardent Mills four mill in Hastings.

Recommended Reading: Robert M. Frame III, Making Mill City: Flour and Fortune in Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 2026.

Are you concerned about the turmoil in our economic, political and social environments? Do you want to do your part to make a difference? Do you want to stay motivated and connected? Join us for Vital Voices to share your views, listen to others and strengthen your civic identity. Together we’ll find ways to use our influence — in big ways and small ways — to make a better world. VAN will facilitate to ensure meaningful and respectful discussions. The summer session will meet for four weeks with the intent to convert to an ongoing special interest group for those who are interested.

Fareed Zakaria omitted the American Revolution from his book Age of Revolutions saying "it did not immediately transform society's deeper structures." This course will explore Zakaria's thesis with reference to the Academy of Arts and Sciences report "Expanding Representation.” Week 1 will begin with prehistory: natural selection, "self-ishness," and socialization. Week 2 moves to Western Europe to explore themes of supremacy, subjection, and insatiability. Topics for Weeks 3 and 4 include the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and Article I of the US Constitution.

Recommended reading: "Expanding Representation, Reinventing Congress for the 21st Century." American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 2025. (Provided week 1).

British labor economist Guy Standing coined the term Precariat to identify a social class whose members' lives are marked by economic insecurity and a form of second-class citizenship as a result of relying for their livelihood on the gig economy. This course summarizes Standing's description of this social class.

Economics plays a central role in the functioning of every aspect of society. This course addresses a set of prominent policy issues where economics is at their core. We will explore their origins as policy matters, the underlying data and evidence, and what policy levers are available to deal with them. Lectures will be standalone, taught by a subject matter expert. Potential topics include Climate, Healthcare Economics, Economic Federal Debt, Social Security and many more. The topics presented will be determined by what is most topical at the time of the course

Join scholars from area colleges and elsewhere as they share their specialized knowledge and enthusiasm. It’s like hearing from your favorite college professors again, without worrying about writing papers or taking finals!

June 2: Tshuaj Ntsuab: A Compendium of Hmong Medicinal Plants, Zongxee Lee, Natalie Hoidal, Alex Crum

June 9: Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, Maggie Lorenz, executive director

June 16: TBA

June 23: Supreme Court Docket 2026, Professor Tim Johnson from the U of M

Step into the world of ultimate indulgence with Chef Larry P. Canepa, Certified Culinary Educator, for a high-energy "food-tainment" experience that explores the rarest and most expensive flavors on the planet. This a deep dive into the history, mystery, and decadence of the world’s most prestigious ingredients. From the earthy aroma of Alba White Truffles and the buttery marble of A5 Wagyu Beef to the delicate pop of Beluga Caviar, you’ll discover what makes these delicacies worth their weight in gold.

An introduction to the world of genealogy, describing the basics of researching and documenting your family history. Using a combination of traditional research methods and online resources, students will learn how to navigate digital archives, census records, family trees, and historical databases. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the skills to trace their lineage, uncover stories about their ancestors, and organize their findings into a family history narrative. This course provides the tools and knowledge to begin your genealogical journey with confidence. 

In this course, Ed Linz will discuss the physical and psychological challenges of heart transplantation, and how one lives following such a gift.

Insight is the capacity to suspend habits of thought and emotion, thereby enhancing receptivity and heightening awareness, that leads to deeper understanding, personal well-being and enriched relationships. It is, in effect, a ‘way of knowing’ that can be developed by all people. In this 3-session workshop, we will nurture the experience of insight by actively engaging with communication forms (empathetic listening, thoughtful speech), meditative forms (sitting meditation, walking meditation, qigong), poetry, and reflections on oracular systems.

Cutting-edge research as well as anecdotal evidence shows that psychedelic-assisted therapy can be very effective in treating PTSD, depression, anxiety, alcoholism and more. Learn from local practitioners in this exciting course facilitated by a “psychonaut” who has used psychedelics to heal.

Join us to explore after-death care options for your body that minimize harm to the environment. We’ll discuss options for earth-friendly after-death care, including natural burial, water-based cremation and natural organic reduction(human composting). We will demonstrate a short graveside ceremony fitting for a natural burial. There will be time for questions and conversation.

Are you carrying the weight of resentment, grudges, or betrayal? These emotions drain our energy and keep us tied to the past. In this two-part online workshop, Louisa Hext—life coach and storyteller—will create a safe, supportive space for reflection and growth. Through storytelling, dialogue, and exercises, you’ll explore how resentment takes root, why it holds you back, and how to release it. This isn’t about excusing or forgetting—it’s about freeing yourself and stepping into a lighter, more empowered self.

This course examines Bruce Lee as a thinker rather than a celebrity. We will explore his ideas as a practical framework for understanding performance under pressure — not only in combat or athletics, but in work, relationships, identity, and creative expression. Participants will connect Lee’s ideas to their own lives, discovering how similar pressures can appear across very different environments and how to address them.

Recommended reading: The Bruce Lee Code by Thomas Lee, Career Press, 2023.

Defying Age and Limiting Beliefs is a powerful course on expanding what’s possible in the fourth quarter of life. At 68, Sheree Stomberg trained five hours a day, joined an elite Everest expedition team of younger men, and climbed beyond 20,000 feet—while others turned back. Facing age and gender bias, extreme conditions, and tragedy, she proved longevity is a mind game. Through lived experience, this course equips you to break stereotypes, build resilience, and live fully at any age.

This education series teaches caregivers how to navigate the responsibilities of caring for someone living with dementia. Topics include Building Foundations of Caregiving, Supporting Independence, Communicating Effectively, Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors, and Exploring Care and Support Services

Join the University of Minnesota for the fifth annual Age-Friendly U Day! The event will be filled with opportunities to connect and learn something new with other older adults and fellow lifelong learners. This is also a great place to promote OLLI to others! Keynote from acclaimed author of Living Life Full Throttle Sheryl Ramstad. Featured breakout sessions on artificial intelligence and navigating change. Participants receive a free OLLI t-shirt. Discounted registration fee for OLLI members: $15.

Dive into the world of dragonflies and damselflies. Learn the characteristics of these amazing insects and the species common to Elm Creek Park. Hike out to the prairie to catch, observe, and identify using nets and field guides, and record Citizen Science data for the MN Dragonfly Society. This course will take place mostly outdoors at Eastman Nature Center in summer weather. We will be hiking up to one mile on uneven turf trails and walking in the prairie. Course fee: $6.00

Tour five diverse gardens in the western metro that will provide inspiration to gardeners of any skill level. Participants will visit one garden per week, where each host will describe their garden, offer tips, and answer questions. The first stop is Barry Schade’s Bryn Mawr garden, which includes a backyard pond and boulevard rain garden. Tours begin on June 24 and take place on five successive Wednesday mornings. Due to garden sizes, tours will be limited to 35 participants. 

In week one, we will visit the Raptor Center for a program in which Raptor Center staff show live birds. Afterwards, we will go into the area where the birds are kept. In week 2, we will visit the College of Biological Sciences Conservatory. The staff will show us the public display gardens and talk about the Conservatory. Then, we will visit the research collection and do a treasure hunt. There may be an option to join lunch outings after each session (own expense). 

Our visit will begin with a short talk about the history of the conservatory. Then, a member of the conservatory staff will lead us on a walking tour of the facility, taking us behind the scenes into places that the public doesn't see. 

Our visit will begin with a short talk about the history of the conservatory. Then, a member of the conservatory staff will lead us on a walking tour of the facility, taking us behind the scenes into places that the public doesn't see. Course fee: $20

Come and learn about the early history of MN at Gibbs Farm. We will have a presentation by the staff about the Gibbs family and their fascinating lives. Then, we will have a guided tour of the farmhouse. Afterward, there will be an opportunity to meet for lunch at Stout's Pub (own expense).

Get up early and join us to meet the animals at Como Zoo. We will have a two-hour tour led by zoo staff. Meet a zookeeper and encounter some of the animals. Visit parts of the zoo where visitors are usually not allowed. Course fee: $40.

Join us for a tour of three Minneapolis-based community art and maker spaces! Week 1, we’ll visit the Twin Cities Maker, a non-profit, volunteer-driven community makerspace in the Seward neighborhood. With more than 14 different shop areas, it’s a haven for all things creative including a full woodshop, industrial sewing machines, blacksmithing, and 3d printing. Week 2 we will get a tour and fiber art demo at the Textile Center. Finally, Week 3 we will visit the Northern Clay Center to tour their ceramics workshop and be treated to a wheel demonstration! Tours involve stairs and non-air conditioned spaces. Optional lunch afterward at participant’s expense. Full address and parking information will be shared upon registration.

The Minnesota Museum of American Art’s exhibit “Here Now” showcases 150 selected works from the Museum’s permanent collection that explores the expanse of American identities and complexities. These tours, led by the Museum’s guides, will investigate the lived experiences and creativity of the artists from many communities and cultures that have contributed to what we call American Art. New pieces have been rotated in the exhibit! No course fee; Museum donations welcome.

Queering Indigeneity (QI) is an exhibit at the Minnesota Museum of American Art. This exhibit celebrates the vision and diversity of 2-Spirit, Native Queer, gender expansive artists in the Upper Midwest. QI is the result of a multi-year partnership with Penny Kagigebi (White Earth Ojibwe) and the Minnesota Museum of American Art. The goal of this partnership is Kagigebi’s hope to influence the types of artists who are supported, seen, and centered at the museum, and to show both Indigenous and non-Indigenous visitors a more comprehensive and complex story of this region’s art and artists. No course fee; Museum donations welcome.

The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden forest trails are filled with woodland wildflowers all spring long. As summer approaches, the wetland and meadow begin to shine! Join naturalists for a tour of the three garden areas — woodland, wetland, and meadow – to see the shift from spring to warmer season blossoms. If the timing is right, we may glimpse our state flower, the showy lady's slipper, blooming by the trail. Meet at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden parking lot. Course fee: $10.00

The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden forest trails are filled with woodland wildflowers all spring long. As summer approaches, the wetland and meadow begin to shine! Join naturalists for a tour of the three garden areas — woodland, wetland, and meadow – to see the shift from spring to warmer season blossoms. If the timing is right, we may glimpse our state flower, the showy lady's slipper, blooming by the trail. Meet at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden parking lot. Course fee: $10.00

Have you ever wondered how the lights stay on across 15 states? Join us for an exclusive tour of the MISO Regional Control Center. Step inside the high-tech "nerve center" of the Midcontinent’s electrical grid, where expert operators manage a massive real-time energy market and coordinate the flow of electricity for 45 million people. See the giant video walls, witness the technology that balances supply and demand in seconds, and learn how MISO is leading the transition to a cleaner energy future.

Join OLLI members for a behind-the-scenes look at the Como-Harriet car barn where historic streetcars are stored and repaired. Ride an historic streetcar as it follows its old route between Lake Harriet and Bde Maka Ska and share stories with an experienced volunteer conductor. Meet at Station House, 42nd Street, Mpls MN 55410. Slightly uphill from the lakeside bandshell & parking lot. Optional lunch at the beautiful Lake Harriet pavilion. Course fee: $10, not including lunch.

Join an OLLI excursion to the scenic and historic Taylors Falls. Enjoy a guided luncheon river cruise through the ancient geologic swirling pothole landscape of the St Croix River. Visit Interstate State Park to learn more about the potholes from a naturalist. Stroll through the historic village and early New England-style district of Angel Hill with a local historian. Our final stop is the cozy lumber town of Marine on St Croix to learn about the history of the town, its architecture and visit a 19th Century restored Swedish immigrant cabin. Day trip: 9:15am - 5:15pm. Meet at Bethlehem Lutheran Church 4100 Lyndale Ave. So., Minneapolis MN 55409. Meet at church by 9:15, bus leaves at 9:30 sharp! Free parking in the church lot. 

Fine grained computer motion control can be used to create exquisite kinetic art. Sisyphus Industries in Minneapolis is a collective of creators who make kinetic art by using a small robot (the Sisbot) to magnetically pull a steel ball through sand. The tracks the ball leaves in the sand field provide intricately changing patterns that are further enhanced by controlling lighting effects under a tempered glass cover. Lead artist Bruce Shapiro will guide us through the process used at the Sisyphus studio as their creators progress from initial conceptual design to a finished art piece. Bruce Shapiro's computerized kinetic art pieces are permanent installations in museums in Switzerland, Germany, US, Canada, Poland, and Australia. Meet at: 451 Taft St NE STE 1, Minneapolis, MN 55413.

Join us for a guided tour of the Minnesota State Capitol, designed by Cass Gilbert in 1905. Learn about various aspects of the capitol including art, murals, paintings, and architecture. Weather permitting, walk to the Quadriga on the roof. Park at non-reserved numbered spaces on the street or in the state parking lots. Pay stations take cash or credit cards. There will be an opportunity to join a group lunch after the tour (at your own expense).

Join us in visiting and sampling food and items from major Twin Cities international Markets and then have lunch on site or nearby.

June 3: Holy Land – Middle Eastern 2513 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis MN 55418, (Free parking in lots behind Bldg.) Meet Inside.

June 10: La Mexicana Supermercado -Hispanic. 1522 East Lake St. & Bloomington Ave. Minneapolis MN 55407 (Free Parking behind Bldg.) Meet Inside.

June 17: United Noodles – Asian 2015 E. 24th Street (Enter from 24thMinnehaha Ave. and turn left down street next to Coastal Seafoods) Free Parking. Meet inside.

June 24: Hmong Town Market – S.E Asian. 217 Como Ave, St Paul, MN 55103. (free Parking Lot) Meet outside West Bldg.

Learn about the Federal Reserve and the history of central banking in the United States. Bank staff will discuss the board of governors, the regional reserve banks, and the economy of the 9th Federal Reserve District overseen by the Minneapolis Fed. Topics include monetary policy, bank supervision, and payments processing. The tour includes a visit to the bank's cash processing area, where $90 million in daily deposits and transfer orders are processed for area financial institutions. Be prepared to stroll for 90 minutes. Check in by 9:50 a.m. or you’ll miss the tour. Park at your own expense. All participants must be registered in advance to attend. Waitlisted members will not be allowed entrance. 

Tour 1: June 10

Tour 2: June 17

Tour 3: June 24

Learn about the Federal Reserve and the history of central banking in the United States. Bank staff will discuss the board of governors, the regional reserve banks, and the economy of the 9th Federal Reserve District overseen by the Minneapolis Fed. Topics include monetary policy, bank supervision, and payments processing. The tour includes a visit to the bank's cash processing area, where $90 million in daily deposits and transfer orders are processed for area financial institutions. Be prepared to stroll for 90 minutes. Check in by 9:50 a.m. or you’ll miss the tour. Park at your own expense. All participants must be registered in advance to attend. Waitlisted members will not be allowed entrance. 

Tour 1: June 10

Tour 2: June 17

Tour 3: June 24

Learn about the Federal Reserve and the history of central banking in the United States. Bank staff will discuss the board of governors, the regional reserve banks, and the economy of the 9th Federal Reserve District overseen by the Minneapolis Fed. Topics include monetary policy, bank supervision, and payments processing. The tour includes a visit to the bank's cash processing area, where $90 million in daily deposits and transfer orders are processed for area financial institutions. Be prepared to stroll for 90 minutes. Check in by 9:50 a.m. or you’ll miss the tour. Park at your own expense. All participants must be registered in advance to attend. Waitlisted members will not be allowed entrance. 

Tour 1: June 10

Tour 2: June 17

Tour 3: June 24

Have you ever tried fluted pumpkin vine (Ugu)? Smelled African blue basil? Added waterleaf to your smoothie? Join us for a tour of the Global Garden at the University of Minnesota to learn about these and other unique African vegetables. Course leader will share garden location with registered members. Meet near the Equine Center on the St. Paul campus of UMN. Park in Gortner Ramp. 

Fish, like us, are vertebrates. You may think that the similarity ends there, but how different are we, really? This class examines the bodies of freshwater fish at a basic level: their main characteristics, both structure and function. This class is not for the squeamish, as the majority of our time after an indoor introduction will be spent examining the bodies of real fish. We will begin with external parts but then continue on to internal anatomy as you are asked to wield scalpel, probe and scissors! All equipment (including gloves!) provided.

What better day to learn about African American history in our state than June 19, aka Juneteenth, aka Freedom Day, which commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.? Join this special tour at Historic Fort Snelling, where so many aspects of Minnesota history converge, and you’ll hear of both injustice (Dred Scott and the Supreme Court’s infamous decision) and accomplishment (Black men from the Fort’s “buffalo soldier” units who became pillars of the Twin Cities community). Park ($6), then join fellow OLLI members at the Visitor Center. Course fee: $10.

If you like a bit of mealtime adventure, and if you want to support the restaurants along Minneapolis' Eat Street, this one’s for you. Together we’ll choose which of Nicollet Avenue’s numerous ethnic restaurants to visit on the four Thursdays in June. And with every member of the group selecting a cuisine to report on, we’ll learn more about food culture in our restaurants' homelands while enjoying great flavors and lively conversation.

Join OLLI members in exploring this hidden gem of early Minnesota History opposite Fort Snelling: the beautiful 1830s limestone house of later to be Governor Henry Sibley, the fur trading house and buildings of Jean-Baptist Faribault and summer gardens. Meet at the 1850s Dupuis Welcome Center, street parking. 1357 Sibley Memorial Hwy, Mendota MN 55105. After the visit, gather for lunch at Lucky's 13 Pub in Mendota! Admission fee $8. Pay on site. Free for Minnesota Historical Society and Dakota County Historical Society members with cards. 

Minneapolis is blessed with one of the nicest ballparks in Major League Baseball. Your 90 minute tour will give you a look at the history and some of the special places that make this park so wonderful.

Learn more about Minnesota/ Native American history and Dakota culture through a guided tour of the Shakopee Mdewanketon Sioux Cultural Center. Established in 2019, Hocokata Ti, located near Mystic Lake and surrounded by restored native prairie grasses, is a not-to-be-missed architectural gem and cultural treasure. Meet at Hocokata Ti. We will begin with a 1-hour guided tour of the museum. After a short break to visit the gift shop and library, we will spend 45 minutes with the relics. Join an optional lunch (own expense) following the tour.

An opportunity to enjoy a local historic site with lunch and a flowery finale to the day! Join the group at Oak Hill Cemetery, the oldest operating cemetery in Minneapolis. Walk through a review of local history in the park-like setting of this space on busy Lyndale. Then cross the street to lunch at Patrick's. The cafe is located in Bachman's greenhouse. After lunch, a tour of Bachman's will include a history of the Bachman family horticulture business and, perhaps, the historic house. The precise schedule will be emailed to participants a week before the event.