LeDuc Hosts 60th Wedding Anniversary Party for
Local Legends Dick & Jane Darsow
LeDuc Historic Estate - FREE
February 14, 2-4 p.m.

Friends of LeDuc of Historic Hastings and Dakota County Historical Society invite friends and relatives of Dick and Jane Darsow to celebrate the Darsow's 60th Wedding Anniversary at the LeDuc Historic Estate. The open house, which is free and open to the public, will honor the tireless volunteerism of the Darsows. Not only have they researched and written the history of the City of Hastings, but they have also given freely of their time and resources as volunteers at their church, the Pioneer Room, and the LeDuc Historic Estate. Please join us in this very special Valentine's Day event. RSVP to Margaret Goderstad at 651-437-3365

New Site Manager Joins the LeDuc Team!

The Dakota County Historical Society is very pleased to announce Jessica Bierbrauer has been hired as the new LeDuc Site Manager. Jessica has more than a decade of interpretive programming and event experience, particularly environmental education. Most recently she was an interpretive naturalist at the Carpenter Nature Center. More...

Free School Tour Program Available Year-Round

All Minnesota educators are encouraged to participate in this free program. Guides can provide standard tours or work with teachers to develop a tour or visit that meets the needs of any classroom. School tours may be scheduled any time of year by calling 651-437-7055 or by e-mail at leduc@co.dakota.mn.us. The Free School Tour program is sponsored in part by the Friends of LeDuc of Historic Hastings.

LeDuc Available for Your Special Event

Searching for a unique and memorable location for your wedding, groom's dinner, luncheon, shower or anniversary celebration? History, architecture and nature meet in harmony at the LeDuc Historic Estate. The grounds includes a strolling woods, heirloom apple orchard, grape arbor, peony garden, 200 year old oak trees and is near the scenic Vermillion Falls park.

Conveniently located 20 minutes from the Twin Cities on Highway 61 in Hastings, the 1860s Gothic Revival stone mansion provides a memorable setting for up to 50 guests and the picturesque grounds and porches can accommodate much larger gatherings. Download rental information here and call (651) 437-7055 for more information.

LeDuc Book Group
LeDuc Historic Estate - FREE
First Thursday of every month, 6:30 p.m.

Offered through a partnership with Pleasant Hill Library in Hastings, the LeDuc Book Group is led by Librarian Allan Cotter.

Please check here for any date, time or book selection changes. For more information, call (651) 437.7055 or email leduc@co.dakota.mn.us.

January 7
February 4
March 4
April 1
May 6
June 3

July 1

August 5
September 2

October 7
November 4
December 2

2010 Book Selections (download)
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
The Zookeeper's Wife: a war story by Diane Ackerman
We Made it Through the Winter: a memoir of a Northern boyhood by Walter O'Meara
Mayflower: a story of courage, community, and war by Nathaniel Philbrook
The Growing Seasons: an American boyhood before the war by Samuel Hynes
The Worst Hard Time: the untold story of those who survived
the Great American Dustbowl by Timothy Egan
Shadow Divers: the true adventures of two Americans who risked everything
to solve one of the last mysteries of WWII by Robert Kurson
Founding Mothers: the women who raised our nation by Cokie Roberts
The Mississippi and the Making of a Nation: from the
Louisiana Purchase to today by Stephen Ambrose
Open Season by C.J. Box
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
The Murder of King Tut: the plot to kill the child king by James Patterson

Friends of LeDuc of Historic Hastings Meetings
LeDuc Historic Estate - FREE
Second Tuesday of every month, 7 p.m.

Short business meetings are typically followed by history and arts programs. Please see the complete event calendar for more details.