What do a 40-pound catfish, a Victorian lawn party, Ottawa, clay tiles and the Younger Brothers have in common?

They are part of area events planned to celebrate Minnesota’s sesquicentennial. The official birthday party will kick off Statehood Week in St. Paul today with local historical groups commemorating the event all year.

In Fairmont the celebration is already under way. Friday fifth-graders in Martin County discovered the history of Fairmont’s downtown on a walking tour guided by re-enactors. In 150 years the downtown has changed dramatically, said Dustin Heckman, curator of Martin County’s Historical Society.

The Le Sueur County Historical Society hosted a giant birthday party, complete with a cake in the shape of Minnesota on Saturday at the courthouse in Le Center.

Ringing bells and blowing whistles early Thursday morning will launch New Ulm’s Day as an Honorary State Capital with Gov. Tim Pawlenty speaking at a pancake breakfast. A postal cancellation, Schell Brewery’s Hobo Band concert, a German buffet, a cultural congress and a community picnic are scheduled.

“The Minnesota sesquicentennial is custom made for small historical organizations — it fits what we do,” said Bob Burgess, director of the Brown County Historical Society. “It doesn’t get any better for us.”

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