ARMCHAIR TRAVELER

Travel back in time

Tue, Sep 1, 2020, 11am

Location
Meeting to be held via Zoom.
 

Our next Armchair Traveler program, featuring two presentations, will be offered on Tuesday, September 1, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., via Zoom. 

Ryan Mattke, map and geospatial information librarian at the John R. Borchert Map Library, will talk about the University of Minnesota Libraries' Campus History digital collection, which includes 160 years of building footprints, historical maps, and aerial photographs. His presentation will include buildings that no longer exist, and a description of how the interactive digital map was created.

UMRA member and sociology Professor Emeritus Ron Anderson will share photos and stories from Ethiopia. Ron grew up in Ethiopia, until age 13, when his father served there as a missionary and doctor for Emperor Haile Selassie. Ron, with his wife, returned in 2000 to revisit. He has lots of photos and stories to share about this very unusual country.

If you would like to attend, please email me and I'll send you the Zoom invitation.

If you are interested in presenting at our February 2 or April 6, 2021, programs, please let me know. Both will be offered via Zoom. 

—Lynn C. Anderson, chair, Armchair Traveler Program



Upcoming Events

Event Date: August 3, 2026, at 9:30am

Bev leads the Nokomis walk to Minnehaha Falls.


Event Date: August 13, 2026, at 8:30am

You are invited to a discussion of the Minnesota midterm elections. We have set the date after the primary, which is on August 11 so we can discuss the candidates who will be in the election. 


Event Date: August 17, 2026, at 9:30am

Nanette leads a trail of two cities hike.


Event Date: August 18, 2026, at 11am - 1:30pm

10:30 a.m. check in; 10:45 boarding; cruise from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Join UMRA friends and colleagues for a summer cruise and lunch aboard the Paradise Destiny II on beautiful Lake Minnetonka. Paul Maravelas, sailor, historian, and author of The History of Big Island, Lake Minnetonka will join us to share stories from 200+ years of lake-dwellers. Come early or stay after the cruise to explore Excelsior, a charming small town on the big lake.

Ticket price includes lunch: chef's sandwich, garden salad, fruit, chips, and cookies. Coffee, iced tea, and lemonade are complimentary and there will be a cash bar for other beverages. A vegetarian sandwich can be selected during registration.


Event Date: August 21, 2026, at 2pm

UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss the debut novel Buckeye by Patrick Ryan when it meets via Zoom at 2 pm. on Friday, August 21. 


Event Date: September 8, 2026, at 12:30pm

The theme for September is "Monuments."


Event Date: September 21, 2026, at 9:30am

Bev leads a Lake of the Isles hike with Bun Coffee afterwards.


Event Date: September 21, 2026, at 10am

Critical issues facing detained immigrants and their families will be discussed.


Event Date: October 5, 2026, at 9:30am

Michelle Trudeau-Spanjers leads the hike at William O'Brien State Park.


Event Date: October 5, 2026, at 10am

Topics include longevity, distributions, long term care, Social Security, and comprehensive planning.


Event Date: October 13, 2026, at 12:30pm

The theme for October is "Hands."


Event Date: October 15, 2026, at 3pm

UMF CEO John Morris