Minneapolis gets a beautiful reason to head to the riverfront this week. On Thursday, October 22, from 6 to 8 p.m., Mill City Museum hosts the book launch and exhibit opening for Walking My Ancestors’ Path: The Art and Stories of Sam Zimmerman / Zhaawanoogiizhik, a celebration of painting, storytelling and Minnesota’s beloved North Shore.
The new special exhibit, on view October 22, 2026 through March 28, 2027, presents prints by Minnesota artist and storyteller Sam Zimmerman, arranged by season in his distinctive, vibrant style. The paintings evoke North Shore scenes, sweeping skyscapes and landscapes, and the creatures whose spirits have connected with his own — from bees and hummingbirds to rainbow trout and wolves.
Zimmerman, a direct descendant of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa who lives in Duluth, pairs each work with a story. Many are also retold in Ojibwemowin by Manidoo Ma’iingan, an educator and language specialist, adding a warm layer of language and memory to the visit.
The show marks the release of the new Minnesota Historical Society Press book Walking My Ancestors’ Path: A Collection of Paintings and Stories. The exhibit sits in Mill Commons, the museum’s former packing floor at 704 South Second Street, and special exhibits there are free during regular museum hours — an easy, joyful stop in the historic Mill District, Happy City News readers.
Photo: Minnesota Historical Society / Mill City Museum
