Minnesota History Center visitors of all ages can now take advantage of an incredible opportunity to dive deep into the life and art of Minnesota’s most famous cartoonist and the world he created at a brand new exhibit.
Charles Monroe Schulz helped brighten the world for five decades with his Peanuts comic strip, which debuted on October 2, 1950. Featuring iconic characters like Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang, Schulz used his comics to explore the emotional territory of friendship, faith, tolerance, and disappointment. He was a world-class artist and storyteller who transformed relatable pieces of everyday life into art that captured the humor, vulnerability, and dignity of the human spirit. Through Peanuts, Schulz connected people around the world with his stories.
Running until June 9, 2024, “The Life and Art of Charles M. Schulz” exhibit will teach visitors about Schulz’s career and his role as the artist and inspiration behind Peanuts and its beloved cast of characters. This interactive exhibit follows Schulz from his Minnesota roots to his later years in California, tracking the development of the unique characters that make up the world of Peanuts.
Schulz revolutionized the art of the comic strip through his single-handed dedication to the art, wit, and wisdom of Peanuts. For 50 years he researched, designed, and drew each Peanuts strip that appeared in daily and Sunday newspapers, producing nearly 18,000 strips in total. By 2000, it had become the most successful comic strip in newspaper history, appearing in over 40 languages, across 75 countries, in more than 2,600 newspapers, with over 355 million readers. Schulz’s comic strip characters were also the inspiration for nearly 50 television specials, four movies, two plays, a symphonic concerto, books, and thousands of licensed products.
Dozens of Peanuts comic strips, Schulz quotes, and photographs illuminate the story behind the creation of this most popular and influential cartoon strip. Unique objects and photos from Minnesota Historical Society collections reveal how Schulz’s formative experiences in St. Paul stayed with him for the rest of his life. Additional family-friendly exhibit features include a lounge with books, puzzles, and drawing tables to sketch Peanuts fan favorites.
You don’t want to miss this family-friendly exhibit with exciting Minnesota ties! Click here to secure your tickets today.
Curated by the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center, Santa Rosa, California, U.S.A.
Funding provided by the State of Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment, through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008, and our generous donors and members.
About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves, and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories, and connects people with history.