This collection contains the complete records of the projects completed by the Mankato Area Bicentennial Commission, which are divided into two volumes.

Volume one contains the minutes of the meetings held by the Commission. Also included in this volume is some miscellaneous correspondence. Among these letters are some containing Mankato citizens' ideas for the celebration, the responses by the commission, and a tentative schedule for the events.

Volume two outlines the various steps that were taken to organize the bicentennial events. Included in this volume are the letters sent informing Mankato city leaders that Mankato had been named a "bicentennial city". Also included are the minutes of several committees, including the Parade committee, and the committees that planned the Mankato bicentennial logo and Lincoln Elm ceremony, the town meeting, the pageant, and fireworks. Newspaper articles and press releases about events during the celebration are also included in the various sections of the text.