Minnesota Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution devoted to preserving and explaining the history of Minnesota. Established by the Minnesota Territorial Legislature in 1849, nearly nine years before Minnesota became a state, it is one of the country's early state historical societies. Its institutional status is unusually prominent: the Society is named in the Minnesota Constitution, reflecting a public role that extends beyond ordinary archival or membership-based historical organizations. MNHS is headquartered at the Minnesota History Center in downtown Saint Paul. From there it administers collections, exhibitions, educational programs, publications, digital resources, and a statewide network of historic sites and museums. Its work is centered on Minnesota, but its collections and scholarship address broader regional and continental subjects, including Indigenous history, immigration, politics, labor, agriculture, architecture, military history, environmental change, and the North American fur trade. Its research on the fur trade has also received recognition in Canada. The Society holds a substantial range of documentary, material, visual, and archaeological resources. The collections described in reference material include nearly 550,000 books, approximately 37,000 maps, 250,000 photographs, 225,000 historical artifacts, 950,000 archaeological items, tens of thousands of cubic feet of manuscripts and government records, about 5,500 paintings, prints, and drawings, and approximately 1,300 moving-image items. These holdings support public interpretation as well as scholarly research and government-record preservation. MNHS operates or supports 31 historic sites and museums, with most accessible to the public. Its site portfolio includes properties managed directly by the Society, partner-operated locations supported through funding and preservation expertise, sites held for future preservation, and self-guided locations marked by interpretive signage. Several are National Historic Landmarks, while others are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some sites are located within Minnesota state parks or the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, giving MNHS a role in connecting historic preservation with public-land stewardship. The institution also works as a publisher and digital knowledge provider. MNopedia, launched in 2011, is an online encyclopedia presenting information about significant Minnesota people, places, events, and subjects. It is supported through the state's Legacy Amendment Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and administered by MNHS. Minnesota Historical Society Press publishes books on Minnesota and Upper Midwest history and culture, with an emphasis on research, education, and varied perspectives. The press is described as Minnesota's oldest publishing company and as the largest historical-society press in the United States, with more than 500 books in print. It also publishes the quarterly journal Minnesota History. In the twenty-first century, MNHS has placed greater emphasis on Indigenous-led interpretation and community relationships. In 2017 it created the Dakota Community Council and the Department of Native American Initiatives to improve the interpretation of Dakota history and expand Indigenous-led programming. Overall, MNHS combines the functions of an archive, museum operator, publisher, digital encyclopedia, historic-preservation organization, and public educator.

The Minnesota Historical Society was created on October 20, 1849, through the fifth act passed by the Minnesota Territorial Legislature. Its creation preceded statehood and reflected an early concern that newspapers, official records, and other evidence of territorial life should be preserved before they disappeared. Territorial Governor Alexander Ramsey advocated the systematic preservation of newspapers, while Charles K. Smith, the territorial secretary, prepared the legislation. Smith and 18 other incorporators formally organized the Society on November 15 of the same year. The new organization initially had no permanent headquarters. It used the territorial secretary's office, hotel rooms, and store lofts before receiving space in the Minnesota State Capitol in 1855. A 1856 charter amendment allowed the Society to own property without the earlier limitations. That change encouraged a campaign for a dedicated building. Daniel A. Robertson, a former newspaper editor and proprietor, chaired the building committee and raised funds by selling lifetime memberships. The Society acquired two lots and held a public cornerstone ceremony in June 1856, but the initial building effort soon ran out of money. The Panic of 1857 further weakened fundraising and halted construction after the foundation had been protected from winter damage. MNHS continued operating from the Capitol for decades. A major change came when the Minnesota Legislature appropriated $500,000 in 1913 for a fireproof historical building, with the authorizing legislation amended in 1915. The resulting building was completed in 1917, and the Society moved its collections there by March 1, 1918. That structure later became the Minnesota Judicial Center. In 1992, MNHS moved to the Minnesota History Center in downtown Saint Paul, which became its principal headquarters and a major public venue for exhibitions, research, and education. Over time, the Society developed from a collecting organization into a statewide public-history system. It expanded its holdings to include printed works, maps, photographs, artifacts, archaeological materials, manuscripts, government records, artwork, and moving images. It also assumed responsibility for a broad network of historic sites and museums, using a mixture of direct management, partnerships, preservation custody, and self-guided interpretation. Several locations have national historic designations, and others are integrated with state parks and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Publishing and digital interpretation became important parts of MNHS's educational mission. Minnesota Historical Society Press issues books about Minnesota and the Upper Midwest and publishes the quarterly journal Minnesota History. MNopedia, launched in 2011, extended the Society's reference work online by providing accessible entries about important people, places, events, and subjects in Minnesota history. The project is supported by the Legacy Amendment Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The Society's interpretive priorities have continued to evolve. In 2017 it established the Dakota Community Council and the Department of Native American Initiatives, seeking stronger Dakota perspectives and more Indigenous-led programming. This development reflects a broader effort to address the experiences and historical agency of Native communities within Minnesota's public history. Today, MNHS functions simultaneously as an archive, museum and historic-site operator, publisher, digital educator, research institution, and steward of the state's historical record.

• 2017

  Expands Dakota and Native American initiatives

  [1]Minnesota Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  MNHS formed the Dakota Community Council and the Department of Native American Initiatives to strengthen Dakota interpretation and Indigenous-led programming.

• 2011

  Launches MNopedia

  [1]Minnesota Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  MNHS began administering MNopedia, an online encyclopedia of Minnesota history supported by Legacy Amendment cultural funding.

• 1992

  Moves to the Minnesota History Center

  [1]Minnesota Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society relocated to its current headquarters at the Minnesota History Center in downtown Saint Paul.

• 1918

  Collections moved into the new building

  [1]Minnesota Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  MNHS completed the transfer of its collections to the new building on March 1.

• 1917

  New historical building completed

  [1]Minnesota Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society's legislatively funded building was completed.

• 1913

  Legislature funds a fireproof historical building

  [1]Minnesota Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Minnesota Legislature appropriated $500,000 for a purpose-built fireproof historical building; the legislation was amended in 1915.

• 1856

  Begins an unsuccessful first building campaign

  [1]Minnesota Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  A charter amendment enabled the Society to own property, leading to the acquisition of building lots and a cornerstone ceremony. Financial difficulties and the Panic of 1857 stopped the project.

• 1855

  Receives space in the Minnesota State Capitol

  [1]Minnesota Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  After operating without a permanent home, the Society was granted a room in the Minnesota State Capitol.

• 1849

  Society established by the territorial legislature

  [1]Minnesota Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Minnesota Territorial Legislature established the Minnesota Historical Society on October 20 as its fifth legislative act. The organization was formally organized on November 15.

A constitutionally recognized, statewide historical institution combining preservation, scholarship, public history, publishing, digital education, and management of historic places.

• Museum and public-history center · 1992

  Minnesota History Center

  The Minnesota History Center is MNHS's headquarters and one of its principal public-facing facilities. It combines exhibition galleries, research and archival services, educational activity, and institutional administration. Located in downtown Saint Paul, it provides a central venue through which the Society presents Minnesota history to residents, students, researchers, and visitors.

• Digital reference resource · 2011

  MNopedia: The Minnesota Encyclopedia

  MNopedia is an online reference resource covering significant people, places, events, and subjects in Minnesota history. Administered by MNHS and supported through the Legacy Amendment Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, it extends the Society's interpretive and educational work beyond its physical sites and collections.

• Academic and regional-history publishing

  Minnesota Historical Society Press

  MNHS Press publishes books concerning Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, with goals that include advancing research, supporting education, and presenting diverse perspectives on regional history and culture. Reference material describes it as Minnesota's oldest publishing company and the largest historical-society press in the United States, with more than 500 books in print.

• Quarterly journal

  Minnesota History

  Minnesota History is the Society's quarterly journal and a vehicle for publishing research and interpretation relating to Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. It supports the institution's scholarly and educational missions alongside its books, archives, exhibitions, and digital resources.

• Historic preservation and visitor services

  Historic sites and museums network

  MNHS operates or supports 31 historic sites and museums. The network includes directly managed properties, partnership sites, locations held for preservation, and self-guided sites with interpretive signage. The portfolio includes National Historic Landmarks, National Register properties, sites within Minnesota state parks, and locations associated with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

• 2017Dakota Community Council and Department of Native American Initiatives

  Minnesota

  MNHS created the Dakota Community Council and the Department of Native American Initiatives to improve the interpretation of Dakota history and develop programming led by Indigenous communities.

  Outcome. The initiative established dedicated organizational structures for Dakota engagement and Native American interpretation. The available material does not provide quantified results.

  Source

• 2017

  Formalize Indigenous-led historical interpretationStrategy

  Background

  MNHS identified a need to improve the way Dakota history was interpreted and to provide stronger support for Indigenous-led public programming.

  Action taken

  The Society formed a Dakota Community Council and a Department of Native American Initiatives.

  Aftermath

  These structures became part of MNHS's organizational response to Native American history and community engagement. No financial outcomes are provided in the reference material.

  Source

1. 1Minnesota Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Minnesota Historical Society official websitemnhs.org