HENNEPIN HISTORY MUSEUM

Donate

Individual support makes up 23% percentage of our annual operating budget-- meaning that supporters like you play an essential role in helping us to preserve and share local history. Your tax-deductible charitable gift helps to support exhibitions, the archives, educational programming like the Fireside Chats, and the preservation of the collections for current and future generations.
While we keep a tight watch on our expenses and income, there's no question about it: it costs money to maintain a 44-room mansion, publish a quality magazine, maintain historic collections, and install informative, exciting exhibitions.
Hennepin History Museum by the Numbers
$20,350 produces one year's worth of Hennepin History magazine
$3,500 provides one year's worth of exhibition supplies
$1,000 heats the building for one winter month
$100 funds one Fireside Chat
$30 buys a large archival box suitable for safe storage of historic textiles
$15 buys a large box of file folders
As you can see, every dollar counts -- please join us in preserving and sharing the story of Hennepin County.
TRIBUTE AND MEMORIAL GIFTS Are you looking for a meaningful way to honor or memorialize a friend or loved one? Please consider making a gift to Hennepin History Museum.
PLANNED GIVING Please contact us to discuss planned giving opportunities.

Volunteers

Hennepin History Museum has many volunteer opportunities. From working in the archives to giving tours, beautifying the grounds or entering collections data in our database, we have options for volunteers with all levels of experience, time availability, or interests. Contact us at volunteer@hennepinhistory.org for more information.

Please complete our Volunteer Application.

Rent Museum

Did you know that you can rent Hennepin History Museum for your private events? Whether you're looking for a perfect space for a corporate retreat or for your next big anniversary or birthday blow-out, Hennepin History Museum may be just what you're after. The space is elegant, the rental includes access to the exhibitions, and prices start at only $100/hour. Please contact us for more information or to check on availability.

Collections

Hennepin History Museum maintains an extensive collection of historic artifacts and archival materials relating to the history and evolution of Hennepin County. Our collection has its roots in the early collecting efforts of the Minnesota Territorial Pioneers Association, an organization dating back to the 1850s and representing members who were residents of Minnesota prior to 1858. In 1938, the Hennepin County Historical Society was organized, encompassing both the earlier Territorial Pioneers Association collections as well as materials obtained by the newly formed organization. The collections have continued to grow, and represent the history and stories of both the earliest local residents as well as more recent arrivals.

Donations

While we would like to be able to collect everything and anything related to Hennepin County history, such a collection would be too large for one institution to manage. Space is an issue in the building, and maintaining and preserving an item to museum standards is a costly endeavor. For this reason, we have to say no more often than we can say yes to potential museum donations; to accept everything would mean that we could not give the collections the time and care that they deserve. If you feel that you have an item that would be appropriate for the HHM collection, we encourage you to contact the museum directly.

Library and Archives

The Reading Room is open Tuesdays through Saturdays during regular museum hours. The archivist is available to assist researchers Tuesdays through Thursdays. We also welcome your questions electronically or by phone. If your project is extensive, contact with the archivist prior to your visit is encouraged.

Holdings include diaries, journals, manuscripts, letters, scrapbooks, atlases, maps, correspondence, reminiscences and diaries and ephemera including menus, contracts, advertisements, deeds and certificates, sheet music, postcards, posters, broadsides, invitations and calling cards, illustrating life in Hennepin county. Photographs make up a significant portion or the collections and include the Confer Real Estate photos, detailing views of properties sold by this company from 1915-1940. Other notable photo collections include the St. Anthony Falls Water Power Company, detailing riverfront development from ca. 1895-1906; The Kjorlie photos, illustrating Minneapolis and St. Paul during the late 1930s and 1940s; Minnesota Volunteers 1861-1866, From the Whitney Negatives; and the Arthur Adams lantern slide collection of Minnesota images, ca 1920s. These last 4 collections are also available on the Minnesota Digital Library.
The Archives also contain extensive records and artefacts of the Minneapolis Aquatennial. Holdings also include many locally produced cookbooks and school yearbooks. Hennepin History Museum has published Hennepin County History, later Hennepin History since the early 1940s. These magazines are an invaluable source for information on the history of Hennepin County.

Museum Store

Our Museum Store is stocked with a variety of books, cards, and other materials related to local history. Our strength is in difficult-to-find titles, some of them no longer in print. Remember: all members enjoy a 10% discount! All proceeds benefit Hennepin History Museum and our programs.

Publications

The popular Hennepin History magazine is published three times annually, and comes as a benefit of membership. Copies are also available for sale at the Museum Store. We are always open to new writers; please contact us if you would like to learn more about publishing opportunities.
Our newsletter is mailed to members three time each year, and provides updates on Hennepin History Museum happenings.
Our e-newsletter is available to everyone, regardless of membership status, and keeps you informed on upcoming events and current Hennepin History Museum news.