Founded in 1938 as the Hennepin County Historical Society, Hennepin History Museum is dedicated to bringing the diverse history of Hennepin County and its residents to life through exhibitions, library, collections, and educational programs. Our mission is to collect and preserve the history and stories of Hennepin County.

We are the primary resource for all audiences who want to better understand the stories of Hennepin County’s past.

The values that drive our vision:

• Innovative in our approaches to connecting people to their past
• Inclusive in serving visitors and audiences from all racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds
• Relevant in helping to understand the events of today through the lens of the past
• Responsible for stewarding of all that is entrusted to us

Hennepin History Museum was officially founded as the Hennepin County Historical Society in 1938, although it has roots extending back to the 1858 founding of the Territorial Pioneers Association.

The museum’s first home was located in St. Louis Park’s City Hall; in the 1940s, the expanding organization moved to a location on Harmon Place in the Loring Park neighborhood of Minneapolis.

In 1958, the Hennepin County Historical Society purchased the George Christian Mansion to house its growing collections. The space in the sprawling 44-room mansion gave the museum room to expand its education and exhibition programs, and to continue to add to its historical collections. In the 1980s, the organization’s name was officially changed to Hennepin History Museum.

We remain in the historic Christian Mansion, where we continue to offer the public a wide range of exhibitions, educational programming, and access to our extensive collections.