The Minnesota Historical Society has been preserving and sharing content since 1849 — nine years before Minnesota's statehood. This set of content-rich projects represents current and recent efforts to develop and share historical resources online.
Multi-Theme | Single Theme | Your Stories
Multi-Theme
These resources cover a broad range of topics and information.
MNopedia
A resource for reliable information about significant people, places, events and things in Minnesota history.
MNHS Press Books
The Minnesota Historical Society Press publishes books on the history, art and culture of the Upper Midwest.
Collections Up Close
The ever-popular Item of the Day, plus Civil War and World War I daybooks, all drawn from the extensive MNHS collections.
This Day in Minnesota History
A chronological compendium of remarkable and curious events in the history of the North Star State.
Minnesota History Magazine
A lively, richly illustrated magazine published quarterly by the Minnesota Historical Society Press. Find issues and articles dating back to 1915.
Storied
Go beyond the bare facts of Minnesota history. Uncover the real stories and real people behind the dates — and for a short time, inhabit their lives.
Single Theme
These projects focus on specific themes and concepts.
Stories of LGBTQ Communities in Minnesota
LGBTQ stories and historical resources brought together in one place.
The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862
A resource for learning about the war, its causes and its far-reaching consequences.
10,000 Books Blog
A Minnesota Historical Society Press blog highlighting new publications, awards, events and other news.
The Seven Council Fires
An overview of Dakota, Lakota and Nakota cultural objects that can be found in the Minnesota Historical Society’s historical artifacts collection.
Ojibwe Material Culture
A vast collection of Ojibwe materials that are part of the MNHS American Indian collection.
Renewing What They Gave Us
A blog about how MNHS assists Native people in connecting with works created by their ancestors, and provides support for learning, practicing, teaching, and recovering culture.
Minnesota and the Civil War
A starting place for exploration of the rich and complex history of Minnesota's involvement in the U.S. Civil War.
Jeffers Petroglyphs Preservation Project
Conservation work has improved environmental conditions at the Jeffers historic site and resulted in the exposure of thousands of additional stone carvings.
A Look into Fort Snelling's Past
A graphic visualization of life at Fort Snelling based on primary sources, including ledger book data and weather and mail records.
Minnesota Dressmakers
Learn about prominent dressmakers, their work and their clients in Minnesota between 1880 and 1920.
Minnesota Author Biographies
Maud Hart Lovelace, Sinclair Lewis, F. Scott Fitzgerald and many other Minnesota authors are featured in this extensive resource.
Governors of Minnesota
Portraits and biographies about all of Minnesota's governors. Also includes first ladies, the governor's residence and much more.
Hibbing, Red Wing and St. Anthony
Explore the fascinating histories of three towns in Minnesota. Primary sources expose you to the hidden treasures of the past.
Duluth Lynchings
Background, details and historical documents relating to the tragic events of June 15, 1920.
Dakota Language and Grammar
This collection of fun and informative lessons provides numerous entry points for Dakota language learners.
In Honor of the People
A Minnesota Historical Society/Science Museum of Minnesota collaboration exploring American Indian culture in the Bishop Whipple collections held by both institutions.
The Battle Flags of Minnesota
From the battlefields to the displays in the Capitol rotunda, the flags used in the Civil, U.S.-Dakota and Spanish-American wars have been honored and cherished relics for generations of visitors, and each has a special story to tell.
Tales of the Territory — 1849 – 1858
Activities and stories about Minnesota in the years before it became a state. Based on a past Minnesota History Center exhibit.
Forests, Fields and the Falls
Explore the stories of four real people who worked in Minnesota's lumber camps, sawmills, farms and flour mills.
Walter F. Mondale Collection
The extensive Mondale Papers document the Vice President's career, life and family.
Your Stories
Historical information comes from people like you. These projects tell — and in many cases gather — the stories of people from Minnesota and beyond.
Becoming Minnesotan: Recent Immigrants and Refugees
A collection of oral histories that represents a unique source of contemporary history through the experiences of the newest Americans, in their own words.
Stories of Minnesota's Greatest Generation
Stories by and about remarkable people who grew up during the Depression, came of age during World War II and participated in the post-war boom.
Transitions: University Avenue
Student-produced stories of elders, business owners and residents affected by the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit project.
Placeography
Enjoy learning from others' stories or share the history of houses, buildings, farmsteads, public land, neighborhoods or any place to which you have a personal connection.