Mission, Vision, Values & Strategy

Our Mission

We serve all people of Minnesota by creating meaningful engagement with history to cultivate curiosity and foster a more inclusive, empathetic, and informed society.

Our Vision

The people of Minnesota will understand how history shapes, informs, and inspires the present. Grounded in their personal, community, and state history, they will contribute to a common good.

Overarching Goal 2027-2031

Increase the public value of our work, as evidenced by increased breadth of engagement, depth of engagement, and financial support.

Strategies

Broaden Access & Reach

Refocus our programming and services to engage more Minnesotans by appealing to broadly shared interests and needs.

Develop Sustained Relationships and Impactful Experiences

Create cohesive paths for sustained engagement by integrating institutional planning, stakeholder relationships, and experience development.

Strengthen Statewide Alliances

Galvanize statewide history alliances to advance, preserve, and share Minnesota history.

Ensure Sustainable Mission Delivery

Implement long-term solutions to sustainably align our stewardship, infrastructure, and the associated ongoing investments with projected financial realities.

Cultivate Organizational Health

Strengthen our organizational health by balancing performance with well-being and building an organizational culture that reflects our shared commitment to a vibrant, productive workplace.

Our Mission Delivery

The Minnesota Historical Society is a dynamic and widely recognized educational organization that is a trusted resource for history. It is highly valued for its historical resources, educational impact, service, advocacy and leadership:

As a service-oriented and accessible repository of state archival, documentary, photographic, archaeological, and museum collections, and a center for research.
As an effective leader of and partner in educational initiatives and learning opportunities for all Minnesotans.
As the state’s premier presenter of history exhibitions and programs.
As the preserver and presenter of a compelling network of historic sites that make history meaningful for visitors and are supported by their local communities.
As a leading publisher of content about Minnesota and its history in traditional and digital media for a variety of audiences.
As a partner in expanding historic preservation and in providing professional field services, increasing the capacity of history and heritage organizations statewide.

Our Values

The Minnesota Historical Society exists to serve all the people of Minnesota. We hold ourselves to these shared values in our service:

Curiosity

We continuously pursue a deeper understanding of the past, search for additional evidence, and encourage questioning, dialogue, and discovery.

Inclusion

We foster a sense of belonging by meeting constituents where they are, elevating underrepresented voices from the past, and leading with humility.

Integrity

We engage in the historical process according to the professional principles and best practices of research, scholarship, cultural resource stewardship, and interpretation.

Stewardship

We care for the resources that have been entrusted to us responsibly and ethically to ensure preservation for future generations.