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Mill City Museum Nominated for Nation’s Best History Museum

Help Mill City take the top spot by voting online daily


For immediate release

Dated: January 12, 2026

Contacts:

Contacts

Nick Jungheim, 651-259-3060, nick.jungheim@mnhs.org or Allison Ortiz, 651-259-3051, allison.ortiz@mnhs.org

Location: Mill City Museum


MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (January 12, 2026) – Mill City Museum is asking for the public’s support to win the title of the Nation’s Best History Museum.

The downtown Minneapolis museum is among 20 nominees for a USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice award in the category of best history museum, its fourth consecutive nomination. Mill City Museum placed in the top 10 in the same contest each of the previous three years, including top 5 finishes in 2023 and 2024. This time, the museum hopes to claim the top prize.

“We are so grateful for all the support we’ve received from Minnesotans in this category,” said Mill City Museum Site Manager David Stevens. “Being nominated once again speaks to the hard work our staff does to create an impactful experience for our visitors.”

To vote for Mill City Museum as Best History Museum and learn more about USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards, click here. One vote per day per person is permitted. Individuals are encouraged to vote daily through the contest’s end at 11 am CST on February 9. History lovers can also support the museum online by sharing the hashtag #MCMTop10 on social media.

Mill City Museum offers a variety of events for all ages, ranging from walking tours to family days. Guests can also now explore the free Women with Taste exhibit in the Mill Commons area during regular site hours.

Additionally, visitors at the museum can learn about Minneapolis’ growth through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities about the intertwined histories of the flour industry, the Mississippi River, and the city of Minneapolis. Other highlights include the Flour Tower multimedia show, scenic views atop the Koch Rooftop Observation Deck, works from local artists, and award winning architecture.

For interview and multimedia requests, please contact Nick Jungheim.

About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves, and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories, and connects people with history.

About Mill City Museum
Mill City Museum opened in 2003 on the banks of the Mississippi River. It was built within the ruins of the Washburn A Mill. In 1983, the mill was named a National Historic Landmark. A fire engulfed the then-vacant building in 1991, leaving only the interior concrete and limestone walls. Shortly after, the Minnesota Historical Society announced plans to develop a museum within the remaining structure.

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