Minnesota History Center - St. Paul, Minnesota

Minnesota History Center - St. Paul, Minnesota

The Minnesota History Center is the ideal place to learn about Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits featuring large-scale objects, hands-on experiences and multimedia presentations. A vast collection of books, pamphlets, etc., on the subject of the state’s past history can be accessed in the History Center’s comprehensive library. Extensive data that can help in tracing Minnesota family backgrounds or dwellings is available in the library as well.

Of considerable interest to visitors at the Center is an exhibit focusing on a single existing house in the so-called “Railroad Island” neighborhood on St. Paul’s East Side. The exhibit opens a “window” into the daily lives of people of the past. Stories are brought to life through the vivid use of voices, photographs and multimedia imagery.

Minnesota A to Z is an exhibit organized around the alphabet, each with a different theme. For example, imagine gliding across the smooth waters of a tranquil Minnesota lake in the long ago past in a Native-American built birch-bark canoe at “C” or press a button and hear the song of a loon at “L.” “J” for journey is for the wagon used by Dave Kunst of Waseca, the first man to circle the globe on foot.

One of the many popular revolving exhibits is one called “Play Ball” which highlights baseball artifacts pertaining to a collection of winning seasons in Minnesota professional baseball from the 1932 Minneapolis Millers to the 1991 Twins. Among the artifacts on display are:

• The glove worn by Minnesota pitcher Jeff Reardon in game 7 of the World Series.
• A Junior World Series trophy won by the 1955 Minneapolis Millers in their last season at Nicollet Park.
• Matching uniforms worn by two generations of Killebrews during a father and son game at Metropolitan Stadium.

Throughout the year the History Center’s Museum Theatre offers special plays and performances that highlight Minnesota’s past. “Tales From the Territory” is one such play that takes place during the turbulent times that unfolded some century-and-a-half before Minnesota’s statehood.

An annual special exhibit that has proven highly popular with visitors is the Showcasing of Ojibwe artists and a silent auction of their works. Ojibwe artists of all ages are provided a venue to show their artwork. All proceeds of the auction goes to the artist with the exception of a small donation for art programming at the Center. The exhibit can be seen from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.

Hours: Wednesday thru Saturday and Monday : 10am to 5pm – noon to 5pm Sunday

Admission: $7 – adults $6 – seniors and college students $4 – children 6 to 17 – under 6 free

The Minnesota History Center is located at the junction of I-35 E. and I-94, on the western edge of downtown St. Paul, at the corner of Kellogg and John Ireland boulevards.

Telephone: 651-296-6126 or toll free 800-657-3773

Admission: $8-adults $6- seniors and college students $4-children 6 to 17 under 6 free

Hours: Open Monday holidays and Monday Memorial days through Labor Day

The History Center features permanent and revolving exhibits so it’s best to check with them prior to visiting the History Center if you are interested in seeing a particular exhibit.

The Minnesota History Center is an entertaining and educational way to spend the day. Learn all about Minnesota’s past and its relationship to the rest of the United States.