Hennepin History Museum

Hennepin History Museum brings the history of the diverse people of our region to life. We believe that when everyone is represented, history can play an important role in bringing people and communities together. 

We are committed to offering welcoming and accessible programs, including exhibits, public events, a public research library, and one of the longest continuing historical publications in the state – Hennepin History magazine. We rely on the support of members and donors to provide these programs to the public on a free or subsidized basis. 

This Give to the Max Day 2024 we invite you to join us in raising $12,000 by November 21. These funds will help us advance an honest understanding of our region’s history to create a more inclusive and equitable future.  

Here are some examples of the programs and activities made possible through your support: 

1. Community-driven exhibits, such as Faraway Home: Tibetans in Minnesota on Tibetan history, art, and culture in Minnesota; Circle of Water: Puppetry as an Agent of Change featuring puppets, footage and music from the 1983 In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre traveling production; and In Memoriam: Residents of Pioneers & Soldiers Cemetery which highlights the stories of those buried in the oldest extant cemetery in Minneapolis.
2. More public events and community engagement in the multi-year work surrounding Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ  / Bassett Creek Oral History Project. Inspired by the use of the Dakota name for Bassett Creek, the museum and its community partners are now exploring exciting possibilities for reviving the creek's original name, pursuing Indigenous priorities shared in the oral histories, and working together to improve the waterway and the communities surrounding it.
3. A community-university-museum project exploring African American history in South Minneapolis that will generate plans for intergenerational experiences around the corridors of 38th Street and 4th Avenue, in alignment with the ongoing work to establish the future of George Floyd Square. 

We were moved by community member responses to the question “How has Hennepin History Museum impacted you?” so in honor of the GTMD this year we’ll be sharing their stories on our website, enewsletter, Facebook and Instagram. Join these loyal museum supporters by making a financial contribution to Hennepin History Museum for GTMD and by liking and sharing our posts on social media! 

About the Banner - The banner image features, from left to right: Ruth Birkeland at the New Brighton Squash Show in 1944; Dr. Ernest Lloyd, Researcher & Community Advisor, "Human Toll: A Public History of 35W"; Frances Cranmer Greenman, Minnesota portrait painter; Thupten Dadak, founder of the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota (TAFM).