Welcome Back, OAH Historians

Welcome to Minnesota! All of us at the Minnesota Historical Society are delighted that you are here and hope that you will take advantage of the opportunity to visit both our headquarters at the Minnesota History Center located near the State Capitol in St. Paul and Mill City Museum located on the Minneapolis Riverfront under the Gold Medal Flour sign. We are pleased to host several OAH panels at the Minnesota History Center on Friday afternoon and the OAH Centennial Celebration that evening.

The Minnesota Historical Society was established in 1849—nine years before Minnesota achieved statehood. You may know us as one of the largest and most dynamic state historical organizations in the nation. We benefit from generous public and private funding with support from over eighteen thousand members. I invite you to join the millions of people whom we serve each year both in person and online at <http://www.mnhs.org>.

Whatever your role—professor, K-12 teacher, student, archivist, public historian, or history lover of any stripe—the Society has something for you. Our program includes: the Minnesota History Center, our headquarters and location of the state History Museum and Library; Mill City Museum; the Mille Lacs Indian Museum; twenty-two historic sites (eight in the Twin Cities area); Minnesota’s History Day program; the Minnesota Historical Society Press; Northern Lights, a curriculum used by teachers statewide; public programs and much more.

Minnesota was privileged to host the first meeting of the OAH one hundred years ago. It is great to have you back to celebrate one hundred years of service to history. 

Minnesota Historical Society
Sites in the Twin Cities

• Mill City Museum, 704 S. Second St., Minneapolis, 612-347-7555. Built within the limestone ruins of the Washburn A Mill, the national Historic Landmark that was once the centerpiece of the world’s flour-milling industry, the museum tells the story of a mighty river, a young city, and how flour fueled the growth of Minnesota.
• Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul, 651-296-6126. A modern architectural masterpiece in a beautiful metropolitan setting, the History Center features hands-on exhibits, interactive school programs, comprehensive research library and state history archives, and vibrant public events.
• Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, 651-296-2881. There’s always something to see at the State Capitol, from its grand stairs to its historic Senate, House, and Court chambers. Designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert, the capitol has held a special place in Minnesota history since it opened in 1905.
• Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Ave., St. Paul, 612-726-1171. Once the northernmost outpost of the U.S. Army, this restored fortress invites you to the world of 1827. Costumed guides lead tours, demonstrate crafts, and practice authentic military drills.
• James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul, 651-297-2555. The rugged stone, massive scale, fine detail, and ingenious mechanical systems of this magnificent Gilded Age mansion recall the powerful presence of James J. Hill, builder of the Great Northern Railway.
• Alexander Ramsey House, 265 South Exchange St., St. Paul, 651-296-8760. One of the best-preserved Victorian houses in the country, the home of Minnesota’s first territorial governor is still filled with the original furniture and artwork.
• Sibley House Historic Site, 1357 Sibley Memorial Hwy., Mendota, 651-452-1596. Four limestone buildings stand testament to the Dakota trade managed by the American Fur Company between 1825 and 1853.