Legacy Amendment Supports $6,691,191 in Large Grants to History Organizations Throughout Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn (January 19, 2024) – The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) is pleased to announce the newest recipients of 45 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Large Grants ($10,000 and more), totaling $6,691,191 in 23 counties.

Large grants are awarded annually to help nonprofits, educational organizations, government units, and federally recognized tribes to preserve and share Minnesota history. This cycle of awards was approved by the MNHS Executive Council on December 14, 2023.

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. The Legacy Amendment supports efforts to preserve Minnesota land, water, and legacy, including Minnesota history and cultural heritage.

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Large Grant Recipients
Recipients of large grants ($10,000 and more) from the fiscal year 2024 are listed in alphabetical order below. Each project will preserve and enhance Minnesota’s cultural and historical resources. All grants are competitive and awarded according to program guidelines and criteria, as well as professional standards.

Afton Historical Society and Museum, Afton, $97,172
To hire a qualified consultant to write an interpretive plan for the Afton Historical Society and Museum.

The Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Red Wing, $165,000
To hire qualified professionals to repair several buildings on the Tower View Estate, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Augsburg University, Minneapolis, $137,644
To hire qualified technicians to upgrade Augsburg University's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in their archives.

The Basilica Landmark, Minneapolis, $149,980
To contract with qualified professionals to prepare a structural assessment for the preservation of the Basilica of Saint Mary, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Caponi Art Park, Eagan, $12,660
To hire a qualified architect to conduct a condition assessment of the Anthony Caponi Home, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Carver County (Parks Department), Cologne, $48,500
To hire a qualified consultant to write an interpretive plan for Coney Island of the West in Carver County.

Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour, Faribault, $165,382
To hire qualified professionals to repair the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, St. Paul, $211,518
To hire qualified professionals to repair Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

City of Browns Valley, Browns Valley, $259,681
To hire qualified professionals to repair the Browns Valley Carnegie Public Library, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

City of Cokato, Cokato, $117,001
To hire qualified professionals to repair the Gust Akerlund Photography Studio, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

City of Delano, Delano, $282,800
To hire qualified professionals to bring the Delano Village Hall, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

City of Duluth, Duluth, $165,725
To design, produce, and install a set of interpretive markers on the City of Duluth's Lakewalk to tell the history of the city's growth and evolution.

City of Minneapolis (Community Planning & Economic Development), Minneapolis, $67,500
To hire a qualified consultant to conduct a context study and reconnaissance study in the City of Minneapolis.

City of Sandstone, Sandstone, $398,022
To hire qualified professionals to repair the Sandstone Public School Building, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

City of Tracy, Tracy, $16,600
To hire a qualified architect to conduct a condition assessment of Tracy Municipal Building and Armory, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Dakota County, Hastings, $40,000
To hire a qualified consultant to develop print ready graphics and fabrication drawings for interpretation of the Spring Lake Park Reserve.

Danebod Lutheran Church, Tyler, $176,900
To contract with qualified professionals to prepare engineering and construction documents for the preservation of the Danebod Folk School, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Ernest C. Oberholtzer Foundation, Marine on St. Croix, $37,798
To improve collections care and proper storage through proper rehousing and storage.

Giants of the Earth Heritage Center, Spring Grove, $37,004
To hire qualified professionals to produce a documentary on the history of Norwegian Ridge in southeastern Minnesota.

Goodhue County Historical Society, Red Wing, $83,699
To improve collections care and management through proper storage.

Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota, St. Paul, $85,978
To hire qualified professionals to produce a documentary on the recent history of Romanian immigration to Minnesota.

Hmong Museum, St. Paul, $200,000
To hire qualified consultants to develop and install an exhibit on the history of Hmong in Minnesota.

Kasson Alliance for Restoration Inc, Kasson, $87,588
To hire qualified professionals to repair the 1918 Kasson Public School, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Lake of the Woods County Historical Society, Baudette, $299,100
To hire qualified consultants to develop and install updated exhibits on the history of Lake of the Woods County.

Lyon County Historical Society, Marshall, $141,000
To improve collections care and management through proper storage.

Minnesota Masonic Historic Buildings, Bloomington, $272,470
To hire qualified professionals to repair the Duluth Masonic Center, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

MIXTAPE Dance MN, St. Paul, $75,000
To digitize archival video footage of early Breakdancers in Minnesota, allowing for greater public access to these historic resources.

The Museum of Lake Minnetonka, Excelsior, $104,669
To hire qualified professionals to repair the boat 'Minnehaha,' listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Northfield Historical Society, Northfield, $52,000
To hire a qualified consultant to develop architectural drawings for the preservation of the Scriver Block, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Preserve Historic Dinkytown, Minneapolis, $18,200
To hire a qualified consultant to research the history of Dinkytown in Minneapolis, in preparation for a future documentary film.

Ramsey County Historical Society, St. Paul, $24,000
To develop a web-based portal that will enable better public access to Ramsey County Historical Society's historic resources.

Regents of the University of Minnesota (American Indian Studies), Minneapolis, $242,841
To develop new website enhancements that will provide better public access and usability to the online Ojibwe People's Dictionary.

Roseau County Historical Society, Roseau, $275,599
To improve collections care and management through proper storage.

Rushford Area Historical Society, Rushford, $254,953
To hire qualified professionals to repair Southern Minnesota Depot, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, $144,687
To hire qualified archaeologists and consultants to conduct an investigation of the Pedersen Site and SW Minnesota using interdisciplinary methods to interpret the archaeology and history of the region.

Springfield Area Historical Society, Springfield, $79,295
To hire qualified technicians to upgrade Springfield Area Historical Society's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and lighting in their museum.

St. Clement's Episcopal Church, St. Paul, $250,000
To hire qualified professionals to repair St. Clement's Episcopal Church, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth, $44,936
To provide better organization of the museum collections, allowing for greater public access to the community’s historic resources.

Todd County, Long Prairie, $395,000
To hire qualified professionals to repair the Todd County Courthouse, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Tower-Soudan Historical Society, Tower, $398,250
To hire qualified professionals to repair and improve the Tower Fire Hall, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

True Directions, Inc., Mora, $213,143
To hire qualified professionals to repair C.E. Williams House, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, St. Paul, $200,026
To hire qualified consultants to develop and install an exhibit to interpret the history and cultural significance of Wakáŋ Tipi Cave (Dwelling Place of the Sacred), a historically significant Dakota sacred site in St. Paul.

Washington County Historical Society, Stillwater, $18,000
To hire a qualified consultant to write an exhibit plan for the history of brewing in Washington County.

White Bear Lake Area Historical Society, White Bear Lake, $45,870
To hire a qualified consultant to develop a Historic Structure Report that will help preserve C. P. Noyes Cottage, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Winona County Historical Society, Winona, $98,000
To hire qualified technicians to upgrade Winona County Historical Society's exhibit lighting system.

About Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants
The Minnesota Historical Society received a legislative appropriation of $36.981 million for the 2024-2025 biennium, including funding for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage ( Legacy ) Grants: $8,677,000 for FY2024 and $7,035,000 for FY2025.

Grants are available for history and historic preservation projects in two funding tiers. Small grants of $10,000 or less are awarded quarterly. Large grants of more than $10,000 are offered once a year. The next large grant pre-application deadline is May 31, 2024. All grants are administered through a competitive process using professional standards and criteria.

For more information on the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants program, including application deadlines, visit www.mnhs.org/preservation/legacy-grants. Applications are accepted only through the MNHS grants portal.

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.