Partners
Minnesota Partners
Our mission is to gather, preserve and disseminate history for the enjoymentand education of young and old, residents and travelers alike. The artifacts donatedto the museum, are symbols of our pride in the past. We are thankful for the foresightand hard work of this organization's founders and we continue to be dedicated topreserving our county heritage.
The Blue Earth County Historical Society dates back to 1901. As the Semi-centennial of Mankato and Blue Earth County was approaching, a group decided to organize a historical society as part of the event. A constitution was written and plans made to commemorate fifty years of settlement.
For the five-day Semi-centennial event, exhibits were created and papers were read commemorating early pioneers, industries, churches and schools. Following the semi-centennial, BECHS was inactive until resurgence in interest took place during 1916. The Society has remained active ever since.
In 1938, the R. D. Hubbard House was purchased by BECHS with money donated by Judge Lorin Cray for the purpose of buying or building a permanent museum. The house was then transferred to the City of Mankato under an agreement that the City would maintain it for BECHS to use as a museum. The City would pay the maintenance costs of heat and electricity. The Society transformed the building from a home to museum and opened it to the public on September 1, 1938.
During the 1980's, the Society was continually looking at options for a better facility for the storage and display of its collections. When the Summit Senior Center began looking for a partner to share the former Catholic Newman Center building, BECHS was ready to talk. The two non-profit organizations became partners in the late 1980s and BECHS took over most of the second floor of the building. Major fund raising provided money to remodel the floor into an exhibit gallery, research center and offices. The newly named Heritage Center opened to the public in August of 1990.
Nicollet County has been a gateway and a gathering place for thousands of years. The County continues to be an important crossroads today with growing cities, important businesses and industry, recent immigrants, and productive agriculture.
The Nicollet County Historical Society interprets the rich history of our county, the Minnesota River Valley, and our state. Visit us at the Treaty Site History Center, Harkin Store, Fort Ridgely, or the E. St. Julien Cox House; come to a program; or search some of our collections here online or in our library.
Established in 1926, the History Center of Olmsted County collects, preserves and interpretsthe history of Olmsted County. This independent not-for-profit organization is governed by its membership through a Board of Directors.
Today the Olmsted County Historical Society actively serves the Olmsted County by offering a varied presentation of educational programs, special historical events, exhibits, library and archives. It owns and operates five historic buildings and sites. A qualified staff manage the programs assisted by many enthusiastic volunteers.
The Olmsted County Historical Society is also assisted in it's mission by the support of an auxiliary organization, the Olmsted County Genealogy Society.
North Dakota Partners
The State Historical Society of North Dakota is governed by the State Historical Board and is organized into four divisions. All divisions are headquartered at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck.
The Historic Preservation Division provides for the preparation of a statewide historic preservation plan, and inventories, evaluates, and nominates sites for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The division assists in the preservation of historic properties at all levels, and reviews and comments to sponsoring agencies on federally assisted projects to assure that historic values are considered in project planning and execution. Information on National Park Service cultural resources technical assistance. The Division also provides for maintenance, repair, and operational control for all land and buildings in the custody of the State Historical Society of North Dakota, which includes fifty-six state historic sites. The division is responsible for constructing interpretive and visitor use facilities and implementing plans and recommendations relating to the historic preservation of sites and buildings.
The Museum Division presents the history of North Dakota through exhibits in the North Dakota Heritage Center and in branch museums, as well as through traveling exhibits. The Division staff provide technical assistance on exhibit design and collection care to the public and other museums in the state. The division is responsible for preserving and exhibiting the artifacts in the collection, including approximately 650,000 pieces in the archeological collection and 43,000 artifacts in the history, ethnology, and natural history collections.
The State Archives and Historical Research Library preserves and makes accessible records of North Dakota government of enduring value and is responsible for acquiring and preserving the other documentary holdings of the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Available are books, newspapers, maps, photographs, motion picture films, tape recordings, archives and manuscripts, and other historical materials for the use of both staff and the general public through reference services and programs of preservation.
The Support Services Division provides general supervision of all programs and responsibilities of the agency through the office of the director. Support and coordination are provided through budgeting, accounting, purchasing, personnel services, communications, inventory control, concession sales, and overall security functions.
South Dakota Partners
The South Dakota State Historical Society, first organized as the Old Settlers Association of Dakota Territory in 1862, established its official relationship with state government in 1901 through the former Department of History. Originally housed in the state capitol, the Society moved in 1932 to the newly completed Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Building across the street. In 1989 South Dakota celebrated its centennial and to mark the anniversary and showcase the state's history, the Cultural Heritage Center was built as the new headquarters for the Society. Through the years, state government reorganizations have shaped and reshaped the Society into the vigorous organization of today.
An office within the Department of Tourism and Economic Development, the Society manages five programs-- archaeology, archives, historic preservation, museum, and research and publishing. All the programs are located at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre, with the exception of the State Archaeological Research Center, which is located in Rapid City and the Archival Microfilm Unit at the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield.
