Governor Proclaims September ‘Local Heritage Preservation Month’

Honor is bestowed in time for 100th anniversary of MNHS Local History Services and 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Governor Dayton has declared September Local Heritage Preservation Month in Minnesota. This honor recognizes the commitment of thousands of Minnesotans and hundreds of organizations working within their communities to interpret, conserve and preserve their history and heritage for future generations.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (Sept. 8, 2016) - One hundred years ago this month, in 1916, the Minnesota Historical Society hired its first local history services professional to help communities manage government archives and records, photograph historic sites, and organize the preservation of objects.

Fifty years ago, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 formally recognized historical preservation as an important policy initiative and inspired local historic preservation efforts across the nation.

Today there are more than 500 local history organizations, heritage preservation commissions and partner organizations working in Minnesota’s 87 counties, and more than 1,600 individual Minnesota properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“It is a privilege for MNHS to assist such high-quality organizations and talented, committed professionals throughout the state,” said Stephen Elliott, MNHS director and CEO. “Whether saving an iconic, historic building, developing local exhibitions, or preserving artifacts and archives, our local history services team deserve our praise for a century of outstanding work.”

The public is invited to support local history by posting on social media about local heritage preservation stories and by saluting the people who are doing good work across the state. Use #movinghistoryforward and follow along with the conversation.

Find out more about MNHS Heritage Preservation and Minnesota’s Local History Network.

About MNHS Heritage Preservation programs and services
MNHS Heritage Preservation helps all Minnesotans move history forward by keeping the stories of their past alive. Staff use and share best practices for interpretation, conservation, and preservation, and connect Minnesotans with important state and federal resources, including technology, training and financial support through publicly funded heritage preservation grants and historic preservation tax credits. The department administers federal historic preservation programs in Minnesota, including the National Register of Historic Places, and is responsible for articulating a statewide vision for historic preservation.

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. Visit us at www.mnhs.org