The weekend of Aug. 11-13, 2017, the Minnesota Historical Society and Minnesota Department of Administration will celebrate the completion of four years and $310 million of restoration at the Minnesota State Capitol. All are invited to a range of events all weekend long exploring stories of the Capitol and people of Minnesota.

Visitors can enjoy free tours of the Capitol led by MNHS interpreters and experience restored murals, gleaming new marble replacing 100 years of deterioration, hidden gems uncovered during construction and more throughout the weekend. Forty-five-minute tours begin every half hour Friday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

On the Capitol’s third floor, MNHS will unveil several new spaces during the Grand Opening. Formerly displayed in the Governor’s Reception Room, see the paintings “Father Hennepin Discovering the Falls of St. Anthony” and “The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux” in the new exhibit “Reconciling History: Views on Two Minnesota Paintings.” The exhibit offers more robust interpretation, historical context and a range of current perspectives on the artwork, including those of American Indians.

Visitors can also discover two panel exhibits on the third floor, curated in partnership with the Cass Gilbert Society, on the Capitol’s construction, history and restoration. Learn about Minnesota’s three different state Capitol buildings, see Cass Gilbert’s architectural plans and newly discovered construction photos from 1896-1905, and discover some of the amazing work that went into the recent restoration.

Also be sure to explore newly restored Civil War artwork in the Governor’s Reception Room and portraits of Minnesota’s governors returned to display with additional interpretation in the Capitol.

History and architecture buffs can delve deeper into the Capitol’s story and recent efforts to restore the building to its former glory in the new MNHS Press book “Our Minnesota State Capitol” by Denis Gardner, Minnesota’s National Register Historian, with a foreword by Gov. Mark Dayton (August 2017).

About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a nonprofit 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.

The Minnesota Historical Society is supported in part by its Premier Partners: Xcel Energy and Explore Minnesota Tourism