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A resource for reliable information about significant people, places, events, and things in Minnesota history.
Welcome | Funding | Mission | Timeline | Content | Technology | Credits | Acknowledgments |
Welcome to MNopedia (min-ō-pē-dē-ə | min-oh-PEE-dee-uh), an online encyclopedia about Minnesota developed by the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) and its partners. It is a free, curated, and authoritative resource about our state. All of our articles are prepared by historians, consulting experts, professional writers, and others who have been vetted by MNHS.
As of June 4, 2024, MNopedia is no longer accepting unsolicited article submissions. If you'd like to learn about the details of how MNopedia articles are published and shared, you can refer to our editorial policy.
For more general background information, listen to a radio story about MNopedia from KFAI and the Ampers network.
Who funds MNopedia? Minnesotans! MNopedia is made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008. Learn more about MNHS and the Legacy Amendment.
MNopedia's mission is simple: to share current, reliable and relevant information about significant people, places, events, and things in Minnesota history. To accomplish this mission we:
• Collaborate with a variety of expert contributors.
• Align our content with state education standards.
• Enliven our entries with images, audio, and video.
• Maintain a user-friendly Web site.
• Take advantage of the latest tools and technologies.
• Continue to add new entries and resources.
Phase One: Planning. In 2010, the Minnesota Historical Society met with potential users and contributors to hear their ideas about MNopedia. We consulted with national technology experts and evaluated similar Web resources. Then, we created a detailed work plan and took action.
Phase Two: Building. In 2011, we built MNopedia. It features content from the Minnesota Historical Society and leading Minnesota historians. It is designed so its content can be easily moved, updated, and shared.
Phase Three: Testing—Ongoing. Having completed an initial round of testing, we continue to test and refine this unique resource based on feedback from our users.
Phase Four: Expanding. This is where we are now. We'll continue building on what we've learned from users to expand MNopedia. We'll add new features and consider new ways to deliver content. We'll also explore content partnerships with other organizations, find more experts to contribute, and integrate new articles.
Each article in MNopedia is a curated package of information that introduces a subject and points to valuable related material. Packages are composed of:
• Narrative text explaining why a subject is significant.
• Related media featuring images, audio and video.
• Related articles linking to more MNopedia content.
• A turning point/overview summarizing the narrative text.
• Chronology points noting important dates in the text.
• A bibliography citing sources used to create the text.
• Related resources listing additional credible sources.
Our content covers a variety of eras:
Eras*
Before European Contact: Pre–1585
Colonization and Settlement: 1585–1763
Revolution and a New Nation: 1754–1800
Expansion and Reform: 1792–1861
Civil War and Reconstruction: 1850–1877
Development of an Industrial United States: 1870–1920
Great Depression and World War II: 1920–1945
Post World War II United States: 1945–1989
The United States in a New Global Age: 1980–Present
*MNopedia eras are aligned with the 2011 Minnesota K–12 Academic Standards in Social Studies.
Topics
African Americans
Agriculture
American Indians
Architecture
The Arts
Business and Industry
Cities and Towns
Education
Environment
Exploration
Health and Medicine
Immigration
Labor
Politics
Religion and Belief
Sports and Recreation
Technology
Transportation
War and Conflict
Women
Categories
Events
Groups
People
Places
Structures
Things
MNopedia gives special thanks to the Internet Digital Encyclopedia Alliance, Minnesota history scholars, John and Stephanie Rupp, Joan Mathison, Minnesota Wikipedia editors, county and local history professionals, History Day and Northern Lights instructors, and other Minnesota Historical Society staff members who have provided support for this project.