Exhibit Exploring Complex History of Historic Fort Snelling Awarded Prestigious Honor

ST. PAUL, Minn (June 23, 2025) – The recent exhibit spanning thousands of years of complex history at Historic Fort Snelling was awarded the nation’s most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.Many Voices, Many Stories, One Place received the Leadership in History Award of Excellence from the American Association of State and Local History (AASLH).

Many Voices opened at Historic Fort Snelling in 2023 with the goal of telling converging histories through the perspectives of dozens of individuals whose lives intersected with the site. It is the result of extensive collaboration with a diverse array of community stakeholders, including Dakota advisors, descendants, veterans, and scholars. 

The recognition awarded to Many Voices, Many Stories, One Place is one of 54 national awards given by the AASLH this year. The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The award will be presented at the AASLH Annual Conference in September.

Historic Fort Snelling is open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 am–4 pm throughout the summer and Thursdays through Sundays year-round.

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.

About AASLH

The American Association for State and Local History is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership, service, and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all people. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, and maintains numerous affinity communities and committees serving a broad range of constituents across the historical community. The association also sponsors an annual meeting, regional and national training in-person workshops, and online training