To the editor:

The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. This nonprofit receives millions from the State to operate state and privately owned Historic Sites including staffing and programming of MNHS’s choosing.

MNHS revealed a $782,000 deficit for its 2024 budget citing staffing as a significant cause. The nonprofit has raked up 12 National Labor Relations Board complaints, many dealing with historic site staff. Minnesota’s historic sites have suffered the consequences of the nonprofit’s inability to meet national standards only three years after MNHS employees unionized.

Taxpayers and Minnesota history have experienced unprecedented losses. Lower Sioux Agency Historic Site is slated to close eliminating access to more than 20 graves including civilians murdered on the first day of the U.S. — Dakota War. MNHS closed Upper Sioux Agency Historic Site to visitors. MNHS management of the state-owned site also removed it from the National Register of Historic Places without approval from State officials. And Fort Ridgely was stripped of its exhibits and interpreters leaving that historic site and its cemetery barren.

At Historic Fort Snelling, several historic locations were renamed for MNHS donors including the Old Post Cemetery, a predecessor to Fort Snelling National Cemetery. The monument at the site honors murderers according to MNHS authored reports filed with the National Park Service.

At the Sibley Historic Site, MNHS offered $100,000 to a donor in exchange for the donor’s end to site expenditure inquiries. Minnesota nonprofits are exempt from data inquiries under State law. The donor reported the hush money offer to State authorities.

It is time to investigate the nonprofit Minnesota Historical Society before it bankrupts Minnesota’s Historic Sites and taxpayers.

Stephanie Chappell

Glencoe