MNHS Announces Second Round of Layoffs

Due to the ongoing closure of many Minnesota Historical Society sites and museums, MNHS has made the difficult decision to lay off 40 employees and extend the furlough of 34 staff. At the same time, MNHS will recall 16 people from furlough.

With last month’s staffing announcement MNHS has now laid off 216 staff out of the 595 people who were employed in April. This accounts for a 36% reduction in staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MNHS is working on plans to welcome back visitors to the Minnesota History Center and to Mill City Museum, and to resume tours at the Minnesota State Capitol, later this year. Split Rock Lighthouse and Jeffers Petroglyphs opened for visitors this week. For more information visit http://www.mnhs.org/visit.

MNHS is making decisions about historic sites and museums based on current state rules for reopening venues including requirements for cleaning, social distancing and limiting capacity, as well as the financial cost of operating the site, and the ability to deliver programming.

For the status of all MNHS historic sites and museums for 2020 view this open/close grid.

MNHS is following recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, and will adjust reopening plans as necessary.

For more information, visit our website at mnhs.org/covid-19.

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 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 mnhs.org.