Updated: 12/5/2018 
John Stevens House
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Description

The house was built in 1849-1850 beside the Falls of St. Anthony and served as the civic and social center for the new settlement, becoming the site of many historic events.

Here, citizens gathered to name the City and organize Hennepin County. The first state agricultural society, the first school district and the first singing school were established in this house. Church services, baptisms and marriages were held here.

Federal judges presided over territorial courts in this house and Indian Chiefs Little Crow, Good Road, Shakopee and Hole-in-the-Day met in council. Here, the city streets were platted and named, transportation was provided across the falls to St. Anthony, and the development of water power was planned. The court and judicial system were established here, as was the school system, and the House served as the first courtroom and also as the first school room!

Mission

To preserve and present the history of the City of Minneapolis and of Hennepin County, and to inspire our citizens to continue creating a great metropolis

History

John Harrington Stevens was considered the "Father of Minneapolis" by his peers. He was born on June 13, 1820. He served in the army during the Mexican War before coming to the Minnesota Territory in 1849. He was a farmer, merchant, editor, and historian; served as a state legislator; and was founder and first president of the state agricultural society.

On May 10, 1850, he married Francis Helen Miller, whom he called the "Mother of Minneapolis", for her strong support of him and his goals. They had six children. He died in Minneapolis on May 28, 1900 and is buried in Lakewood Cemetery.

Artifact Collections
Galleries:

Currently on display in our galleries are photos and objects depicting the founding of the City of Minneapolis and the lives of the Stevens family. We are lucky to poses a few of the Stevens personal items such as a table, the parlor clock, chairs, a few other miscellaneous items and of coarse their children's cradle. We also display photos and information on the first act of preservation by the school children of Minneapolis. Learn of their involvement in moving this historic treasure from its' original location.

Come see photos of Minneapolis, starting from a lone house surrounded by teepees, to a cluster of farms in what is now downtown Minneapolis, and then a streets of ornate downtown buildings gradually fading into rows of residences. Look at the very table, laptop desk, clock and surveying instrument that were involved in the formation of our City. View the pictures of key pioneers, including Native Americans such as Hole-in-the Day. See the beautifully bound copies of early 19th Century sheet music that belonged to Helen Miller Stevens.

Programs

Storyteller, Larry Johnson - now available for presentations at schools and other organizations.

Services

John Stevens did have a general store, but across the river in St. Anthony. Our little display is designed to show some of the items that might have been available for sale in the 1850s in his store. In our little we do offer a few items for sale: bonnets (5.00 - 7.00),wooden toys (7.00 - 15.00), mugs (5.00), Victorian doll ornaments (5.00), Necco Wafers (.25), assorted note cards (designed by local artists), and a variety of books. We also offer Duke Addicks CD of Ghost Stories for $19.95.

Gift Shop
Hours of Operation
Memorial Day through Labor Day

Visitors love our historic house museum - where adults are excited by the vision of Minneapolis' past and future, while children also learn about the heroic role of children in saving this historical house and learn to play games and with historic toys

Tuesday, Thursday10 AM - 2 PM
Sunday, Saturday12 PM - 4 PM

or by special appointment.

Museum Type(s)
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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