State Funding Cuts = Admission Hikes for Mn Historical Society Sites

Thanks to cuts in state funding, starting Thursday, it will cost Minnesotans a dollar more to visit most of the Minnesota Historical Society's sites and museums around the state.

From Fort Snelling to the Split Rock Lighthouse, the state agency is hoping the fee increase will help make ends meet after state lawmakers slashed their budget by $1.6 million.  

Society officials say they'll also begin to encourage donations for the free public tours at the Minnesota State Capitol.   

The change means museums like the Minnesota History Center, Historic Fort Snelling and Mill City Museum will charge $11 for adults, $9 for students and seniors and $6 for children ages 6-17.  

Kids ages 5 and under will still get in for free, and so will members. 

The annual membership fee will also stay the same. 

The admission price for students who visit historic sites and museums on school field trips will not go up.

The Minnesota Historical Society  will receive $20.4 million in funding from the state in 2012, which makes up more than half of the Society's operating budget. 

The last time the agency raised admission fees was in the spring of 2008. 

Society officials say they've also made other cuts to make up the shortfall, by reducing their collections department's capacity to acquire and process historical materials and eliminating 19 full-time positions in administration.