Welcome!
The Minnesota Digital Library (MDL) was established twenty years ago to digitize and provide access to the unique collections of Minnesota’s cultural heritage organizations. When MDL’s website launched in 2005, it included over 5,000 historical images contributed by 51 historical societies, colleges, and cultural institutions from across the state. These founding organizations were only the beginning, and the digital collections grew quickly.
In honor of MDL’s 20th anniversary year, eighteen of our founding contributors selected documents and photographs from their collections and shared their stories in this special Contributor's Choice exhibit. The variety of their choices highlights the breadth and depth of the digital collections in MDL. They feature iconic views, present little-known back stories, narrate unique experiences, provide valuable and fascinating records, and capture moments in time that may never happen again.
We hope you enjoy these favorite items and are inspired to search our collections for even more highlights!
Start exploring these contributor choices using the page links below.