History of the Minnesota Judicial Center

The current Minnesota Judicial Center is made up of the renovated 1915 Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) building and a newer addition connected to the back of the MNHS building. The new construction is on top of what used to be the site of the Mechanic Arts High School in St. Paul. The addition to the building was complete in 1990, however the renovation was not complete until 1994 because MNHS needed to complete their own new building and move out before much work could be done.

The planning for a judicial building had been going on since the early 1900s but it wasn't until the 1980s that there was finally enough support from the legislature, along with a budget, to actually start preparations. 

This exhibit will share information from the construction of the MNHS building in 1915, to the planning process for the new Judicial Center to the choice of site, construction, and renovation. The building is now 30 years old and it's a good time to look back at how it came to be.