Lyon County Historical Society Museum Honored for Storage Expansion Project

The museum's Collections Storage Rehousing Project earned a 2026 Minnesota History Award.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 6:05pm

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The Lyon County Historical Society Museum in Marshall, Minnesota has been recognized with a 2026 Minnesota History Award for its major project that expanded and improved the museum's artifact storage facilities. The award, presented by the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums, highlights the society's Collections Storage Rehousing Project, also known as the Mark S. Goodenow Collections Storage Room, located in the basement of the Lyon County Museum.

Why it matters

Proper storage and preservation of historical artifacts is crucial for museums to maintain and share their collections. The Lyon County Historical Society Museum's storage expansion project has allowed them to significantly increase their capacity to store and protect their growing collection, ensuring the long-term viability of these important historical items.

The details

The project was funded through a legacy grant along with support from the estate of Mark Goodenow. Improvements included the installation of high-density compact shelving, allowing the museum to more than double its storage capacity. Renovations also featured new flooring, ceiling tiles, paint, and lighting, along with the addition of a dedicated work processing room. The upgraded storage space was completed in fall 2024 and is designed to better preserve and manage the museum's growing collection.

  • The Collections Storage Rehousing Project was completed in fall 2024.
  • The Minnesota History Award will be presented on April 30, 2026 at the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums' annual meeting in Mankato.

The players

Jennifer Andries

Executive Director of the Lyon County Historical Society Museum.

Mark S. Goodenow

The Collections Storage Room is named after him, and his estate provided support for the project.

Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums

The organization that is presenting the 2026 Minnesota History Award to the Lyon County Historical Society Museum for its Collections Storage Rehousing Project.

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What they’re saying

“It's the heart of the organization. It's very important to preserve what we have in our collection, to store it properly, to be able to retrieve it easily for people who are doing research or when we want to change exhibits out. And having just more space, the room didn't change, but having a new system that we can more than double our capacity to store things is really important.”

— Jennifer Andries, Executive Director of the Lyon County Historical Society Museum

What’s next

The Minnesota History Award will be presented to the Lyon County Historical Society Museum on April 30, 2026 at the Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums' annual meeting in Mankato.

The takeaway

The Lyon County Historical Society Museum's Collections Storage Rehousing Project demonstrates the importance of proper artifact storage and preservation for museums. By significantly expanding and upgrading their storage facilities, the museum has ensured the long-term protection and accessibility of their growing historical collection, which is crucial for sharing the region's history with the public.