Consolidation Announcement

For nearly the past four years, the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society, Museum of Lake Minnetonka (steamboat Minnehaha), Wayzata Historical Society and Westonka Historical Society have explored and studied the idea of consolidating into one historical organization serving the entire Lake Minnetonka area.

We are excited to announce that the Plan of Consolidation between the four organizations has won overwhelming approval from all of our memberships! This will allow us to join together to form a new historical organization — the “LAKE MINNETONKA HISTORICAL SOCIETY” (LMHS). The consolidation will become effective October 1, 2023, at which time the four historical societies will dissolve and the newly formed Lake Minnetonka Historical Society will carry forward our mission of discovering, collecting, preserving, and sharing our history.

The Lake Minnetonka Historical Society will have one of the largest archival and three-dimensional collections of Lake Minnetonka area history accessible in-person or online. Working together to combine the strengths of each organization and with the eventual addition of professional staff, we will be able to sustain and expand our mission and tell the story of Lake Minnetonka and its communities in new and innovative ways to new and existing audiences.

Plans for LMHS include housing our consolidated archives in one location to allow for best preservation practices and convenient public access; sharing our communities’ history through expanded public programs and experiences around the lake as well as in our current museums in Excelsior, Mound, and at the Wayzata Depot; and returning the historic 1906 streetcar boat Minnehaha to active operation. By working together, we believe Wayzata and the greater lake community will have much to gain from this effort.

We will be sharing more information with you throughout the year, and we look forward to hearing your dreams and vision for the new Lake Minnetonka Historical Society as well! Your support remains just as important as ever to our success during this busy time and will help shape this new organization. Feel free to message us or contact us at info@wayzatahistoricalsociety.org with ideas or questions.

We are looking forward to an exciting future with you as we continue to share the history of the Greater Wayzata Area and the rest of the lake as the Lake Minnetonka Historical Society!