The Dakota County Historical Society was founded in 1939.

In 2017, the organization revised our mission statement to be more reflective of where our organization is moving into the future. As we went through the strategic planning process, we also adopted a new vision and core values for the organization. The committee met for more than a year to revise an outdated strategic plan that only guided the organization through 2020. The updated plan developed key focus areas for where the organization is headed and established a variety of metrics to measure our organization's growth and success in achieving our strategic plan.

The DCHS Strategic & Business Plan was formally adopted by the DCHS Board of Trustees on November 3, 2020. The Plan runs through 2023 and will reviewed annually for measuring progress and to make necessary adjustments and changes.

Mission: To preserve, interpret and promote the history of Dakota County.

Vision: We make Dakota County history available and accessible to all.

Core Values: Professional, curious, engaged, inclusive, and collaborative

Value Proposition: We make history come alive.

You can view the entire Strategic & Business Plan, or our Strategic & Business Plan Summary.