81 Minutes: After the Bridge Collapsed

Our first project with this museum was to facilitate the StEPs program designed by the American Association for State and Local History.

A year later, we developed a new Interpretive Plan for this museum, which emphasized the importance of updating exhibits and better serving their core audience.

The exhibit “81 Minutes: After the Bridge Collapsed” was installed in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the Mississippi River bridge collapse in Minneapolis. It brought together the stories of rescuers, helpful civilians, and those who needed help. The exhibit had a profound impact on many visitors – firefighters who had not talked about their experience, victims who were grateful to see the larger story of collapse, and citizens throughout the metro area who were shocked by the collapse. In September 2013, the exhibit was recognized with an Award of Merit by the American Association for State and Local History.

Services provided:

• StEPs consulting

• Grant writing

• Interpretive planning

• Historical research

• Exhibit development

• Exhibit production