Great River Road Network of Interpretive Centers Visit Checklist
State Commissioner visits annually or bi-annually by making an appointment with the I.C. Director or appropriate personnel.
The goal is to develop a stronger relationship between the Interpretive Centers (I.C.) and the MRPC.
During the visit, the commissioner will review the checklist and share new or ongoing information about the MRPC. The talking points should include benefits of being an I.C. (e.g., featured on website, printed maps, social media, itineraries and more.)
- Interpretive Center Visited Mill City Museum
- Date of VisitApr 8, 2022
- Visiting Commissioner's NameTim Wilcox, Carol Zoff, David Kelliher, Chris Miller
- Name, Title, Email and Telephone Number of I.C. Personnel InterviewedDavid Stevens, Site Manager and Doug Raney, MNHS Director of Metro SItes
- What are your regular hours?As listed on website
- What is your admission pricing?As listed on website, currently - adults $12; seniors 65+, veterans, college students, active military $10; children 5 - 17 $8; 4 and under free; MNHS members free
- How many visitors do you see annually?107,000 (includes general visitors and school groups)
- Does I.C. have a website?Yes
- Website URLhttps://www.mnhs.org/millcity
- Do you have a button on your website with the Great River Road logo and link to the experiencemississipprver.com website?No
- URL to page where button is located
- When will you be adding a logo and link?Discussion will be taking place within the MN Historical Society
- Do you have a Facebook page?Yes
- Facebook URLhttps://www.facebook.com/millcitymuseum
- Do you carry GRR maps or rack cards for sale, distribution or on display?Yes
- Do you display a GRR banner or other signage?No
- Are your frontline personnel knowledgable of the GRR? Do they receive any formal training?Yes
- Do you have photos or video of your I.C. to share for promotional use?Yes
- What other Interpretive Centers do you communicate with regarding GRR activities?
- How could the state or national MRPC help your interpretive center?
- What do you need from us?We will likely take you up on the offer of additional ambassador training for front line staff.
- How have you worked with the MRPC in the past?I've been site manager since 2018, though Mill City has been affiliated with the MRPC/Great River Road for many years.
- How does being affiliated with the Great River Road help your visitation?This affiliation helps to demonstrate the national significance of the St. Anthony Falls area, and that the stories we tell are of national and international significance.
- Do many people visit your IC because they are travelling the Great River Road?No
- Has the status as an All-American Road led to more visitation?No
- Do people know about this designation and why it matters?Yes
- How does your organization currently connect visitors to the Mississippi River and the Great River Road?Through conversations by our visitor services staff at the ticket desk (where folks ask for travel tips) and with our interpreters who interpret the history of the Mississippi River to visitors, especially from our rooftop observation deck.
- Are the descriptions for your listing on the National Great River Road website and, if applicable, on your state’s Great River Road website up to date?No
- Please send updated information as needed, along with a photo (or photos) that you’d like us to use for promotional purposes.Updated information and photos were provided in our Interpretive Center online profile submission, April 15, 2022
- What are you doing to engage diverse audiences?
- Is the contact information on you website up to date?Yes
- Please send updated information as needed, include a phone number and email contact?Updated information and photos were provided in our Interpretive Center online profile submission, April 15, 2022
- COVID-19 Impacts
- How has Covid affected your staff and visitation at your IC over the past two years?We closed on March 13, 2020 and reopened fairly recently on November 4, 2021. Attendance has been about 50 - 60% below 2019 numbers through the winter, but are bouncing back this spring. We are open 4 days per week (6 days/week pre-Covid) with a smaller staff.
- How are you planning to adjust or how have you adjusted in 2022?Shorter hours and smaller staff until visitation warrants more. We plan to expand to 5 days per week in the spring of 2023.
- What do you see as the long-term impacts?We are concerned that summer tourism, our busiest time, will take some time to bounce back.
- How can MRPC help with regard to the impacts of Covid?
Comments:
A GRR Intepretive Center sign existed in the past, but was removed when a display changed. New placement is to be determined as part of an overall MNHS signage initiative currently underway.