The Minnesota Statewide Historic Inventory Portal (MnSHIP) is an online tool providing direct access to information related to more than 100,000 above-ground resources throughout the state, specifically data related to above-ground properties such as buildings, structures, landscapes, and linear resources. MnSHIP will allow users to utilize search tools and interactive maps to locate SHPO historic inventory data and view scanned records related to inventoried properties.
Access is free and available to all registered users. Users will have different levels of access for the public, including federal and state agency partners, and credentialed users. For credentialed users, which typically include professional historians, architectural historians, and archaeologists, the application allows for more in-depth research, exportation of tabular historic inventory data, and the ability to enter new historic inventory data directly into the system.
MnSHIP is the result of years of planning and development to create a software tool that allows preservation professionals and the public direct access to Minnesota’s historic inventory information provided you can access the internet through a web browser.
MnSHIP will also be the exclusive way to submit inventory information to the SHPO for review and acceptance. All programs that require inventory form submission will incorporate use of the application. Please see individual program webpages or reach out to the program coordinator for more information.
Not all SHPO inventory information will be available in MnSHIP. Because of their protected status, information or material regarding archaeological sites and surveys or Traditional Cultural Properties (TCPs) will not be available in MnSHIP.
In addition, some inventory file material such as slides, negatives and large format maps were not scanned for inclusion in the app. These types of material may be accessed by setting up an appointment to visit the SHPO office.
Finally, architecture-history survey and archaeology reports are not yet available through MnSHIP. However, some of them have been scanned and are available digitally. For more information on accessing SHPO files, please visit the Using our Files page.
This activity has been financed in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, US Department of the Interior. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior. This program receives federal funds from the National Park Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the US Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or handicap in its federally assisted programs. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of federal assistance, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, US Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240.
Access the MnSHIP Application (https://mnship.gisdata.mn.gov/)
Minnesota’s Statewide Historic Inventory consists of two primary resource types, commonly referred to as "above-ground resources" and "archaeological resources." These two categories describe how the statewide inventory classifies the information and where it is stored. The SHPO tracks some archaeological information in MnSHIP while the Office of the State Archaeologist tracks archaeological and cemetery/burial site information in the OSA Portal. The two systems reference each other, and it is imperative that any research related to federal or state undertakings take full advantage of both applications. The resource types and supporting data that can be found in each application are summarized below.
| MnSHIP | OSA Portal | |||
| Resource Type (right)
Record Type (below) |
Above-ground resources | Archaeological and interdisciplinary districts | Archaeological sites | |
| Precise Geometry | X | X | ||
| Generalized Geometry | X | X | ||
| Record Data | X | X | X | |
| Scanned Documents | X | X* | X | |
| NRHP Nominations | X | X** | ||
*request from SHPO **public information; Email DataRequestSHPO@state.mn.us with requests or questions.
Despite MnSHIP, the OSA portal, and the ongoing collaboration between the offices it is still necessary to contact SHPO for the following information for archaeological and interdisciplinary information:
Note: Access to some archaeological and interdisciplinary information is limited to qualified archaeologists.
A credentialed user account is not needed to submit project review requests to SHPO’s Environmental Review Program. An account should only be requested by cultural resources staff who are preparing architecture-history or archaeological documentation to accompany a review submittal. To request a credentialed user account, please send the following information to MnSHIPHelp.ADM@state.mn.us:
