Hennepin History Museum - Native Americans and Bassett Creek

John R. Crippen has been Executive Director of Hennepin History Museum since 2019. John has an extensive career in museum management having worked at the Minnesota Historical Society for 30 years, including serving as Director of the Mill City Museum and, more recently, as Director of Historic Sites and Museums. A native of Minnesota, John earned his B.A. in History at the University of Minnesota and received his M.A. in History Museum Studies from Cooperstown Graduate Program at SUNY-Oneonta.

John uses creative program leadership and strategic partnerships to bring diverse communities together and seeks ways to find new, sustainable operating models for the places that make history relevant to people in the 21st Century.

Hennepin History Museum brings the diverse history of people in Hennepin County to life and helps visitors understand the world through an exploration of local history with exhibits, collections, public programs, a magazine, and a research library.