Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley nears completion with $32 million in state backing

Randall Dietrich, executive director of the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley, told the Minnesota Senate Subcommittee on Veterans and Military Affairs on Feb. 23 that construction of a new, larger museum is underway and scheduled to open Sept. 12, 2026. Dietrich said the project has secured $32,000,000 in state support and additional private fundraising to replace the museum’s long-outgrown facility across from Camp Ripley’s airfield.

Dietrich described a 30,000–40,000-square-foot building sited near Highways 371 and 115 and said the facility will move large outdoor artifacts (tanks, helicopters and a restored USS Minneapolis–Saint Paul conning tower) to a parade ground outside the new south entrance. "We secured $32,000,000 in state support and raised several million more in private funding to create a new museum at Camp Ripley," Dietrich said. He added that the galleries will integrate stories from all 87 Minnesota counties and include tributes such as memorial displays and tribal flags at the entry.

Members asked about exhibits recognizing women and Tribal service. Dietrich said outreach is underway to record and include those histories and cited a recent interview with a Fond du Lac elder that will be part of an integrated presentation rather than siloed exhibits. He said visitor-facing elements will include restored pieces such as the USS Minneapolis–Saint Paul conning tower and a World War II glider trainer suspended in the galleries.

The museum director declined to present detailed operating budgets during the hearing but said the project team — HGA (architect of record) and Breitbach Construction (general contractor) — has enclosed the building and is placing large artifacts on site. Dietrich invited members to the planned opening and said veterans who served on the submarine, including a former captain, will participate in ceremonies.

The subcommittee did not take formal action on the project during the hearing. The presentation concluded with an offer to respond to follow-up technical questions about exhibits and tours.