MINNEAPOLIS — The Hennepin History Museum is shining a long-overdue light on one of Minnesota’s most extraordinary freedom stories with its new exhibit, “Winston: A Woman’s Fight for Freedom in Minnesota.” The exhibition opened October 11, 2025, and will run through October 2027 at the museum’s South Minneapolis location.
The exhibit tells the story of Eliza Winston, an enslaved woman whose courage and determination made history in 1860 when she became the first and only enslaved person to win her freedom in a Minnesota courtroom. Her case exposed the contradictions of slavery in a so-called “free” state and stirred both outrage and hope across the nation.
Although Minnesota entered the Union as a free state in 1858, many Southern enslavers continued bringing enslaved people north for business, travel, and domestic labor. For years, this quiet practice was tolerated by many in the state. Winston’s legal victory shattered that silence, forcing Minnesotans to confront their complicity and igniting a wider conversation about justice and equality.
Grounded in the research of Dr. Christopher P. Lehman, professor of social sciences at St. Cloud State University, the exhibit offers a deeper look into the realities of slavery in Minnesota and the courageous fight for freedom that unfolded in Hennepin County. It features rare court documents, historical artifacts, and newly commissioned artwork by Minneapolis artist Christopheraaron Deanes.
Deanes’ painting, Freedom (2025), captures Winston’s quiet strength and resolve and will become part of the museum’s permanent fine art collection.
“Eliza Winston’s story reveals the courage of one woman who defied the odds to claim her humanity,” curators noted. “Her legacy forces us to look honestly at Minnesota’s complex history and its ties to slavery.”
The exhibit was made possible through the generous support of Annette Atkins, Nancy Hylden and Peter McLaughlin, and Margaret Lund and Chris Steller, in honor of Janet and Dean Lund.
If You Go
Winston: A Woman’s Fight for Freedom in Minnesota
Where: Hennepin History Museum, 2303 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55404
When: Thursday & Friday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Admission: General museum admission applies
More info: hennepinhistory.org/avada_portfolio/winston