August 21st, 2025
Fairmont — The Fairmont Opera House is honored to announce it has been invited to apply for funding through the Minnesota Historical Society’s newly established Commemorative Statues, Memorials, and Historic Preservation (CSMHP) Grant Program. The invitation recognizes the Fairmont Opera House’s cultural significance and urgent preservation needs as one of only seven organizations selected statewide.
This opportunity was made possible by the passage of the 2025 Legacy Bill at the conclusion of the 2025 Legislative Session. The Fairmont Opera House wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to Representative Bjorn Olson for his leadership and support in securing the Fairmont Opera House’s inclusion in this critical funding initiative.
The CSMHP Grant Program, launched in August 2025 and administered by the Minnesota Historical Society, supports capital and planning projects that preserve, reinterpret, and expand Minnesota’s historical narratives. Projects must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, ensuring excellence in historic preservation.
The Fairmont Opera House, built in 1901 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, intends to request funding to support critical restoration work as part of its $4 million “Preserve the Legacy, Enrich the Future” capital campaign. These funds will contribute to essential repairs and preservation efforts that will allow the Fairmont Opera House to reopen and continue enriching Martin County through arts, culture, and tourism.
“This grant represents a tremendous opportunity to protect and elevate a historic asset that belongs to all of southern Minnesota,” said Executive Director Blake Potthoff. “We are deeply grateful to Representative Olson for championing our cause and to the Minnesota Historical Society for recognizing the impact of the Fairmont Opera House.”
The grant application is due September 12, 2025, and the Fairmont Opera House is currently working closely with preservation experts and community stakeholders to prepare a competitive proposal. The CSMHP Grant Program will tentatively announce its funding in December 2025.
The state support, once finalized, may bring the Fairmont Opera House closer to its $4 million capital campaign goal, launched in 2024 to save the historic structure from permanent closure. However, community support is still urgently needed to raise the remaining funds.
The Fairmont Opera House is currently benefiting from a $25,000 matching gift in memory of Dennis Turner, honoring his legacy and long-standing contributions to Fairmont’s cultural life. All donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar while the match remains active.
The Fairmont Opera House remains closed to the public while fundraising before repairs continue. To learn more, donate, or follow progress on the campaign, visit https://fairmontoperahouse.org/capital/. To learn more about the CSMHP Grant Program, visit the Minnesota Historical Society website.
About the Fairmont Opera House
The Fairmont Opera House has been the cultural cornerstone of the Fairmont area and surrounding communities since 1901, providing a stage for a diverse array of performances and events. The historic facility is currently closed while the organization works to raise the necessary funds for the structural repairs required to reopen the building.