175 Scavenger Hunt FAQs

What is the MNHS 175 History Hunt?

The MNHS 175 History Hunt is a statewide scavenger hunt created by the Minnesota Historical Society to celebrate our 175th anniversary. It includes 175 tasks that encourage participants to explore the state of Minnesota and learn about our shared history. There are four kinds of tasks within the Sacvify app: taking a photo, scanning a QR code, answering a trivia question, and checking-in at a location using GPS.

How do I join the MNHS 175 History Hunt?

The MNHS 175 History Hunt uses the Scavify app, which is free to download and available for iOS and Android. To join, download the app, create a username, and search for “MNHS 175 History Hunt.” Once you’ve joined our scavenger hunt, scroll down to find the list of 175 tasks available and start exploring! Note: the tasks are numbered for ease of reference, they can be done in any order.

You can download the Scavify app by:

• Visiting the Scavify website at https://www.scavify.com/download
• Going to the App Store or Google Play Store and downloading it

For additional information about how to join scavenger hunts on Scavify, please visit: https://www.scavify.com/participant-instructions

Can I use photos I took before the History Hunt began to complete a task?

No. All tasks should be completed between June 24, 2024 and September 29, 2024. Please do not upload photos from earlier visits to a location. All photo tasks must also include the participant(s) within the photo itself to count towards point totals. 

Where will the History Hunt take me?

The MNHS 175 History Hunt includes locations all across the state. In the Scavify app, you’ll notice that each of the tasks includes one of the following abbreviations:

• ANY: Tasks that can be done in any location or at many different locations.
• MNHS: Tasks located at one of our 26 historic sites and museums.
• MNOPEDIA: Trivia questions that can be answered by reading articles on MNopedia.
• CEN, TC, NE, NW, SE, SW, or W: Tasks that are located in one of 7 regions across Minnesota—Central, Twin Cities Metro, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, or West.

A full list and map of tasks can be found at mnhs.org/historyhunt. Take a look at the full list ahead of time to plan your Hunt. Some destinations may allow you to complete multiple tasks. For example, if you’re headed to Mille Lacs, you can:

• Visit Mille Lacs Indian Museum & Trading Post (2 tasks for 40 points)
• Take a photo with Wally Walleye in Garrison (5 points)
• Take a photo at the entrance sign at either Mille Lacs Kathio or Father Hennepin State Parks (5 points)
• Take a photo biking the Soo Line trail (5 points)
• Take a photo with the Geology Marker in Father Hennepin State Park or at the Scenic Viewpoint north of Isle (5 points)

Who can participate?

Participation in the MNHS 175 History Hunt is open to the general public. Players do not need to be members of the Minnesota Historical Society or be residents of Minnesota. Employees of the Minnesota Historical Society and their immediate family members are welcome to participate but are not eligible for prizes.

Participants play as individuals under a single Scavify account, but may do the scavenger hunt with the help of family and friends. Players must be 13 years of age or older. Children under the age of 13 are welcome to participate with an adult.

Is it free to participate? 

Yes! The MNHS 175 History Hunt is free to play. However, some of the tasks may include sites with admission fees. These include many of our historic sites and museums. Hint: to save on admission, become an MNHS member! Members receive free general admission to all of our sites and museums, plus a lot more.

Do I need a smartphone to participate?

Mostly yes. The scavenger hunt is available exclusively through Scavify and utilizes features that are designed for smartphones and tablets with cellular data. These include GPS check-in tasks and taking and uploading photos. The Scavify app is available for iOS and Android and can be downloaded to a mobile phone or tablet. Players can also access Scavify through their mobile browser, laptop, or desktop at scavify.com, however not all tasks may be accessible through this method. Players are responsible for their own technology to participate in the MNHS 175 History Hunt.

What if I don’t have mobile data or wifi where a task is located?

The Scavify app does not work offline and requires internet connectivity on your smartphone or tablet. If you do not have service in the location of a specific task, check to see if public WiFi is available in the location. If not, please do the following:

• For GPS Check-in and QR Code tasks, email us at 175historyhunt@mnhs.org with the task, location, and your mobile phone carrier. This will help us know if we need to change or modify the task. If it is at an MNHS site, please let the staff know also.
• For Photo tasks, take a photo with your device’s camera to upload later to the Scavify app when you have service. In the task in Scavify, you’ll see a icon with two boxes to the left of the camera icon where you can select a photo to upload.
• For Trivia tasks, note the answer and submit later when you have service.

Are there prizes?

Yes! While the real reward is creating memories and exploring the North Star State, a few pieces of swag always make the hunt that much sweeter. Each participant is eligible to earn prizes based on their point total at the end of the scavenger hunt. For each task you complete, you’ll earn a specific number of points (5, 10, or 20) up to a maximum of 1750 points total. When you reach certain point totals, you qualify for different prizes. 

For households that choose to play together under a single username, there will be a limit of one prize per tier per Scavify username/email. Thus, if two people participate together using a single Scavify account, they cannot claim two prizes from a single tier. Prizes can stack, so if you qualify for Tier 1 and Tier 2, you can receive both prizes.

To claim your prize, fill out the Prize Redemption Form when the scavenger hunt ends. You have until October 1st to claim your prize(s), as supplies last. The four tiers are:

125 points—“Gimme Morel History”

• Limited edition digital wallpaper downloads
• 10% off discount code to MNHS shops

250 points—“Walleye’ll be! Hooked on History”

• MNHS 175 Vinyl Sticker

375 points—“Loon-y for History”

• MNHS 175 Hat
• MNHS 175 History Hunt Socks

500 points—“L'étoile du Nord de L'histoire”

• MNHS Picnic Blanket
• New Minnesota State Flag Beach Towel

750 points—“A Monarch of Minnesota”

• Entry into drawing for a range of prizes:
  • Annual memberships
  • Book Prize Packs from MNHS Press
  • Behind-the-scenes or private tours of select MNHS Historic Sites
  • A private St. Paul walking tour for you and guests
  • Gift certificates to MNHS shops

Why isn’t _______ included in the MNHS 175 History Hunt?

Even though 175 tasks covers a lot of wonderful parts of our state and our shared history, it is not nearly enough to include all of the people, places, and stories that make up Minnesota. There are also certain histories and topics that aren’t well served by a playful scavenger hunt format. Thankfully, MNHS works year-round to bring Minnesota history to all Minnesotans through our museums, historic sites, programs, collections, grants, K-12 field trips, teacher education, books, and collaborations with communities across the state. Check it out at mnhs.org!

Are there rules or disclaimers I should know about?

Yes. The MNHS 175 History Hunt scavenger hunt is designed to be a fun and engaging way for all Minnesotans to learn about our state and shared history. We encourage all players to participate with these goals in mind and hope you will enjoy this activity with friends and family, discover new and wonderful things about Minnesota, and have a great time! To ensure a safe and enjoyable scavenger hunt for all, please adhere to the following rules:

1. All participants agree to abide by Scavify’s Terms of Use, including their minimum age requirements for users and prohibition of inappropriate content and conduct.
2. Do not break any laws while participating in the MNHS 175 History Hunt scavenger hunt. Doing so is grounds for disqualification and removal from the scavenger hunt. None of the challenges involve breaking any laws. If you think you cannot complete a challenge without breaking a law, please contact us for clarification.
3. Do not venture onto private property that is closed to the public to complete any of the challenges. All of them were designed for public places to which people should have easy access, although some of the challenges may require players to visit only during a location’s open hours. Please check a location’s website before visiting to make sure it will be open when you are there. Participants are responsible for any applicable entrance fees.
4. Be a good neighbor! When visiting locations in the scavenger hunt, be a respectful visitor. Many of the locations in the MNHS 175 History Hunt scavenger hunt are of historic importance, have significance to a specific community, or are places of commemoration, so please treat them with respect.
5. All challenges should be completed during the run of the scavenger hunt between June 24, 2024 and September 2, 2024. Please do not upload photos from earlier visits to a location. All photo tasks must include the participant within the photo itself to count towards point totals.
6. Play fair. This is not a competition with other participants, despite the opportunity to earn incentives. We ask players to keep their competitive instincts in check so they don’t ruin the MNHS 175 History Hunt scavenger hunt for others.
7. If there are any questions or disputes about players’ participation or the completion of any tasks, the determination made by the Minnesota Historical Society will be final.
8. Prizes will be distributed according to the process outlined in the Prize Redemption overview above. No exceptions to this process will be made except by the sole discretion of the Minnesota Historical Society.

Participants of the MNHS 175 History Hunt scavenger hunt visit all sites and undertake all activities at their own risk, abiding by all relevant laws, rules, and regulations. Please use your best judgment when visiting all locations and completing all tasks.

Players who choose to participate in this scavenger hunt agree to indemnify, save and hold harmless the Minnesota Historical Society from any and all claims or causes of action arising as a result of negligent acts, errors, or omission of the participant.

By participating in the “175 for 175” scavenger hunt, you give the Minnesota Historical Society permission to take, use, and reproduce photos of yourself for educational, documentation, publicity, or promotional purposes.