Minnesota History

“No mortal man could have surmised what was afterward learned, but the Confederate Naval officers intended to destroy the Minnesota…”
Confederate Military History, volume 12

Minnesota's Role in the First Republican Nominee for President

Our United States faces one of its most critical presidential elections on November 6, but did you know Minnesota played a role in another important presidential election in our nation’s history?

First test your knowledge on some trivia related to that historic election. Who was the first Republican to be nominated for president of the United States and what was his connection to Minnesota?

A Minnesotan Who Was Almost President

"The best brain and the surest brawn of the nation is found here (in the Midwest) and it should be organized into one mighty moral, material and patriotic force to overthrow paternalism and plunder, and regenerate politics and the Republic."

John A. Johnson
Governor of Minnesota, 1905-1909*

Lost "leggins, mockinsons, socks, etc…. no trivial misfortune."  ~ Lt. Zebulon Pike in 1805

Oh to be King

A Man of Character

“Providence directed me to send a dispatch 3 days march across the wilderness to Yellow Lake with a proposal to Miss Hester Crooks. The seventh day the messenger brought me an affirmative and the next day I packed up my affects, swung my pack and marched.”*

The King of the Minnesota Prairie

“Living in a barbaric splendor quite like an African King.”

The Tragic Story of Helen Sawyer

One of the sad legacies of Minnesota's early history was that of the Métis children during the fur trading era of the 18th and 19th centuries. It was a goal of the first Europeans to reach Minnesota to actually develop alliances and trade for the precious beaver pelts that were abundant in our lakes, rivers and streams. The high fashion in Europe at the time was felt hats and the beaver pelt produced the most sought after felt.

These blog entries will give you little vignettes of Minnesota history along with some suggested places to research deeper or visit.  Let us know your suggestions of additional resources.

1829 Revival on Mackinac Island Touches Minnesota