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History

This Stearns County Overpass Is a Portal to the Supernatural, According to the Man Who Named it

Before his death in 2023, Dan Becker wrote 75 books about a bridge. 

March 20, 2024

The Long, Neat History Behind the Departed I-94 Mannequin Car

Here's hoping the local landmark reappears over I-35 in Lakeville.

September 20, 2023

How Hubert H. Humphrey Purged the DFL of Socialists

After Gov. Floyd Olson's death in 1936, a nasty power struggle broke out to define the future of left-wing politics in Minnesota.

March 27, 2023

Take a Photo Tour of the Historic Duluth Jailhouse Turned Apartment Complex

The 100-year-old building represents a win for historical preservation, plus a template for how public money can amplify density and character.

January 25, 2023

How Minnesota’s Arrowhead Transformed Into a Tourism Mecca

“Only God could make that forest and only man can destroy it": Inside the 20th century push to save a region known for its "stump-filled lands and rocky soil," and reimagine it as a world-class vacation destination.

January 25, 2023

The Lost Lakes of St. Paul

Wade into the past.

January 12, 2023

The Lost Lakes of Minneapolis

Rediscovering the forgotten lakes, ponds, and marshes that once dotted the City of Lakes.

August 23, 2022

The History of a Hidden, Toxic Creek That Still Flows Beneath North Loop

You've seen Bassett Creek on Google Maps, but the 'truculent little river' was hidden deep below Minneapolis streets over 100 years ago.

August 3, 2022

The History Behind Minneapolis’s Alphabetized Street Names

Who the hell is William Penn, and why'd he get his own avenue?

June 6, 2022