Curious Minnesota
Why was the Mall of America built in Minnesota?
The "fantasyland" proposal for the former Met Stadium site almost didn't materialize.
Curious Minnesota
Minnesota companies once dominated the supercomputer industry. What happened?
Control Data, Univac and Cray Research designed some of the world's fastest computers. But their success didn't last.
Curious Minnesota
How were the bluffs of southeast Minnesota formed?
In a region known for its flat topography, one area diverges from the norm.
Curious Minnesota
Minnesota is a top corn producer. But how much of it is eaten by humans?
The state's plentiful corn harvest is destined for much more than grocery stores and summer barbecues.
Curious Minnesota
Why is St. Paul located where it is? Hint: It involves liquor
Religion and rebels feature prominently in the tale, which begins at Fort Snelling.
Curious Minnesota
Listen: Does Minnesota really have the 'World's Oldest Rock'?
The Curious Minnesota podcast discusses the 3.5 billion-year-old history of Minnesota's most ancient artifact.
Curious Minnesota
Listen: Who was Hennepin and why did Minnesota name so many things after him?
The Curious Minnesota podcast discusses the 17th century Catholic priest whose name is prevalent in the Twin Cities.
Curious Minnesota
Was Duluth once home to more millionaires per capita than any other U.S. city?
The claim was popular in Duluth's industrial heyday and is still dished to visitors today.
Curious Minnesota
Why did Finnish immigrants come to Minnesota? (And no, they're not Scandinavian)
Minnesota boasts more residents of Finnish ancestry than any other state. The story of how Finns arrived here is distinct from Swedes and Norwegians in several ways.
Curious Minnesota
Why can't you buy a car on Sundays in Minnesota?
Religion, economics and politics all play a role, but public opinion might have the most sway.
Curious Minnesota
Who was Hennepin and why did Minnesota name so many things after him?
The 17th century Catholic priest spent a short time in Minnesota, but left a long legacy.
Curious Minnesota
How many Native American boarding schools were there in Minnesota?
Research is uncovering the traumatic history of boarding schools in America, but many details remain elusive.
Curious Minnesota
What happens to hazardous waste Minnesotans bring to drop-off facilities?
Minnesota is a national leader for its extensive network of hazardous waste collection programs.
Curious Minnesota
What happened during the takeover of the Minnesota State Capitol in 1937?
For 15 hours in April 1937, the Minnesota Senate Chamber was under the rule of protesters who'd been encouraged by the governor.
Curious Minnesota
The voyageurs helped power Minnesota's historic fur trade. Who were they?
French-Canadian laborers were key to the Great Lakes fur trade, and were among the first Europeans to blend with Native tribes.
Curious Minnesota
Did a TV debate decide one of Minnesota's most scandalous elections?
A sex scandal during the 1990 gubernatorial election resulted in a last-minute candidate becoming governor in an upset.
Curious Minnesota
Does Minnesota really have the 'World's Oldest Rock'?
The 3.5 billion-year-old rocks of southwestern Minnesota are known to geologists around the world.
Curious Minnesota
How did Stillwater become home to Minnesota's first prison?
The east metro city was once home to Minnesota's primary lockup, which predates the state itself.
Curious Minnesota
Why do Minnesotans call them 'parking ramps' instead of 'garages'?
The auto-related regionalism is unique to Minnesota and some nearby states.
Curious Minnesota
How did Minnesota become a window manufacturing hub?
Minnesota's window industry is one of the most productive in the U.S.
Curious Minnesota
How lumberjacks harnessed an 'ocean of pine' to build Minnesota
Minnesota was a world leader in lumber production until the state's abundant white pine forests were largely erased.
Curious Minnesota
What is causing the mysterious 'Longfellow Boom' in south Minneapolis?
Neighbors near the Mississippi River have been searching for the cause of these "house-shakingly loud" noises for decades.
Curious Minnesota
Was the Minneapolis Park Board created to benefit wealthy land owners?
Critics said the 1880s proposal to create the park-focused government amounted to "cunning trickery."
Curious Minnesota
Why has the Park Board allowed the 'birthplace of Minneapolis' to deteriorate?
The storied, 172-year-old structure in Minnehaha Park is in need of exterior repairs.
Curious Minnesota
How did the Twin Cities become such a theater hot spot?
The region has earned a reputation as one of the nation's premier regional theater hubs.
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Curious Minnesota
Curious Minnesota, a Star Tribune community-driven reporting project, puts readers' inquiries at the center of our newsroom's reporting.
