A century ago, most counties ran farms to house their poorest residents.
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Bloomington’s Queen Anne Kiddieland was once a birthday destination
The little amusement park delighted suburban Minnesota kids.
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How a beloved piece of Camp Snoopy ended up at a Ham Lake pumpkin farm
The giant red dog bowl, once a Mall of America amusement park fixture, is now being used as a corn pit.
October 10, 2025
Minneapolis’ Witch’s Hat has a fascinating history. Will it ever reopen to the public?
The Prospect Park tower is one of three historic structures that haven’t held water for years, but are now city landmarks.
October 3, 2025
Raspberry Island was once home to curling rinks, a Navy training center, even an R.E.M. concert
The tiny Mississippi River isle under the Wabasha Street Bridge in St. Paul has a surprising history.
September 26, 2025
How a surveying error preserved ancient pines in Minnesota’s Lost 40
It all began when a crew misplotted Coddington Lake in 1882.
September 19, 2025
Where were Minnesota’s fur trading posts located long ago?
Waterways were key to trade routes hundreds of years ago. Historic sites include the Snake River Fur Post and Grand Portage National Monument.
September 12, 2025
What’s the oldest small-town festival in Minnesota?
Some of the state’s quirky traditions date back to the 1800s.
September 5, 2025
How did foods on a stick become a Minnesota State Fair tradition?
It all started with Pronto Pup in the 1940s. In the 1990s and 2000s, the idea really took off.
August 29, 2025
How close can a public bus stop be to someone’s home?
Metro Transit added a new stop in Uptown. Some neighbors aren’t happy about it.
August 22, 2025
Mining created these Lake Superior black sand beaches. One’s a tourist destination, the other a Superfund site.
Operations left behind uniquely colored beaches in Minnesota’s Silver Bay and Michigan’s Gay. But the materials are different.
August 15, 2025
What’s the story behind the red rock of Minnesota’s Pipestone National Monument?
Pipemakers say the stone, formed from a 1.6 billion year old clay riverbed, speaks to them as they carve.
August 8, 2025
Why do so many spam calls come from Norwood Young America?
If you’ve been pestered by random calls that seem to come from this small Minnesota city, you’re not alone.
August 1, 2025
