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Curious Minnesota

"Santa" waved to people as he made his way to the Christmas photo booth at Southdale Mall, Friday, December 4, 2015 in Edina, MN.
Elizabeth Flores/The Minnesota Star Tribune

Southdale’s architect had a vision to thwart the cold and create an indoor town square in Edina where it was always 75 degrees.

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More from Curious Minnesota

What was life like on Minnesota’s ‘poor farms’?

A century ago, most counties ran farms to house their poorest residents.
November 7, 2025
Black and white photographic print of a threshing scene at the Goodhue County Poor Farm. The image depicts a groupd of people standing with horses, wagons, and farm equipment with hay on the left.

What’s ‘The Birds’ star Tippi Hedren’s Minnesota connection?

The Alfred Hitchcock thriller’s leading lady was born and raised in the state.
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Tippi Hedren in "The Birds."

Whatever happened to Minneapolis’ Zombie Pub Crawl?

A huge festival that set world records in attendance seemed to have its own apocalypse.
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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.
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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.
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How a surveying error preserved ancient pines in Minnesota’s Lost 40

It all began when a crew misplotted Coddington Lake in 1882.
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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.
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What’s the oldest small-town festival in Minnesota?

Some of the state’s quirky traditions date back to the 1800s.
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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.
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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.
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A Metro Transit bus stop along Hennepin Avenue, shown last year.
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