Curious Minnesota: Recent Episodes
Star Tribune
What do you wonder about the people, places and culture of Minnesota? Listen to our community-driven reporting project, which invites listeners to ask questions that our newsroom researches and answers.
Saturday, September 2 is Curious Minnesota Day at the Star Tribune's State Fair building! Stop by anytime between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We will be soliciting questions from fairgoers in the morning and asking people to vote on their favorite questions in the afternoon.
The introduction of margarine in the United States in the late 1800s was very controversial in butter-producing states like Minnesota. Prompted by fears that margarine would undercut butter in the marketplace, lawmakers in Minnesota and elsewhere imposed taxes and regulations to tamp down margarine's success -- including a requirement that it be dyed pink. Reporter Brooks Johnson joins host Eric Roper to discuss this surprising tale from Minnesota history. LINKS: Why did Minnesota once require margarine to be dyed pink? (June 2023 Curious Minnesota story)
Many people alive today have memories of Tonka trucks, which have been an enduring element of the children's toy market for more than 70 years. Now owned by Hasbro, these realistic metal toys were invented and once manufactured in the western Twin Cities suburb of Mound. Reporter Nick Williams joins host Eric Roper to discuss how Tonka got its start in Minnesota. LINKS: How did Tonka trucks get their start in Minnesota? (April 2023 Curious Minnesota story)
Minnesota's Iron Range essentially fueled America's success story as the country's largest source of iron ore. Curious Minnesota journeyed north to U.S. Steel's Keetac taconite mine to see how some of the state's largest machines make the raw ingredients for American steel. The trip was inspired by the Munson family's quest to find the state's largest machine, which was the subject of a January Curious Minnesota column. LINKS: What is the largest machine in Minnesota? (January 2023 Curious Minnesota story) Inside the mines and megamachines of the Iron Range (May 2023 Curious Minnesota story)
It was once considered "manifest destiny" that Minneapolis and St. Paul would become one city. A conjoined municipality would have a population similar to Seattle and Denver. But this idea never took off, despite simmering in the public discourse for many decades. The Star Tribune's Kevin Duchschere joins host Eric Roper to discuss why the central cities of the Twin Cities region remained separate. LINKS: Why didn't Minneapolis and St. Paul ever merge? (March 2023 Curious Minnesota article)
It has been more than 30 years since one of the most bizarre elections in recent Minnesota history. The Republican-endorsed candidate for governor, Jon Grunseth, withdrew from the race just days before Election Day amid a cloud of allegations. His last-minute replacement on the ballot, Arne Carlson, went on to defeat DFL incumbent Rudy Perpich -- the state's longest-serving governor. Reporter Randy Furst joins Eric Roper to discuss the campaign and a television debate that may have impacted the outcome of the election.Debate clip used with permission by Twin Cities Public Television.LINKS:Did a TV debate decide one of Minnesota's most scandalous elections? (September 2022 Curious Minnesota story)
Father Louis Hennepin's name is prevalent around the Twin Cities. The state's most populous county is named after this 17th century Catholic priest, as are a prominent Minneapolis avenue and countless public facilities. So who was Father Hennepin? Kevin Duchschere joins Ash Miller to discuss Hennepin's travels in Minnesota, and why his name became so closely affiliated with the area. LINKS: Who was Hennepin and why did Minnesota name so many things after him? (October 2022 Curious Minnesota story)
Historical markers peppered around Minnesota help keep the state’s rich history alive. But few are as intriguing — and controversial — as the landmark for Minnesota’s most ancient artifact: the “World’s Oldest Rock.” Eric Roper and Ash Miller discuss the 3.5-billion-year-old history behind this claim on a historical marker in Granite Falls. And they delve into the reasons why Minnesota boasts some very unique geology. LINKS: Does Minnesota really have the 'World's Oldest Rock'? (August 2022 Curious Minnesota story)
Minnesota's flour milling prowess is a well-known part of the state's history. But the area's milling legacy began with sawmills that turned the state's white pine trees into lumber. By 1905, Minneapolis was the top lumber market in the world. Transporting these logs to mills was no easy task. The Star Tribune's Christa Lawler joins host Eric Roper to discuss the logistics of how this booming industry worked. LINKS: How lumberjacks harnessed an 'ocean of pine' to build Minnesota
The John H. Stevens House in Minnehaha Park is arguably the most important structure relating to Minneapolis' origin story. But the exterior of the property is in rough shape after years of deferred maintenance. Eric Roper and Ash Miller discuss the unique history of the house, and why it has been allowed to deteriorate. LINKS: Why has the Park Board allowed the 'birthplace of Minneapolis' to deteriorate? (July 2022 Curious Minnesota story) Discover the hidden house in Minnehaha Park where Minneapolis was born (June 2021 Star Tribune magazine story)
Minnesota has more residents of Norwegian and Swedish ancestry than any other state, due to a wave of immigration from those countries in the 19th Century. But why did those immigrants choose Minnesota? Eric Roper and Ash Miller discuss the factors that caused people to leave Scandinavian countries in the 1800s, and how Minnesota became a major destination. LINKS: Why did Scandinavian immigrants choose Minnesota? (May 2022 Curious Minnesota story) Is Minnesota actually more German than Scandinavian? (January 2020 Curious Minnesota story)
Any list of the most famous Minnesotans who ever lived should include Charles Lindbergh, who became a worldwide celebrity when he completed the first nonstop flight from New York to Paris in 1927. But Lindbergh's controversial statements and actions in the years preceding Pearl Harbor have become an enduring aspect of his legacy. The Star Tribune's Kevin Duchschere joins the show to discuss Lindbergh's life and whether the famous aviator was a Nazi sympathizer. LINKS: Was Charles Lindbergh a Nazi sympathizer? (June 2022 Curious Minnesota story)
Some people believe that the battle of Gettysburg would have ended differently had it not been for the heroism of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry regiment. Their sacrifice in 1863 is a landmark event from Minnesota's early history as a state. Readers wanted to know why it isn't better remembered today. The Star Tribune's Kevin Duchschere joins the show to discuss the battle and the First Minnesota's legacy. LINKS: Why isn't Minnesota's sacrifice at Gettysburg better remembered? (February 2022 Curious Minnesota story)
While "Fargo" is undoubtedly the most famous movie filmed in Minnesota, it was far from the first. Star Tribune movie critic Chris Hewitt talks with host Ash Miller about the film "Free Air," which shot in Minnesota during the early 1920s. It is a film that -- quite possibly -- no living person has ever actually seen. What was the first movie filmed in Minnesota? (December 2021 Curious Minnesota story) Most of America's Silent Films are Lost Forever (2013 article from The Atlantic)
Nicollet Island is arguably the most unusual park in a city known for its parks. Located beside downtown Minneapolis, it is an oasis of green space in the heart of the urban core. It was once home to some of the city's most prominent industrialists, as well as factories powered by the Mississippi River. But it has undergone a major transformation in roughly the last half century. Chris and Rushika Hage, authors of a book about Nicollet Island, join host Eric Roper to discuss the island's history and how it came to look the way it does today. LINKS: How did Nicollet Island become parkland with private housing on it? (May 2019 Curious Minnesota story) A before and after aerial view of the island showing how it has changed
What do a medieval French prince and an 1800s Minnesota sawmill owner have in common? They're both key figures in the wild story of how the city of St. Cloud got its name. The Star Tribune's St. Cloud reporter Jenny Berg joins host Ash Miller to share the tale and talk about the series of equally strange events that followed. LINKS: How did St. Cloud get its name? (July 2021 Curious Minnesota article) St. Cloud Today newsletter sign up
Generating electricity and getting it to houses and businesses across Minnesota is a round-the-clock effort that is easy to take for granted. Star Tribune energy reporter Mike Hughlett joins host Eric Roper to discuss where Minnesota's power comes from, how it's distributed and who oversees our regional power grid. LINKS: Where does Twin Cities electricity come from and how is it delivered to homes? (August 2021 Curious Minnesota story)
The Minnesota accent is ubiquitous in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. But where does it come from? Keely Wolter, a Richfield-based accent and dialogue coach, joins the Star Tribune's Hannah Sayle and Rachel Hutton to discuss the accent's origins and what defines this uniquely Minnesotan way of speaking. LINKS: Why do Minnesotans have accents? (Nov. 2021 Curious Minnesota article)
Considered one of the most corrupt cities in America during Prohibition, St. Paul's historical relationship with gangsters was rooted in an agreement between the police department and the criminals of the city: As long as you commit your crimes somewhere else, you're welcome to hide out in St. Paul. Ash Miller and James Walsh talk about how this agreement affected the city, from its crime rates to its national reputation. LINKS: Did St. Paul really protect gangsters during the Prohibition era? (June 2021 Curious Minnesota story) St. Paul's gangster tours John Dillinger Slept Here book
Minneapolis' "Mill City" nickname traces its roots to a 50-year period when the city's flour milling dominated the world market. But that came to an end in 1930, when the city lost its crown to Buffalo, N.Y. Eric Roper and Hannah Sayle discuss how Minneapolis rose to prominence as a flour milling capital, and the many factors that led to the decline of flour milling on the riverfront. LINKS: Why did Minneapolis' famous flour boom go bust?
Last fall, Curious Minnesota listeners voted on their favorite questions submitted by people stopping by the Star Tribune's booth at the State Fair. There was a three-way tie for the top question. Those winning questions were: "What is the oldest building in Minnesota?" "How did the Northwest Angle come about?" and "How big does a body of water need to be to qualify as a lake?" Reporter Katy Read wrote stories on two of those questions for the Curious Minnesota column. She joins the show to discuss the answers with host Eric Roper. LINKS: How did Minnesota get its shape on the map? (October 2021 article) What is the oldest building in Minnesota? (December 2021 article)
The Jolly Green Giant has moved on from Minnesota. His legacy, however, lives on in the form of an iconic Minnesota River Valley billboard. Reporter Brooks Johnson joins Ash Miller to talk about the history of the Green Giant brand and what the billboard means for those Minnesotans who drive by it every day. LINKS: The Jolly Green Giant has moved on from Minnesota. So who is maintaining his iconic billboard? (January 2022 Curious Minnesota story) Jolly Green Giant commercial
The wildfires of 1894 and 1918 remain two of the worst natural disasters in Minnesota history, more than a century after destroying entire towns in the northern portion of the state. These rapidly moving blazes claimed more than 900 victims. What caused them to spread so quickly? Could it happen again? Hannah Sayle and Duluth reporter Jana Hollingsworth discuss the circumstances that led to these tragedies, and what lessons were learned to prevent them from repeating. LINKS: Historic wildfires once destroyed entire cities in northern Minnesota. Could it happen again?
Indigenous people have been living in the area that became Minnesota since ancient times. Anton Treuer, professor of Objiwe at Bemidji State University, joins the podcast to discuss the Native Americans who inhabited the state prior to European settlement -- and their tribal affiliations. LINKS: Which Indigenous tribes first called Minnesota home?
Star Tribune reader Sharon Carlson joins the podcast to discuss her questions that have been answered by Curious Minnesota. Eight of Carlson's questions, linked below, have appeared in the column.
How did St. Cloud get its name? It's a strange story Are Minnesota's day-care costs really the highest in the nation? Why does Minnesota have one of highest rates of volunteering in the country? Why is Minnesota the only mainland state with an abundance of wolves? What was the most destructive tornado in Minnesota history? Why was the career of Minnesota's first congresswoman cut short? Frozen for the future: Does Minnesota have any cryonics facilities? What does it take to become a police officer in the state of Minnesota?
Additionally, here is an article about the police training video that Sharon mentioned during the conversation.
Streetcars were a defining feature of what it meant to live in Minneapolis and St. Paul in the early 20th Century. The elimination of the streetcar system in the 1950s, in favor of buses, dramatically reshaped life in the Twin Cities. A number of unusual characters played a role in that switch -- several of whom went to prison. Hannah Sayle and Eric Roper discuss organized crime's impact on Twin City Rapid Transit Company during this period. LINKS: Was organized crime behind the demise of the Twin Cities streetcar system? (Nov. 2021 Curious Minnesota story) Minnesota History magazine article about what occurred after the 1960 convictions
Minnesota is home to one of the most prominent roadway testing facilities in the nation, known as MnROAD. Researchers there study how different pavement types hold up amid real-world traffic on Interstate 94 and Minnesota's extreme weather. Audience Producer Ash Miller joined the podcast to discuss how MnROAD is helping engineers around the country design better roads. LINKS: Why a slice of I-94 west of the Twin Cities is a 'candyland for researchers' (July 2021 Curious Minnesota story) Overview of the different types of roadway materials being studied at MnROAD (U.S. DOT) Video of low-volume road truck driver (MnDOT)
St. Anthony Falls has long been one of Minneapolis' top attractions. But the endurance of the falls is due to some complex infrastructure designed to halt erosion. A key component of that infrastructure is a hidden wall -- buried beneath the river -- that has protected the falls for roughly 145 years. Little is known about the wall's condition, however. River historian John Anfinson believes there needs to be a comprehensive study of the structure's status. Anfinson is the former superintendent of the national park comprising the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities. LINKS: Graphic illustrating how the wall works August 2021 article about the the wall Vote for your favorite State Fair question
The next generation of cellular technology, known as 5G, will bring much faster speeds. But the rollout of 5G has been accompanied by a litany of new cellular antenna poles in some neighborhoods, particularly in Minneapolis. Eric Roper and Ash Miller discussed the evolution of cellular technology and the reason for all the new antennas. LINKS: Why is there a new cellular pole in my Minneapolis neighborhood? (May 2021 Curious Minnesota story) Map of small cell carrier-owned pole locations in Minneapolis
We asked fairgoers to tell us what they want to know about Minnesota during Curious Minnesota Day at the Star Tribune's State Fair building on August 28. Today's episode features recordings of many of the people who submitted questions. Click the link below to vote for your favorite! Vote for your favorite question here (or by e-mailing Curious@StarTribune.com) See photos and video of the event (Instagram post)
The arrival of vaccines earlier this year offered a glimmer of hope that the COVID-19 pandemic was nearing an end. But the emergence of the delta variant has dampened some of that optimism. The Star Tribune solicited reader questions about this new phase of the pandemic. Pulitzer Prize-winning health reporters Glenn Howatt and Jeremy Olson discussed the answers in their third appearance on the podcast.
It has been roughly a century since planes began flying at what is now Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, which has evolved from a bankrupt racetrack to an acclaimed travel hub. Transportation reporter Janet Moore joins the podcast to discuss the airport's long history. LINKS: From bankrupt racetrack to aviation hub — what remains from MSP Airport's early days? (May 2021 Curious Minnesota story) Panoramic photo of the 1923 Wold-Chamberlain dedication ceremony. A history of the Twin City Motor Speedway (from Winter 2007-2008 issue of Minnesota History magazine)
The monthly Wednesday tornado siren test, a Minnesota tradition, traces its origins back to 1950s fears of a Soviet atomic bomb attack. Writer Dave Kenney, who has researched Civil Defense in Minnesota, discusses how Minnesotans responded to an evolving international threat during the Cold War. LINKS: Why does Minnesota test tornado sirens on the first Wednesday of the month? (April 2021 Curious Minnesota Article) Civil Defense in Minnesota, 1950–1974 (written by Dave Kenney)
Fears of a Soviet attack during the 1950s spurred the federal government to install four missile sites around the Twin Cities. The "Nike-Hercules" nuclear warheads stored in those bunkers stood ready to take down Soviet bombers headed for the Twin Cities. Curious Minnesota host Eric Roper discusses the topic with reporter Michelle Griffith, a former Star Tribune intern who now works at the Fargo Forum newspaper. LINKS: Was Minnesota home to nuclear missiles during the Cold War? (April 2020 Curious Minnesota story) When nukes in a cornfield protected the Twin Cities from the Soviet Union Former Nike Hercules missile in St. Bonifacius stands as a reminder of the Cold War
The source of the Mississippi was a consequential mystery after the Revolutionary War. It remains hotly debated in some circles today. Connie Cox, the lead interpretive naturalist at Itasca State Park, discusses the history and science behind this issue with host Eric Roper. LINKS: Is Minnesota’s tiny Lake Itasca the true source of the Mississippi River? Could the Mississippi River actually begin in South Dakota? Minnesota History: Controversy at the Mississippi's headwaters
The Great Northern Depot on Hennepin Avenue was a de facto welcome mat for Minneapolis for many years. Along with the Milwaukee Road Depot, it was the primary place people arrived in the city. So why was Great Northern torn down in 1978, while the Milwaukee Road Depot survived? Rail historian Aaron Isaacs joins host Eric Roper to discuss the history of the Depot and the decline of passenger rail travel in the 20th Century. Story and photo gallery
For part of the 20th Century, Ford Motor Company relied heavily on sand beneath its plant in St. Paul to make windows for its cars. Host Eric Roper discusses that operation with reporter John Reinan. LINKS: John's Curious Minnesota story about the Ford Plant sand mining A timeline of St. Paul's Ford Plant operations Made in St. Paul: Stories from the Ford Plant (Twin Cities PBS / Producer: Peter Myers)
Both Minneapolis and St. Paul draw their drinking water from the Mississippi River. Curious Minnesota host Eric Roper paid a visit to Minneapolis’ water treatment campus in Fridley to understand the complex process that makes river water safe to drink. LINKS: Photo gallery Article (published in October 2020)
A number of states have joined an effort that would effectively bypass the Electoral College in determining America's president. Those states have signed on to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would commit their electoral votes to whoever wins the national popular vote. Will Minnesota participate? Reporter Torey Van Oot joins host Eric Roper to discuss the proposal. Read her story here. The reader question was inspired by a discussion on the New York Times' "The Daily" podcast, which you can listen to here.
Malls ending in the suffix "Dale" are peppered across the Twin Cities. But why "Dale"? Reporter John Ewoldt joins us to discuss the history of the Dales, starting with the landmark mall that started it all — Southdale. Host Eric Roper and Ewoldt discuss how the vision of the Dayton Corporation reshaped retail in the region. Read John's story here.