Each week, MinnPost brings you a highlight of our state’s past from MNopedia, an encyclopedia of Minnesota history written by experts and produced by the Minnesota Historical Society.
In 1918, Grand Marais was considered the center of the North Shore fishing industry, with 126 official licensed fishermen and an annual yield of 4,283,684 pounds of fish.
Women and girls made up around 20 percent of the fort’s population from the time of the first census in 1849 until at least 1900.
Clifford was relatively upfront about the operations at 147 Washington Street, since she operated her brothel within the St. Paul’s vice districts.
Linton helped discover a new mineral, improved the process for manufacturing asphalt and later supervised the women’s ward at the Rochester state hospital.
The war devastated people throughout south-central Minnesota.
Following passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, Moller continued her activism by advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment and women’s labor rights.
In the 1950s, Minnesota communities — like others across the United States — began to expand beyond the boundaries of city centers into newly formed suburbs. Suburban sprawl led to a widespread interest in preserving open spaces.
In January 1980, an estimated 800 people turned out on frozen Leech Lake for the first International Eelpout Festival to compete for the trophy awarded for the largest eelpout caught.
Wigington’s works include the Hamline and Minnehaha playground buildings, Harriet Island Pavilion and the Highland Park Water Tower.
Born to a wealthy family, Whiteman would go on to earn renown as a forger and con man.
One of Coyle’s biggest achievements was the 1991 passage of Minneapolis’s Domestic Partners Ordinance, which allowed same-sex and different-sex couples to register as domestic partners.
Lovelace published thirteen Betsy-Tacy books between 1940 and 1955.
The breaking of the strike cemented the power of the Minneapolis Citizens Alliance, a group of business owners who banded together to limit workers’ rights.
Argento recognized by his fourth year teaching at the University of Minnesota that Minneapolis would be his home for the rest of his life.
When George Hormel founded the company, large processors relied on centralized operations — mostly in Chicago.
The capitol construction made use of cutting-edge technology for the time, such as steam-powered hoists.
Thomas Barlow Walker worked his way through school in a number of professions before gaining knowledge of northern Minnesota forests through a tip.
Promotional materials for the book ran afoul of the Comstock Act, which made using the U.S. mail to distribute obscenity (including specifically any information about abortion) a felony.
Women Airforce Service Pilots didn’t receive recognition for their service for many years.
The area has provided clues about the lives of a group of people who remained relatively isolated from Upper Mississippi trade networks.
