52 Nice Facts About Minnesota: Land of Lakes, Culture and Quirkiness

Nestled in the heart of the Upper Midwest, Minnesota’s diverse offerings extend far beyond its renowned Land of 10,000 Lakes reputation. As we delve into the following collection of over 50 intriguing facts, you’ll uncover the hidden gems and extraordinary tales that have shaped this state into a captivating mosaic of culture, nature, and innovation. From quirky landmarks to historic milestones, culinary delights, and the dynamic spirit of its people, Minnesota’s story is one of endless exploration and discovery. So join us as we embark on a journey — continuing through the United States from Alabama to Florida and Idaho to Michigan — through these captivating facts, unveiling the essence of the North Star State in all its splendid glory.

What is Minnesota known for?

1. Land of 10,000 Lakes! Minnesota is renowned for its numerous lakes, with over 11,000 scattered across the state. These lakes vary in size and offer plenty of fun opportunities for recreation, fishing, and other water-based activities.

2. The Twin Cities! Minneapolis and Saint Paul form a dynamic metropolitan region in Minnesota. Minneapolis is known for its vibrant arts scene, modern architecture, and bustling downtown.Saint Paul offers a more historic ambiance with charming neighborhoods and a focus on preserving its cultural heritage. Together, the Twin Cities boast a blend of urban sophistication, diverse communities, and a rich cultural tapestry that makes them a hub for arts, commerce, and innovation in the Upper Midwest.

3. Unique geology! Minnesota’s literal place in the world has lent itself to unique geology. The impact of glacial movements, ancient volcanic activity, and sedimentation from seas millions of years ago have all contributed to the picturesque landscape of lakes, rivers, and dense forests the state is famous for. From the Glacial River Warren to the Boreal Forest in the north and the Minnesota River Valley to the Driftless Area, many reminders of the physical history of Earth can be found in present-day Minnesota.

Early history of Minnesota facts

4. The first white people to come to modern day Minnesota were probably French fur traders who used the Grand Portage in the 17th century to get deeper into the region as the beaver and pelt game got bigger and bigger and became a key industry of. the global economy.

5. The French and Indian War ended in 1763, resulting in the British taking over east Minnesota.

6. When the Revolutionary War ended on September 3, 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the Minnesota land the British had taken over became a part of the United States.

7. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 deal with France included the rest of Minnesota.

8. Fort Snelling was completed in 1825 and was the first major outpost in the United States. Built where the Mississippi River and Minnesota River meet, two major cities were set up on either side: Saint Paul and Minneapolis, creating the Twin Cities.

9. In 1849, the Minnesota Territory officially became a part of the United States.

10. On May 11, 1858, Minnesota became the 32nd state in the Union to join the United States.

What famous people are from Minnesota?

11. Prince Rogers Nelson just may be the greatest American musician in the history of rock-n-roll, with a prolific output that rivals anyone’s in popular music. The Purple Rain and Sign o’ the Times genius was born in Minneapolis.

12. F. Scott Fitzgerald was the author of The Great Gatsby and This Side of Paradise and left an indelible mark on American literature. He was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1896.

13. Winona Ryder is the talented star of movies like Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Reality Bites. She was born in Winona County, Minnesota and was supposedly named for her hometown. Bonus fun fact: Winona’s middle name is Laura, and she was named after Aldous Huxley’s wife, who was a friend of Winona’s parents. Also apparently her godfather was Timothy Leary.

14. Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in Duluth, Minnesota in 1941 and grew up to be one of the greatest songwriters in music history — right up there with fellow Minnesotan Prince. You probably know him as Bob Dylan, though.

15. Bob Dylan and Prince aren’t the only influential rock-n-rill musicians that come from Minnesota. Some of the greatest punk rock bands got their start in the 1980s Minneapolis scene that laid the ground for 1990s alt-rock: The Replacements, Soul Asylum, and Hüsker Dü.

16. St. Paul, Minnesota has borne no less than three (3) baseball Hall of Famers: Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield, and Jack Morris.

17. The hockey culture in Minnesota runs so deep that the state has produced far, far more NHL players than any other state.

18. Tons of professional wrestlers were born in Minnesota, including Verne Gagne (and other Gagnes), Ole Anderson (and other Andersons), Curt “Mr. Perfect” Henning (and other Hennings), and Jesse “The Body” Ventura, who was also elected 38th Governor of Minnesota.

Topography & geography of Minnesota

19. Minnesota’s literal place in the world has lent itself to unique geology. The impact of glacial movements, ancient volcanic activity, and sedimentation from seas millions of years ago have all contributed to the picturesque landscape the state is famous for.

20. The largest city in Minnesota is Minneapolis, and the capital is Saint Paul.

21. Minnesota is the 12th biggest state at around 86,935 square miles.

22. Minnesota borders Canada on the northern side. It also borders Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

23. The Red River Valley in Minnesota is a fertile and expansive region characterized by its flat terrain and rich, dark soil. This agriculturally significant area, named after the Red River that flows through it, is known for its production of crops such as wheat, sugar beets, and potatoes, playing a vital role in the state’s agricultural economy. It forms the border between Minnesota and North Dakota and is a part of Canada, too.

24. Minnesota is the northernmost contiguous state in the United States, although Alaska is certainly the northernmost.

25. Eagle Mountain is part of the Misquah Hills mountain range and at 2,301 feet above sea level, it is the highest natural point in Minnesota.

26. The lowest point in Minnesota at a mere 602 feet above sea level is Lake Superior. It also happens to be the largest freshwater lake in the world.

27. Driving the length of Minnesota from north to south would be about 400 miles. If you were to drive from east to west, that would be up to 350 miles.

28. The Iron Range in Hibbing, Minnesota is known for its iron ore deposits, which have played a significant role in the state’s history and economy. Bob Dylan grew up in Hibbing, and the mines inspired the song “North Country Blues” from his 1964 album The Times They Are-a Changin’.

Where should I visit in Minnesota?

29. The Minneapolis Institute of Art is a must-visit for art lovers in town. You’ll find works by Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse, and Joan Miró among their collection of paintings, as well as textiles, ceramics, photographs, and many other mediums.

30. The Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul opened at its present location in 1995 and it is 65,000 square feet full of family fun kid-friendly play spaces that let children explore across a 40-foot high catwalk and giant spiral slide and dozens of exhibits.

31. In 1950, Francis Johnson of Darwin, Minnesota began rolling a ball of baler twine and did not stop until almost 30 years later. “Weird Al” Yankovic even wrote a song about it. Today, you can visit what’s considered the largest ball of twine built by a single person in Darwin.

32. There is a zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota! The Minnesota Zoo is one of two state-supported zoos in the United States. In addition to the usual collection of animals found at most zoos, the Discovery Bay has over a million gallons worth of aquariums.

33. Located outdoors at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is a 50+-foot long spoon with a cherry placed on top 30 feet above the ground. Erected in 1988 and designed by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, it is a lovely and eye-catching sculpture that sparks inspiration, joy, and surprise to many who encounter it.

34. The legends of Paul Bunyan and his faithful companion Babe the Blue Ox are plentiful as they are colorful throughout the midwest, and there are a pair of large statues of the two American folk icons in Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minnesota that folks can drive pass.

35. Who is Pelican Pete? Sometimes referred to as The Mother of All Pelicans, Pete is a 15+ foot concrete pelican statue you can find in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.

Fun, cool, interesting & weird Minnesota facts

36. Scotch tape was invented in Minnesota by a 23 year-old research assistant named Richard Drew around 1930.

37. Once upon a time before Minnesota became part of the Union, the St. Paul area was actually called Pig’s Eye Landing.

38. You may have heard the term “Minnesota nice” to describe mannerisms of people who want to be nice and polite, but would also rather avoid confrontation and risk offense. It’s a combination of backhanded compliments and passive aggression but still technically polite way of speaking that inspired the Coen Brothers film Fargo (1996), perhaps the greatest American film of the 1990s.

39. A hotdish is a casserole-like dish typically containing meat, pasta, and/or vegetables and topped with tater tots. Food & Wine tracked the original recipe back to a 1930 church congregation in Mankato, Minnesota and a century later, the hotdish is a crucial part of Minnesota cuisine.

40. The Minneapolis Skyway System — immortalized in a song by The Replacements — is more than 9 miles of interlinked pedestrian footbridges that connect 80 city blocks’ worth of buildings in down Minneapolis. These connections allow residents and visitors to travel all over the city without actually having to go outside.

41. The prototype for the modern snowmobile was created in Roseau, Minnesota around 1955 and though it was slow and heavy, it became the basis for future commercial models, making Minnesota the birthplace of the snowmobile.

What are the state symbols of Minnesota?

42. In 1961, the loon became the state bird of Minnesota. Even though these lil guys don’t walk on land very well, they can both fly and swim very well. You’ll find many thousands of loons throughout Minnesota throughout the summer months.

43. Appointed in 2021, the phenomenal Gwen Nell Westerman is the current Poet Laureate of Minnesota, following Joyce Sutphen and Robert Bly. Dr. Westerman is a textile artist and teacher in addition to being a published poet, and her work is rooted and informed by her culturally rich Native Dakota heritage that she encompasses in her equally rich writing. Order one of her collections of poetry — Follow the Blackbirds (2013) and/or Songs, Blood Deep (2023) — to witness a writer and cultural survivalist at the height of her powers.

44. A total of twenty (20) states recognize milk as a state symbol — including Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin — and Minnesota named it the official drink of the state in 1984.

45. Ice hockey holds a significant and deeply ingrained cultural presence in Minnesota, and little kids play in youth leagues perhaps more fervently than kids playing Little League in other parts of the country. High school and college hockey are also big deals here, so it certainly made sense when ice hockey was named the official state sport of Minnesota in 2009.

46. Minnesota sure loves their blueberry muffins — so much so that they elected blueberry as the official state muffin in 1988, which is an oddly specific state symbol.

47. The official Minnesota state motto is L’etoile de Nord, which is French for Star of the North.

48. In 2002, Minnesota adopted an official state photograph: Grace (1918) by Eric Enstrom. This remarkable photo is over a century old and shows an old man from the mining town of Bovey bowing his head in thanks, with little on the table before him and the weight of decades on his neck. In it, Eric Enstrom captured a sentiment that has endured in Minnesota for generations.

49. Several generations of monarch butterflies are born in Minnesota each summer, making them common and popular enough to be named the official state butterfly of Minnesota in 2000 — just like Alabama and Idaho and Illinois and Texas and Vermont and West Virginia.

50. The latest iteration of the Minnesota state flag was adopted by their legislature in 1957.

51. We are not sure who Lester is or why he is so important in the dirt world but Lester soil became the official state soil of Minnesota in 2012.

52. The official state song of Minnesota is “Hail! Minnesota,” adopted in 1945 and written in 1904, with lyrics by Cyrus Northrop and music by Truman Rickard.

Cover Image Credit: Image by David Mark from Pixabay

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