History

How Spam became one of the most iconic American brands of all time
Over 80 years ago, Hormel Foods introduced a simple, canned meat product called Spam. It would go on to become one of the greatest marketing success stories of all time.
An ode to mac and cheese, the poster child for processed food
A food historian explains how the popular boxed dinner played an important role in kitchen science, wars and women's liberation.
History Theatre Radio Hour: Hubert Humphrey's contentious relationship with LBJ
A short radio play by Jeffrey Hatcher called “All the Way with LBJ,” followed by discussion with former Vice President Walter Mondale, former Minnesota Attorney General Hubert “Skip” Humphrey and historian Hy Berman.
Johnson County, Iowa, renames itself after a different Johnson
The county was first named after a slave-owning former vice president who had no connection to Iowa. Now it will be named for Lulu Merle Johnson: the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in the state.
New owners for Duluth's Viking ship — and possibly soon, a new home
The Duluth City Council voted unanimously Monday to donate the replica Viking vessel to the local nonprofit group Save our Ship, which was founded in 1985 to restore the ship and build a permanent display structure to protect it from the weather and allow for public viewing.
Historian Annette Atkins on the 'enemies among us' in Minn. during WWI
Atkins explores the social context in Minnesota during World War I. It was a time when Minnesotans cast a suspicious eye on immigrants who might be disloyal.
Documentary: 'Oh Freedom Over Me'
A documentary by John Biewen about Freedom Summer 1964.
Humankind documentary about post Civil War America: 'The Freed People'
A documentary from the Humankind series about post Civil War America called “The Freed People” by David Freudberg.