History

What we didn't learn in history class
While this isn’t a new conversation, more Minnesota educators are starting to rethink how to teach a more complete history of the United States that includes experiences from Black and Indigenous people and other communities of color.
2020 Aspen Ideas Festival: Erik Larson on 'The Splendid and the Vile' and Walter Isaacson on 'The Code Breaker'
Erik Larson and Walter Isaacson speak at the 2020 Aspen Ideas Festival about their books, “The Splendid and the Vile” and “The Code Breaker: The Tale of Jennifer Doudna, CRISPR and the Future of the Human Race.” Mitt Romney speaks about the U.S.-China relations.
'We've got to learn from our history,' 'Demagogue' author warns
Author Larry Tye chronicles Sen. Joseph McCarthy's infamous smear campaign in a new book. He says both McCarthy and Trump are "bullies" who exploit fears and "point fingers when they're attacked."
Amid furor over monuments, Trump calls for 'Garden of American Heroes'
Trump’s idea comes as elected officials and institutions are reckoning with whether it is appropriate to continue to honor people, including past presidents, who benefited from slavery or espoused racist views.
New book explores cycles and whiplash of Minneapolis history
Journalist Tom Weber has published a new biography of the City of Lakes. He explores the history of Minneapolis and examines the repetition and rhyme of the city’s understanding of its past.
Revisiting sacred cows: Which figures from history do we honor, and how?
Statues have been taken down; names scrubbed from institutions. The national reckoning over race has reenergized debates over historical figures and the scrutiny goes beyond Confederate monuments.
Panel begins debate on removing statues from MN Capitol
A Christopher Columbus statue that for decades stood outside Minnesota’s Capitol is now in a state agency warehouse. Yanked down by demonstrators, the ultimate fate of the damaged statue is unclear, as is the outcome of a fresh debate over what to do about similar works on public grounds amid a historical reassessment.
Twins remove Calvin Griffith statue from Target Field over racist remarks
The team apologized for racist remarks Griffith made to a Lions Club meeting in Waseca, Minn., in 1978. There, Griffith reportedly told the group he moved the team to Minnesota from Washington, D.C., because there weren't many black people here.