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Minnesota History

Southeastern Minnesota's hidden historical gems: Restored Civil War buildings reopen to the public

Southeastern Minnesota's hidden historical gems: Restored Civil War buildings reopen to the public

A tiny hamlet in southeastern Minnesota is home to the only surviving Civil War recruiting station in Minnesota. 165 years ago, students at a local seminary were among the first in the nation to enlist in the the Union Army.
by Molly Castle Work

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One headstone at a time: Meet the man who’s restoring orphan graves in Owatonna

One headstone at a time: Meet the man who’s restoring orphan graves in Owatonna

Nearly 200 children are buried in the cemetery at the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children in Owatonna. A few years ago, one man stepped in to restore the graves — and the history — of children who died while living at the orphanage.
by Catharine Richert

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The U.S. is turning 250: Looking back, looking forward

The U.S. is turning 250: Looking back, looking forward

Next week marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about what the milestone really means for America.
by Angela Davis and Cari Dwyer

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7,000 years of sacred history written in stone: New exhibit shows off Minnesota petroglyphs

7,000 years of sacred history written in stone: New exhibit shows off Minnesota petroglyphs

The Jeffers Petroglyphs site in southwestern Minnesota is renowned for rock carvings, some older than Stonehenge. With a newly updated visitor center and contemporary Native exhibits, the Minnesota Historical Society hopes to draw a new generation to the ancient site.
by Elizabeth Shockman

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'We stay the course.' Minnesota historians react to the push to patriotize history

In 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order that mandated a shift in how American history is portrayed in federal institutions. The goal was to move away from “divisive or anti-American” ideology and promote a more “patriotic” narrative. How are Minnesota historians and museum directors responding to that pressure?
by Angela Davis and Kelly Gordon

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85 years after he left home, WWII Medal of Honor recipient will be buried in New Ulm

85 years after he left home, WWII Medal of Honor recipient will be buried in New Ulm

Exactly 85 years since Captain Willibald C. Bianchi left his hometown of New Ulm in 1941, the World War II Medal of Honor recipient's remains have finally returned home to his family. On Saturday, he’ll be buried with full military honors with his family by his side.
by Hannah Yang

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Thoroughly Modern Lisl: A new book tells the story of the woman who was Minnesota's first Modern architect

Thoroughly Modern Lisl: A new book tells the story of the woman who was Minnesota's first Modern architect

Architectural historian Jane King Hession has been studying the work of Minnesota’s first Modernist architect Elizabeth “Lisl” Scheu Close for decades, even conducting an oral history with the architect in 2000 for the Minnesota Historical Society.
by Alex V. Cipolle

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Adult bathhouses were a part of Minneapolis nightlife. Then police and panic pushed them out

Adult bathhouses were a part of Minneapolis nightlife. Then police and panic pushed them out

Forty years after the adult bathhouse ban was passed, the city council is considering reversing it. A myriad of components led to the ban, but for several decades, public sexual spaces in Minneapolis were an active part of downtown.
by Sam Stroozas

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How historians are documenting ICE enforcement in Minnesota

How historians are documenting ICE enforcement in Minnesota

As more federal officers leave the state, the Morning Edition team wondered how historians might document this moment. The Minnesota Historical Society’s Director of Collections, Cecily Marcus, joined Cathy Wurzer with answers.
by Cathy Wurzer and Gracie Stockton

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