Minnesota History

A look back on Francis Drake Hotel's history
Minneapolis city leaders announced Thursday that the Francis Drake Hotel, which saw heavy damage in a Christmas Day fire, will be partially torn down. The hotel, which was being used as a temporary shelter for the homeless, has a history that dates back almost a century.
Ask a ‘sotan: The history of living in the Boundary Waters
The Boundary Waters is revered for its pristine natural beauty that seems untouched by human interaction. But there’s a long history of people living within the lakes and forests in Northern Minnesota.
Dynamite vs. dairy cows: The odd legal foundations of Minneapolis labor law
Century-old cases involving milk purity and the shack of a rogue explosives lover in Duluth have become weirdly relevant in the battle over Minneapolis’ sick leave and minimum wage ordinances.
Ask a 'sotan: How many lakes do we actually have?
Readers pour in questions about one of Minnesota’s most familiar claim to fame: lakes.
MPR News host Kerri Miller kicks off the State Fair with a Minnesota history quiz.
Fifty years after Woodstock, two Minnesotans look back
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Woodstock, the huge three-day concert that came to symbolize the 1960s’ counterculture. Two now-Minnesotans who attended went on to very different lives, but have fond memories of the event, which shaped a generation.