Travel Oracles 50 States: Minnesota
As part of my summer series - Travel Oracles 50 States - I am revisiting each os the fifty American states as an overview on travel culture and history. Today: Minnesota
Joined: Minnesota's legal identity was created as the Minnesota Territory in 1849, and it became the 32nd U.S. state on May 11, 1858. After Dakota War of 1862 ended, During the Civil War and the
Original Indigenous Peoples: The Dakota and Ojibwe were Minnesota's first peoples
First Settlers: The first inhabitants of Minnesota were Paleo-Indians as early back as 7,000 to 9,000 years ago. The Dakota (Sioux), and Ojibwe (Chippewa), while the first european settlers to arrive in Minnesota were the French. Explorers such as Pierre Radisson and Medard des Groseilleirs first visited the region in the 1650s. These early explorers mapped out the coast of Lake Superior and claimed the land for France.
History moment: On December 26, 1862, 38 of 303 convicted Dakota Indians were hanged in Mankato in the largest mass execution in American history. Frustrated by the U.S. government’s failure to make treaty payments on time and supply their families with food as promised, a group of warriors killed several settlers, igniting an armed conflict that lasted four months. Although President Abraham Lincoln commuted the death sentences of 264 convicted Dakota, Congress passed a law expelling all Dakota bands from Minnesota a few months later.
Known for: Minneapolis, Prince’s homebase, the Land of 10,000 lakes which is the highest number of any state in the United States. Minnesota is also famous for being the home of Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the United States; and its outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, and winter activities. Also hockey, apples and county fairs
Places: The “Twin Cities” of Minneapolis and state capital Saint Paul
Movie setting: Fargo, North Country, Juno, Young Adult
Musicians from: Prince, Bob Dylan, Judt Garland
Surprising facts: Minnesota has one recreational boat per six people; that's 909,528 boats, which is more than the population of South and North Dakota
Minnesota's 11,842 lakes offer more shoreline than Florida, California, and Hawaii combined. One out of every six people in Minnesota owns a boat, the highest ratio in the country. Minnesota also ranks as number one in the per-capita rate of fishing-license purchases. And fishing isn't just a warm-weather activity, either. Every winter, little heated shacks pop up on thousands of lakes. Inside, you'll find anglers huddling over holes in the ice, hoping to hook a lunker. While the state's outdoor attractions lure boaters, hikers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul feature a variety of entertainment opportunities, including theater, music, shopping, and spectator sports. Let’s travel to Minnesota
My Experience: I have visited Minneapolis to see friends (a lot of young people moving there for good jobs and more affordable living) and had a great time, including at its state fair.
Minneapolis and St. Paul: Minnesotans may be too nice to claim the Twin Cities as the "Minne-Apple," rivaling New York City, but there's a reason the name stuck. The Cities offer an extensive repertoire of cultural events, putting it on par with other major destinations around the U.S. In fact Minneapolis has more theater seats per capita than any other U.S. city, only beat by the true Big Apple. Things to do
Nature: Minnesota has six National Parks - Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, North Country National Scenic Trail, Pipestone National Monument, Grand Portage National Monument, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, Voyageurs National Park.
Ranking in US: Per the annual US News report, Minnesota is currently ranked #2 out of 50 in 2021, it was #3 in 2019.