Minnesota Timeline History

A painting of Father Hennepin 'discovering' Saint Anthony Falls. Minnesota Timeline History 1659 - 1660: French fur traders, Groseilliers and Radisson, explored western end of Lake Superior, surrounding area 1673: French explorers, Marquette and Joliet, discovered upper portion of Mississippi River 1679: Frenchman, Daniel Greysolon Sieur du Lhut, met with Dakota Indians near Mille Lacs Lake 1683: Catholic Missionary Father Louis Hennepin, after being held captive by Dakota Indians, returned to France; wrote Description de la Louisiane, first book about Minnesota 1763: Spain received Louisiana Territory from France, included Minnesota west of the Mississippi River 1783: Republic of the United States of America gained eastern portion of Minnesota from Great Britain in American Revolution 1787: Eastern Minnesota designated part of American Northwest Territories of United States; first mapping of Minnesota completed by David Thompson of North West Company 1803: U. S. purchased Louisiana Territory from France, included western portion of Minnesota 1805: Lieutenant Zebulon Montgomery Pike led first U. S. expedition through Minnesota 1815: Peace treaty negotiated between Dakota Indians and U. S. government; first American fur traders entered Minnesota 1818: Northern boundary of Minnesota established at forty-ninth parallel 1832: Henry Schoolcraft and Ojibwe guide, Ozawindib, found source of Mississippi River at Lake Itasca 1836: Wisconsin Territory established, included Minnesota 1849: Minnesota Territory formed with present day eastern and southern boundaries set 1850: Treaties executed with Dakota Indians for lands east of Red River, Lake Traverse, and the Big Dakota River and south between Dakota and Chippewa; wheat became major crop 1858: Minnesota became 32nd state 1862: Dakota Indians attacked settlers for failure of land treaties and fiscal mistreatment by traders, 486 settlers killed; 38 Indians hung at Mankato; first railroad between Minneapolis and Saint Paul completed 1873: Three-day blizzard struck, 70 killed 1878: Explosion at flour mill killed 18 1880: Telephone communication established between Saint Paul and Minneapolis 1881: Saint Paul destroyed by fire 1883: Mayo Clinic founded in Rochester; tornado swept through Rochester, 35 killed 1884: Exportation of iron ore began 1886: Sauk Rapids flattened by a tornado, 79 killed 1887: First ski tournament Midwest held in Saint Paul 1888: Western Minnesota struck by major blizzard, 109 died 1893: Virginia, Minnesota destroyed by fire 1894: Massive forest fire encompassed Hinckley and several other communities, over 400 perished 1900: Virginia again destroyed by fire 1908: Chisholm destroyed by forest fire 1918: Influenza killed 7,521; Cloquet and Moose Lake are destroyed forest fires 1919: 19th amendment ratified; tornado struck Fergus Falls killing 59 1927: Minnesota native, Charles Lindbergh, flew solo across Atlantic Ocean from New York to Paris 1931: Ancient remains of 20,000 year old skeleton nicknamed "Minnesota Man" found in Otter Tail County 1933: "Browns Valley Man" remains, estimated to be 8,000 - 10,000 years old, discovered in Brown County 1934: Businessman Edward G. Bremer of St. Paul kidnapped by the Barker-Karpis gang, ransom of $200,000 one of the largest ransoms in U.S; John Dillinger escaped following gun battle with FBI agents in St. Paul 1936: Temperatures remained below zero for a record thirty-six days 1939: Roof of Duluth Amphitheater collapsed under weight of snow during hockey game 1940: Blizzard struck Minnesota, over 16 inches of snow fell in 24 hours, 49 residents died, over $1,500,000 property was damaged 1954: Coya Knutson became first Minnesota woman elected to U. S. Congress 1959: - Duluth gained access to Atlantic Ocean with opening of St. Lawrence Seaway 1963: Last ore shipment left Vermillion iron range 1964: Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey elected vice-president of U S. 1969: Saint Paul native, Warren Burger, named to U.S. Supreme Court 1976: Minnesota Senator Walter Mondale elected as U.S. vice-president 1980: Last ore shipment left Cuyuna iron range 1982: 34 inches of snow fell on Twin Cities in two days 1984: Last ore shipment left the Mesabi iron range ending Minnesota's iron ore industry 1987: Minnesota Twins won World Series 1988: Indian Gaming Regulatory Act caused boom in Indian casinos and gambling; major drought occurred 1991: Minnesota Twins won World Series; snowstorm hit depositing 24 inches of snow in 24 hours 1991: Mall of America opened, largest mall in U. S. 1996: Coldest official temperature recorded -60 degrees Fahrenheit: near Tower 1998: Minnesota became home to largest Hmong population in U. S.; tobacco industry agreed to $4 billion settlement for cost of medical treatment; Jesse Ventura elected first "third party" governor since 1936 Try Amazon Prime Video For Free