Remembering Minnesota

Minnesota’s historical past was defined by its remarkable natural resources and the exploits of early settlers. From the fur trade and the founding of Fort Snelling, to harnessing the power of the Mississippi River as a means to fuel logging and milling industries, pioneering Minnesotans embraced everything that the sprawling prairies, rich farmlands, and more than 10,000 lakes offered. Boomtowns and main streets sprang up and were connected to the thriving metropolises of Minneapolis and St. Paul through a great labyrinth of rivers, railways, and roads. From the time photographers first started pointing their cameras in the direction of Minnesota’s land and people, moments of time in state history began to be captured and preserved.