Curious Minnesota

The wildfires of 1894 and 1918 remain two of the worst natural disasters in Minnesota history, more than a century after destroying entire towns in the northern portion of the state. These rapidly moving blazes claimed more than 900 victims. What caused them to spread so quickly? Could it happen again? Hannah Sayle and Duluth reporter Jana Hollingsworth discuss the circumstances that led to these tragedies, and what lessons were learned to prevent them from repeating. LINKS: Historic wildfires once destroyed entire cities in northern Minnesota. Could it happen again?

Indigenous people have been living in the area that became Minnesota since ancient times. Anton Treuer, professor of Objiwe at Bemidji State University, joins the podcast to discuss the Native Americans who inhabited the state prior to European settlement -- and their tribal affiliations. LINKS: Which Indigenous tribes first called Minnesota home?

Star Tribune reader Sharon Carlson joins the podcast to discuss her questions that have been answered by Curious Minnesota. Eight of Carlson's questions, linked below, have appeared in the column. How did St. Cloud get its name? It's a strange story Are Minnesota's day-care costs really the highest in the nation? Why does Minnesota have one of highest rates of volunteering in the country? Why is Minnesota the only mainland state with an abundance of wolves? What was the most destructive tornado in Minnesota history? Why was the career of Minnesota's first congresswoman cut short? Frozen for the future: Does Minnesota have any cryonics facilities? What does it take to become a police officer in the state of Minnesota? Additionally, here is an article about the police training video that Sharon mentioned during the conversation.

Streetcars were a defining feature of what it meant to live in Minneapolis and St. Paul in the early 20th Century. The elimination of the streetcar system in the 1950s, in favor of buses, dramatically reshaped life in the Twin Cities. A number of unusual characters played a role in that switch -- several of whom went to prison. Hannah Sayle and Eric Roper discuss organized crime's impact on Twin City Rapid Transit Company during this period. LINKS: Was organized crime behind the demise of the Twin Cities streetcar system? (Nov. 2021 Curious Minnesota story) Minnesota History magazine article about what occurred after the 1960 convictions

Minnesota is home to one of the most prominent roadway testing facilities in the nation, known as MnROAD. Researchers there study how different pavement types hold up amid real-world traffic on Interstate 94 and Minnesota's extreme weather. Audience Producer Ash Miller joined the podcast to discuss how MnROAD is helping engineers around the country design better roads. LINKS: Why a slice of I-94 west of the Twin Cities is a 'candyland for researchers' (July 2021 Curious Minnesota story) Overview of the different types of roadway materials being studied at MnROAD (U.S. DOT) Video of low-volume road truck driver (MnDOT)

St. Anthony Falls has long been one of Minneapolis' top attractions. But the endurance of the falls is due to some complex infrastructure designed to halt erosion. A key component of that infrastructure is a hidden wall -- buried beneath the river -- that has protected the falls for roughly 145 years. Little is known about the wall's condition, however. River historian John Anfinson believes there needs to be a comprehensive study of the structure's status. Anfinson is the former superintendent of the national park comprising the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities. LINKS: Graphic illustrating how the wall works August 2021 article about the the wall Vote for your favorite State Fair question

The next generation of cellular technology, known as 5G, will bring much faster speeds. But the rollout of 5G has been accompanied by a litany of new cellular antenna poles in some neighborhoods, particularly in Minneapolis. Eric Roper and Ash Miller discussed the evolution of cellular technology and the reason for all the new antennas. LINKS: Why is there a new cellular pole in my Minneapolis neighborhood? (May 2021 Curious Minnesota story) Map of small cell carrier-owned pole locations in Minneapolis

We asked fairgoers to tell us what they want to know about Minnesota during Curious Minnesota Day at the Star Tribune's State Fair building on August 28. Today's episode features recordings of many of the people who submitted questions. Click the link below to vote for your favorite! Vote for your favorite question here (or by e-mailing [email protected]) See photos and video of the event (Instagram post)

The arrival of vaccines earlier this year offered a glimmer of hope that the COVID-19 pandemic was nearing an end. But the emergence of the delta variant has dampened some of that optimism. The Star Tribune solicited reader questions about this new phase of the pandemic. Pulitzer Prize-winning health reporters Glenn Howatt and Jeremy Olson discussed the answers in their third appearance on the podcast.

It has been roughly a century since planes began flying at what is now Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, which has evolved from a bankrupt racetrack to an acclaimed travel hub. Transportation reporter Janet Moore joins the podcast to discuss the airport's long history. LINKS: From bankrupt racetrack to aviation hub — what remains from MSP Airport's early days? (May 2021 Curious Minnesota story) Panoramic photo of the 1923 Wold-Chamberlain dedication ceremony. A history of the Twin City Motor Speedway (from Winter 2007-2008 issue of Minnesota History magazine)

The monthly Wednesday tornado siren test, a Minnesota tradition, traces its origins back to 1950s fears of a Soviet atomic bomb attack. Writer Dave Kenney, who has researched Civil Defense in Minnesota, discusses how Minnesotans responded to an evolving international threat during the Cold War. LINKS: Why does Minnesota test tornado sirens on the first Wednesday of the month? (April 2021 Curious Minnesota Article) Civil Defense in Minnesota, 1950–1974 (written by Dave Kenney)

Fears of a Soviet attack during the 1950s spurred the federal government to install four missile sites around the Twin Cities. The "Nike-Hercules" nuclear warheads stored in those bunkers stood ready to take down Soviet bombers headed for the Twin Cities. Curious Minnesota host Eric Roper discusses the topic with reporter Michelle Griffith, a former Star Tribune intern who now works at the Fargo Forum newspaper. LINKS: Was Minnesota home to nuclear missiles during the Cold War? (April 2020 Curious Minnesota story) When nukes in a cornfield protected the Twin Cities from the Soviet Union Former Nike Hercules missile in St. Bonifacius stands as a reminder of the Cold War

The source of the Mississippi was a consequential mystery after the Revolutionary War. It remains hotly debated in some circles today. Connie Cox, the lead interpretive naturalist at Itasca State Park, discusses the history and science behind this issue with host Eric Roper. LINKS: Is Minnesota’s tiny Lake Itasca the true source of the Mississippi River? Could the Mississippi River actually begin in South Dakota? Minnesota History: Controversy at the Mississippi's headwaters

The Great Northern Depot on Hennepin Avenue was a de facto welcome mat for Minneapolis for many years. Along with the Milwaukee Road Depot, it was the primary place people arrived in the city. So why was Great Northern torn down in 1978, while the Milwaukee Road Depot survived? Rail historian Aaron Isaacs joins host Eric Roper to discuss the history of the Depot and the decline of passenger rail travel in the 20th Century. Story and photo gallery

For part of the 20th Century, Ford Motor Company relied heavily on sand beneath its plant in St. Paul to make windows for its cars. Host Eric Roper discusses that operation with reporter John Reinan. LINKS: John's Curious Minnesota story about the Ford Plant sand mining A timeline of St. Paul's Ford Plant operations Made in St. Paul: Stories from the Ford Plant (Twin Cities PBS / Producer: Peter Myers)

Both Minneapolis and St. Paul draw their drinking water from the Mississippi River. Curious Minnesota host Eric Roper paid a visit to Minneapolis’ water treatment campus in Fridley to understand the complex process that makes river water safe to drink. LINKS: Photo gallery Article (published in October 2020)

A number of states have joined an effort that would effectively bypass the Electoral College in determining America's president. Those states have signed on to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would commit their electoral votes to whoever wins the national popular vote. Will Minnesota participate? Reporter Torey Van Oot joins host Eric Roper to discuss the proposal. Read her story here. The reader question was inspired by a discussion on the New York Times' "The Daily" podcast, which you can listen to here.

Malls ending in the suffix "Dale" are peppered across the Twin Cities. But why "Dale"? Reporter John Ewoldt joins us to discuss the history of the Dales, starting with the landmark mall that started it all — Southdale. Host Eric Roper and Ewoldt discuss how the vision of the Dayton Corporation reshaped retail in the region. Read John's story here.