Curious Minnesota
What do you wonder about the people, places and culture of Minnesota? Listen to our community-driven reporting project, which invites listeners to ask questions that our newsroom researches and answers.
1
What happened after a Minnesota man found ancie...
15 min
2
How a small Minnesota town ‘seceded’ from the U.S.
14 min
3
What happened after Herman, Minnesota's bachelo...
16 min
4
Why are there two seafood plants in the small M...
16 min
5
Introducing: Worth It
35 min
6
How an unexpected gift launched Minnesota’s old...
15 min
7
What’s the smallest town in Minnesota with a ma...
19 min
8
Who decides what’s allowed on a vanity plate in...
12 min
9
Why is the loon Minnesota’s state bird? It almo...
11 min
10
Why did the Excelsior Amusement Park on Lake Mi...
Many Minnesotans have memories of visiting Excelsior Amusement Park on the shores of Lake Minnetonka.
17 min
11
How did Minnesota become the birthplace of ski ...
Ski jumping originated in Norway, but its American story begins in Minnesota in the late 1800s.
18 min
12
What’s the coldest Minnesota has ever been?
Two towns vied to have the lowest temperature readings on the coldest day recorded in state history.
11 min
13
Introducing "Ghost of a Chance" - Episode 1
We are excited to give Curious Minnesota listeners a preview of the Minnesota Star Tribune's first narrative podcast, "Ghost of a Chance."
31 min
14
What happened to Camp Snoopy at the Mall of Ame...
Many Minnesotans are still nostalgic for the Mall of America's original theme park: Camp Snoopy.
11 min
15
Minnesota’s ghost towns are a relic of grand vi...
Minnesota is home to a number of abandoned towns that flourished earlier in their history.
18 min
16
Why are Minnesota’s roadside rest areas so nice?
Rest areas are a common site on roadways across Minnesota.
17 min
17
What’s behind the stereotype that Minnesotans d...
The cultural stereotype is so pervasive in the state that many restaurants include menu warnings or simply offer versions of dishes with extremely minimal seasoning.
23 min
18
How did Old Dutch potato chips get started in S...
The Old Dutch potato chip company is a regional icon in the Midwest, known for its twin pack box.
13 min
19
How Quonset huts helped solve the post-WWII hou...
A surplus of military Quonset huts after World War II provided a unique solution to a housing shortage in Minnesota and across the country.
20 min
20
How did the Minnesota Star Tribune get its start?
This special episode of Curious Minnesota was recorded at the State Fair on August 28th.
28 min
21
Fairgoers tell us their questions about Minnesota
We had a blast chatting with fairgoers on Curious Minnesota Day at the Minnesota Star Tribune's State Fair building.
5 min
22
Why Wisconsin claims — incorrectly — to have mo...
Minnesota takes great pride in its lakes. "10,000 Lakes" is even emblazoned on the state's license plates.
15 min
23
Curious Minnesota at the State Fair! 8/24 (Satu...
Curious Minnesota will be hosting events at the Minnesota Star Tribune's State Fair building on Saturday, August 24th and Wednesday, August 28th.
2 min
24
Why did Minneapolis close Nicollet Avenue for a...
Anyone who has spent time in south Minneapolis over the last 50 years has likely run across the unusual intersection at Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue.
21 min
25
Why did Minnesota erase much of its German cult...
Minnesota is known for its Scandinavian roots, but more residents report having German ancestry.
19 min