iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Minnesota Then

@mnthen.bsky.social

45 followers 40 following 51 posts

Minnesota Then is a free mobile web app that helps users discover the state’s history through maps, photos, and stories. Visit historic places, explore hidden narratives, and connect with the past—anywhere, anytime, without ads or paywalls.

Posts Replies Media

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

While cleaning up Google Drive I found an old article about the "battle" to be Minnesota's craft beer capital between Duluth and St. Paul in 2013-2015. It was too fun of a story to stay buried, so I dropped it on the Substack: mnthen.substack.com/p/the-great-... #simplertimes #MNThen #beerhistory

mnthen.substack.com

The Great Minnesota Craft Beer Boast of 2013 - 2015

How a mayoral "dibs" call sparked a lighthearted rivalry on the shores of Lake Superior.

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Metro State featured Minnesota Then in their CLA newsletter—a huge milestone for this open-access, museum-without-walls project. Grateful for the recognition and excited for more people to discover history in their backyard. Read the story on the MNThen Substack: mnthen.substack.com/p/from-the-d...

mnthen.substack.com

From the Department of Cool Things

Metro State just announced Minnesota Then to their world. Here's what that means to me.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Who are the three players in professional baseball history to hit 60+ home runs in more than one season? Mark McGwire (MLB) Sammy Sosa (MLB) and Minneapolis Millers legend Joe Hauser (1930, 1933) I just felt like the universe deserved a fun little "Did You Know?" like #localangle trivia question.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Meet the "scorchers" — reckless 1890s bicyclists who terrorized St. Paul sidewalks at breakneck speed. Newspapers called them "hump-backed bulging eyed creatures." The city's response: bike cops, speed traps, then the first bike paths. #Minnesota #history #MNThen mnthen.com/blog/thing/s...

Bicycle Scorchers of 1890s St. Paul | Minnesota Then

How the advent of the "safety" bicycle sparked a craze—and a crisis—on the streets of 1890s St. Paul, as reckless riders known as "scorchers" turned the city's hills into dangerous speedways.

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Sitting on the deck watching a bee put some work in on a hot day.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

I'd driven past a St. Paul corner thousands of times, only stopping once. Turns out it held sixty years of local history — the Saints, Charles Comiskey, Roy Campanella, and more. The places we never look at? They all have stories to tell. mnthen.substack.com/p/the-histor...

mnthen.substack.com

The History Beneath the Intersection

Fires, balloon races, baseball games, and more: The lost history of Lexington and University.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

For 59 years, Lexington Park anchored St. Paul baseball. From Comiskey’s 1897 vision and two grandstand fires to its 1956 finale, it defined an era of local sports history before giving way to urban progress. Read the full story here: mnthen.com/blog/place/l... #StPaul #History

Lexington Park (1897–1956) | Minnesota Then

Lexington Park stood at the intersection of Lexington Parkway, University Avenue, Fuller Avenue, and Dunlap Street from 1897 to 1956. For nearly six decades, it anchored the Western League’s St. Paul ...

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

The chandelier is officially lit at the Capitol. Let the last day of session commence.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

5:00 PM (yesterday) at the Capitol. A quiet moment in the rotunda while session continued upstairs.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

In 1947, St. Paul’s planning director warned that I-94 would "decimate" the Rondo neighborhood. He proposed a "Northern Route" that would have saved 600 homes and 300 businesses. Engineers chose "desire lines" over community integrity anyway. mnthen.substack.com/p/rondo-neig...

mnthen.substack.com

Rondo Neighborhood and Interstate 94

Desire Lines, Redlining, and the Path of Interstate 94

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

A pet pig that acted like a dog. A 9 o'clock duel at Seven Corners. 5 gallons of wine to settle the peace. Before St. Paul had a name, Edward Phalen and James Thompson settled scores with fists. But was Phalen "honorable"—or something darker? Read: mnthen.substack.com/p/the-tourna...

mnthen.substack.com

The Tournament of Seven Corners

The fight that made Edward Phalen — before the one that destroyed him

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Before it was a park, Harriet Island was Wakan Wita—sacred Dakota ground mistranslated as "Devil’s Island." From Dr. Ohage’s 1900 "Sanitary Sanctuary" to the 1949 project that made it an island in name only, explore the site’s arc to today. 🔗 mnthen.com/blog/place/h... #MNHistory #StPaul #MNThen

Harriet Island: From Sacred Dakota Land to St. Paul's Riverfront Park

The transformation of Wakan Wita, sacred Dakota island, into Harriet Island and its evolution as a public recreation space.

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Dec 1977: 8 women walked out of a Willmar bank after being told men "need to get paid more to pay for dates." Their 22-month strike through two harsh winters didn't win back pay—but it helped change Minnesota's pay equity laws forever. #Willmar8 #EqualPay #MNLabor www.mnthen.com/blog/event/w...

Willmar 8 Bank Strike

The story of eight women who walked out of Citizens National Bank in Willmar, Minnesota in 1977 to fight for equal pay and workplace dignity.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

History is static; the sources for historiography are not. To allow a more full integration of new sources, I’m offering an expanded telling of my research via PayHip. 6-8 page PDFs created without regard for word counts. $1.29 each to download helps fund more archival research. payhip.com/mnthen

I’m Matt Reicher, a Minnesota historian and researcher. Minnesota Then is my project to document the overlooked chapters of our state’s history through original archival research and investigative sto...

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

The Selby Ave line's start was tragic—a fatal 1888 cable car crash on a punishing 16% grade hill. But boring the Cathedral Hill tunnel in 1907 lightened the climb to 7%, spurring westward expansion and connecting the Twin Cities by streetcar. It operated until 1953. mnthen.com/blog/place/s...

Selby Avenue Line (1888 - 1953)

Saint Paul’s solution to the treacherous grade of Cathedral Hill: a 1,472-foot streetcar tunnel that reshaped transit, commerce, and community life across the city’s west side.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Braved the elements alongside the love of my life to check out Dual Citizen Brewing for the first time. Great beer, great space, and a local business that clearly cares about its community. Can’t wait to go back—next time with less slippery roads.

Seltzer and beer from Dual Citizen Brewing in Saint Paul.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

After lots of hemming and hawing, I finally uploaded my first YouTube video this week. Not quite ready to show my face, I used Google's Notebook LLM to turn years of writing (including my MA thesis) into something that actually explains why Minnesota Then exists. youtu.be/yIkl4Q0WlPU?...

Minnesota Then: Reimagining the Local History Museum

YouTube video by Minnesota Then

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

All hail the Egg Roll Queen! Long live the Egg Roll Queen! Saw her truck in Roseville on the way to the Como Conservatory and had to stop for three jumbo pork egg rolls.

3 jumbo pork egg rolls from the Egg Roll Queen food truck.

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

In 1989, St. Paul used eminent domain to shutter the "Vice Triangle" at University & Dale. It cost $1.83M and a few legal headaches to close the notorious Faust Theatre, but it paved the way for the Rondo Library. #Minnesota #history #MNThen mnthen.com/blog/place/t...

Faust, Flick, and Belmont Club: St. Paul Buys Out its Own 'Vice Triangle' (1989)

In 1989, St. Paul paid $1.83 million to shut down the Faust Theatre, The Flick, and the Belmont Club—ending a decade of vice, crime, and blight at University & Dale.

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

#OTD December 26, 1862: 38 Dakota men were hanged in Mankato—the largest mass execution in US history. It marked the violent culmination of the US-Dakota Conflict, rooted in delayed payments and broken treaties. Lincoln reduced 303 death sentences to 38. mnthen.com/blog/event/d...

Hanging of the Dakota 38 (1862) | Minnesota's Historic Tragedy | Minnesota Then

On December 26, 1862, thirty-eight Dakota men were executed in Mankato in the largest mass hanging in U.S. history, marking the end of the US-Dakota War of 1862.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

On May 22, 1970, St. Paul Officer James Sackett, 27, was killed in an ambush. Someone made a fake 911 call to lure him into a trap. The case went cold for 30+ years, but his widow never gave up. Two men were eventually convicted. Justice delayed, but not denied. mnthen.com/blog/event/s...

Ambush of St. Paul Police Officer James Sackett (May 22, 1970)

A politically motivated assassination that shocked St. Paul, remained unsolved for 34 years, and left a family forever changed.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

Minnesota's 2nd capitol (1883) was such a disaster that legislators held meetings in hotel rooms because there wasn't enough space. The air quality? "Unsafe for human beings." Torn down in 1938. Today the redeveloped area is part of the Fitzgerald Park neighborhood. mnthen.com/blog/place/s...

Minnesota's Second State Capitol (1883–1938): A Stopgap in Stone and Brick

Minnesota’s second capitol opened in 1883 after the 1881 fire—but critics called it rushed, cramped, and unsafe. It was razed in 1938 after 55 years of service.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

This is nearly 30 minutes long, but a really interesting look at Minneapolis and "city living" in 1974. Worth the watch if you can find the time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PtR... #Minneapolis #history #cityscapes

Cityscapes (1974) - Historic Minneapolis Film

YouTube video by Augsburg University Archives

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

From a noisy NE Minneapolis tavern to the hub of an interstate prostitution scandal. The raid on John's Bar led to federal Mann Act charges for the Gawron brothers, prison time, and the bar's abrupt closure. A forgotten chapter of Twin Cities history. #Minnesota #history mnthen.com/blog/event/j...

John’s Bar and Funhouse Prostitution Scandal (1952–1956)

In 1952, a police raid exposed John’s Bar and Funhouse at 2500 Marshall St NE as the Minneapolis hub of an interstate prostitution ring—triggering federal charges, prison sentences, and the bar’s swif...

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

In 1920s St. Paul, "Dapper" Dan Hogan ran the underworld like a diplomat—negotiating peace, managing criminals, and keeping the heat off the city. When someone planted a bomb in his car in 1928, the entire criminal network shook. His killer was never caught. #Minnesota #history

Life and Death of Daniel 'Dapper Dan' Hogan (1880–1928)

Explore the life and violent death of St. Paul gangster Daniel 'Dapper Dan' Hogan — saloon owner, underworld diplomat, and key architect of the O'Connor Layover Agreement.

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

#OTD in 1932: Oscar Erickson, 29, was killed by the Barker–Karpis Gang as they fled a robbery, mistaking his curiosity for interference. After months unemployed, he’d recently found work selling Christmas wreaths. His death exposed St. Paul’s broken justice system. mnthen.com/blog/event/e...

Shooting of Wreath Salesman Oscar Erickson (Dec. 16, 1932)

The tragic shooting of wreath salesman Oscar Erickson by the Barker-Karpis Gang in Saint Paul.

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

March 1, 1881: Minnesota's capitol caught fire during session. A senator made them formally adjourn before evacuating. Legislators threw documents out windows, then climbed down after them. The cause remains a mystery. #Minnesota #history #MNThen

Minnesota’s State Capitol Fire (March 1, 1881)

On March 1, 1881, Minnesota’s first capitol building burned to the ground in a dramatic fire that interrupted Senate and House sessions. Though no lives were lost, the blaze destroyed priceless record...

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

After corn prices crashed in 1920, Minnesota farmers turned their "Minnesota 13" crop into moonshine to save their farms. It was illegal, sure—but they had families to feed. Stearns County became the bootlegging capital, producing legendary whiskey. #Minnesota #history mnthen.com/blog/thing/m...

“Minnesota 13” Corn and Moonshine in Stearns County

How a hardy University of Minnesota corn strain—Minnesota 13—became the backbone of a thriving moonshine economy in Stearns County during Prohibition, turning desperate farmers into bootleggers to sav...

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Babe Rohland wasn't traditionally famous, but in 96 years she handed flowers to Henry Ford, watched feds dump bootleg gin in her alley, had gangsters shoot someone in her yard, shook JFK's hand, and more. Read about one woman's front-row seat to the 20th century. mnthen.com/blog/people/...

Rohland, Margaret "Babe" (1914 – 2011)

Margaret 'Babe' Rohland—a lifelong St. Paul resident—witnessed defining 20th-century moments from World War I to JFK’s visit, offering an intimate lens on local history through everyday experience.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

In 1945, St. Paul planner George Herrold proposed a highway route that would bypass Rondo and add no more than minutes to commutes. Officials chose a route with a higher potential traffic capacity that qualified for federal funds. I-94 opened Dec 9, 1968. #Minnesota #history #MNThen

George Herrold's Northern Route: The Highway That Never Was

In 1945, St. Paul city planner George Herrold proposed an alternative to the Interstate 94 alignment—hoping to save Rondo and Prospect Park. His plan was ignored.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Dec 9, 1935: Minneapolis editor Walter Liggett was shot in an alley behind his apartment. His wife and daughter witnessed it. She identified the shooter as mobster Kid Cann. Three witnesses named him. The jury acquitted in 90 minutes. #Minnesota #history #MNThen

The Assassination of Walter Liggett (December 9, 1935)

Crusading editor Walter Liggett was shot dead in a Minneapolis alley in 1935 after accusing Governor Floyd B. Olson of colluding with mobster Kid Cann. His murder exposed the rot beneath Minnesota’s p...

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Snow’s coming down in St. Paul and the MN State Capitol looks ridiculously pretty right now.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

In 1857, Minnesota nearly moved its capital to St. Peter — until Joe Rolette grabbed the enrolled bill, vanished for days, and ran out the clock. When he returned after adjournment, it was too late to sign. St. Paul stayed the capital; the St. Peter land boom collapsed. mnthen.com/blog/event/r...

Joe Rolette and the Capital Relocation Bill (1857)

How fur trader and legislator Joe Rolette vanished with a bill to move Minnesota’s capital to St. Peter—saving St. Paul and reshaping the state’s political geography overnight.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Marjorie Johnson didn't enter her first baking competition until age 55. She went on to win 2,500+ ribbons, charm audiences on Rosie & Leno, and bake on national TV at age 100. At 4'8" tall, she was a giant. Passed away last month at 106. What a life. mnthen.com/blog/people/... #Minnesota #history

Johnson, Marjorie "The Blue Ribbon Baker" (1919 – 2025)

Marjorie Johnson—a beloved Minnesota icon, record-setting State Fair baker, and national television personality whose warmth, wit, and world-class pies made her a legend in kitchens and living rooms a...

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Micheal 'Eyedea' Larsen was born #OTD in 1981. By 17, he'd won Scribble Jam. By 20, he was turning down major label deals to make his kind of music. Poet, philosopher, battle-rap prodigy—Eyedea played the game by his own rules. #Minnesota #history #MNThen #fEyedeaisAlive mnthen.com/blog/people/...

Micheal 'Eyedea' Larsen: Minnesota's Underground Hip-Hop Legend (1981-2010)

The story of Eyedea, the fiercely independent battle rapper and genre-bending artist who became a Twin Cities icon.

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Took a picture of downtown from the Cass Gilbert Overlook. I was too late to catch the sunrise, but can't get over how beautiful this city is (at least to me). #StPaul #Minnesota #downtown

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant was a rough whiskey peddler who kept getting kicked out of his claims around the 1830s. His saloon became the gathering spot in "Pig's Eye Landing"—until Father Galtier renamed it St. Paul in 1841. Terrible businessman, accidental city founder. mnthen.com/blog/people/...

Parrant, Pierre "Pig's Eye" (c. 1777 – unknown)

The rough-and-tumble story of Pierre 'Pig's Eye' Parrant—the whiskey-slinging squatter whose nickname briefly named what would become St. Paul, Minnesota.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

Took a trip to Como Zoo today to grab a Mold-A-Rama seal while I still could. Smells like molten plastic and childhood. Perfect.

Reposted by Minnesota Then

KARE 11 @kare11.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Marjorie Johnson, Minnesota's beloved 'Blue Ribbon Baker,' passes at 106, leaving a legacy of award-winning treats and boundless joy.

Marjorie Johnson, MN's beloved 'Blue Ribbon Baker,' dies at 106

Marjorie Johnson, Minnesota's beloved 'Blue Ribbon Baker,' passes at 106, leaving a legacy of award-winning treats and boundless joy.

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Before Prince, before The Replacements, there was Augie Garcia—the Godfather of Minnesota Rock 'n' Roll. He recorded MN's first rock record in 1955, once upstaged Elvis, and fused Latin rhythms with R&B to create something brand new. His story: mnthen.com/blog/people/... #history #Minnesota #MNThen

Garcia, Augustine 'Augie' (1932 - 1999)

The story of Augustine 'Augie' Garcia, the Godfather of Minnesota Rock 'n' Roll.

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

In Appleton, Minnesota, nearly every street is named after a local soldier who died in combat. Driving through town is literally driving through history. This small city created one of America's most unique 'living memorials' #Minnesota #Veterans #Memorial #History #SmallTown

Appleton, MN: A Living Memorial (1947-Present)

How Appleton transformed its streets into a memorial honoring fallen soldiers from WWII to Iraq through its unique naming tradition.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

The St. Croix Boom Site is one of my favorite places to visit. Walk where 15 billion board feet of logs once passed, and feel the echoes of Minnesota's lumber era. Explore the story online or visit in person with our Museum Without Walls web app. #MNHistory #HiddenGems mnthen.com/blog/place/b...

St. Croix Boom Site: Minnesota's Lost Lumber Empire (1856-1914)

How Minnesota's St. Croix Boom Site processed 15 billion board feet of lumber before its 1914 closure. Explore its history and legacy.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Built in 1883 as a wedding gift, this Victorian gem was rescued, moved to Matoska Park, and meticulously renovated—twice! A testament to White Bear Lake’s love for its history. Go see it yourself, This location has been added as the 15th site on the Museum Without Walls.

Erd-Geist Gazebo History | White Bear Lake Landmark | Minnesota Then

The complete story of White Bear Lake's historic Erd-Geist Gazebo - from 1883 wedding gift to modern community landmark at Matoska Park.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

May 2, 1878: Washburn Mill exploded from ignited flour dust, killing 18. Blast leveled buildings, shattered windows for miles. Led to industrial safety reforms and a dust-proof rebuild. #MNHistory mnthen.com/blog/event/w...

Minnesota Then Blog | Washburn "A" Mill Explosion (May 2, 1878)

Explore the mysterious 1909 murder of St. Paul butcher Louis Arbogast on Minnesota Then.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

Throughout time, the loudest voices (those with money) have controlled historical narratives, but what about everyone else? Workers, neighborhoods, local shops—these stories matter too. I built Community Markers to give everyday Minnesotans a voice in shaping the state's historical narratives.

Community Markers Map

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Dorothy Molter, "The loneliest woman in America," lived far from solitude in the Boundary Waters. From a city nurse to the legendary "Root Beer Lady," she built a wilderness haven, welcoming thousands. Her story is one of resilience, independence, and a deep connection to nature. #MN #History #BWCAW

Minnesota Then Blog | Dorothy "The Root Beer Lady" Molter

Explore the Minnesota Then Blog for fascinating historical insights and stories about Minnesota.

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

From butcher to brewing magnate, Theodore Hamm founded a St. Paul beer empire. His Hamm's Brewery, established in 1865, grew from a small operation to Minnesota's second-largest by 1886, driven by German immigrant demand and Hamm's business acumen. #StPaul #history #mnthen

Minnesota Then Blog | Theodore Hamm

Explore the Minnesota Then Blog for fascinating historical insights and stories about Minnesota.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

In 1850, German immigrant John Orth established Hennepin County's first brewery near the Mississippi River, growing it from 2.5 barrels to over 11,000 annually. #mnthen #history #minneapolis

Minnesota Then Blog | Orth, John (1821 - 1887)

Explore the Minnesota Then Blog for fascinating historical insights and stories about Minnesota.

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

One more -- last one (maybe), but it was too good to not share. Brian Lambert interviews people on the street about whether or not they should tear down Block E in downtown Minneapolis. youtu.be/NrX2WZVhUGs?...

Brian Lambert “man on the street” finds out if Block E should be saved (from 1987)

YouTube video by tcmedianow

000

Minnesota Then @mnthen.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Ok. It's still cold outside so I jumped back down the rabbit hole. youtu.be/ifOfSeuotkU?...

A Pop Culture Time Machine: Downtown Minneapolis, Circa 1981

YouTube video by Twin Cities PBS

000