There are multiple claims to the world’s biggest ball of twine record in the United States. The four giant twine balls each hail from different states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Missouri. Of course, I’m biased. Francis A. Johnson, son of Magnus Johnson, a U.S. Senator from Minnesota, began rolling a ball of twine in his […]
While venturing around Willmar during the #MNGFO2018, I stumbled upon the pedestrian bridge that extends across the stacks of railroad tracks. It is not out of the ordinary to see long trains in Willmar. Kandiyohi County has been a railroad hub for more than 120 years. The long strings of engines pull commodities like coal, […]
I was lucky enough to attend the preview party at the American Swedish Institute’s newest exhibit, The Fantastical Worlds of Kim Simonsson. We began by stepping inside the “moss-covered”, fairytale-like imagination of Finnish artist/sculptor, Kim Simonsson, filled with life-sized, “moss-covered” children, animals and other mysterious characters. The American Swedish Institute exhibition displays 35 selections of […]
If you are interested in history, you need to check out the “The 1968 Exhibit” at the Minnesota History Center. 1968 was a pivotal year. ‘68 saw the Tet Offensive, the turning point of the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, the rise of Black Power, […]
Did you know that Pequot Lakes is the home of Paul Bunyan’s Fishing Bobber? Yep, it totally is! A major landmark, “The World’s Largest Fishing Bobber” sits in Bobber Park. Built in 1960, the former water tower’s claim-to-fame began in 1987 when a when the water tower needed to be painted and then-council member Dale […]
Located on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the heart of one of the country’s strongest arts districts sits the awe-inspiring historic Grain Belt Brewery. In the early 1890s, four brewers, Heinrich Brewing, Germania Brewing, Norenburg Brewing and Orth Brewing, combined their businesses to create the Minneapolis Brewing and Malting Company, later changing […]
Welcome to 2018! A great way to open the new year is through bright, shiny, glowing lights! Enter the relighting of the forever iconic Grain Belt Beer Sign! Grain Belt beer was originally produced by the Minneapolis Brewing Company which formed in 1891. Later produced in the still standing Grain Belt Brewery in Minneapolis, Minnesota […]
Hidden in the Phillips West neighborhood of Minneapolis, sits the turn-of-the-20th-century Historic Turnblad Mansion.Built for Swedish immigrants Swan and Christina Turnblad and daughter Lillian who officially lived in the mansion from 1908 to 1929. Swan Turnblad was a prominent Swedish Minnesotan and the manager, editor, and publisher of Svenska Amerikanska Posten, a Swedish American newspaper. […]
I was lucky enough to watch the sunrise in Mille Lacs Kathio State Park this morning. The light peering through the tree line made the perfect brisk backdrop for all the whitetail. Also known as Kathio Site, the Mille Lacs Kathio State Park preserves habitation sites and mound groups, believed to date between 3000 BC […]
My last stop during the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener was the Lyon County Museum. Nestled in downtown Marshall, the museum is home to the Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) and the Prairieland Genealogical Society. LCHS was formally founded in 1954 and showcases the history of the entire county. It includes resources like obituary files, […]
I was lucky enough to attend the 7th Annual Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener (GPHO) in Marshall, Minnesota. Ahem, not to be confused with Marshall County. Over the next two weeks I will be telling you all about my trip and what makes Marshall such an incredible place to visit. I’ll be highlighting a few […]
Munsinger Gardens and Clemens Gardens are two distinct, adjacent gardens on the banks of the Mississippi River northwest of the intersection of University Drive and Kilian Blvd near SCSU. Both showcasing the most beautiful parts of a Minnesota summer, Munsinger Gardens on the lower east bank of the Mississippi River was originally the H.J. Anderson sawmill during the […]
One of the best parts about the Governor’s Fishing Opener is seeing the hidden gems of the host community. The first of many for the St. Cloud area is the Quarry Park and Nature Preserve in Waite Park. The granite quarries opened over 100 years ago, seeking out the Saint Cloud Red Granite, a stone […]
The Lake Superior Zoo, formerly Duluth Fairmount Zoo, was founded in 1923 by Bert Onsgard, a West Duluth businessman who rescued a small fawn and built a pen for it. The whitetail deer named ”Billy-Billy” was found in Fairmount Park, hence the name. Sitting at the base of Spirit Mountain and recently covering over 16 […]
Because I am a lifelong-learner, it only made sense to have my first stop in Duluth be at the University. The Tweed Museum of Art on the campus of the University of Minnesota Duluth is free and open to the public to tour. The gallery is home to a collection of more than 9,000 art […]
When it comes to Paul Bunyan lore, I will go just about anywhere to follow in his exploits. The World’s Largest Walleye in Rush City, caught by none other than the Mackinaw-wearing gargantuan was no exception. Weighing in at a whopping 1,999 pounds, 15.5 ounce and enticed by a 35 pound Tiger Muskie and brought […]
Hi there, Jessica here! I am headed up to Duluth, Minnesota for the weekend to bucket list and would love to see if there are places you think I need to stop! What are your favorite things to do in Duluth? Tag some of your favorites and tell me what makes that restaurant, park, mural, […]
The World’s Largest Workboot ever witnessed by the civilized public! The World’s Largest Boot a bewildering 2,300 lbs of sheer gargantuan bulk! At 20 feet long and 16 feet tall it’s a colossal curiosity fit for a 12 story human giant! A fantastic modern engineering wonder of human invention! In case you haven’t guessed, the […]
The Rum River bends between the towns of Cambridge and Princeton and lands in the unincorporated community of Spencer Brook, in Isanti County. The town itself was settled in the late 1850s by newcomers, many Civil War veterans, coming from the east coast. Spencer Brook includes the historic country school and was named after Benjamin Nicholson […]
I have mentioned Anoka, Minnesota as “The Halloween Capital of the World,” but I haven’t told you why. While the holiday had been recognized for quite some time, it wasn’t until 1920 when George Green and other Anoka civic leaders suggested the idea of a giant celebration that included an evening parade to keep young […]
