Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, stretches from the bluffs and river valleys of the Mississippi's headwaters in the north to the rolling prairies and twin-cities metropolitan energy of the south. Minneapolis and Saint Paul together form one of the most livable metro areas in the United States — renowned for a world-class arts scene anchored by the Walker Art Center and Minnesota Orchestra, a craft beer culture rivaling any city its size, and skyway-connected neighborhoods that let residents and visitors move in comfort year-round. Beyond the cities, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness offers 1 million acres of roadless lakes and forest, the North Shore of Lake Superior delivers dramatic basalt cliffs and waterfalls, and the Iron Range preserves gritty mining heritage amid boreal pines.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Minnesota.
-
1
Pre-contact (10,000 BCE–1600 CE)
-
2
French Exploration (1650–1763)
-
3
American Frontier (1803–1858)
-
4
US–Dakota War of 1862
-
5
Industrial Age (1860–1920)
-
6
Labor Movement (1934)
-
7
Modern Minnesota (1945–present)
Historical sites
Places where Minnesota's past comes alive.
Fort Snelling National Monument
Where: Saint Paul / Minneapolis junction
Admission: Adult: $12 (≈$12 USD) | Child: $6 (ages 6–17)
Mill City Museum
Where: Minneapolis
Admission: Adult: $14 (≈$14 USD) | Child: $10 (ages 5–17)
Jeffers Petroglyphs
Where: Comfrey
Admission: Adult: $8 (≈$8 USD) | Child: $6 (ages 5–17)
Pipestone National Monument
Where: Pipestone
Admission: Adult: $10 (≈$10 USD) | Child: Free under 16
Minnesota History Center
Where: Saint Paul
Admission: Adult: $14 (≈$14 USD) | Child: $10 (ages 6–17)