Curious Minnesota

Minnesota Star Tribune

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. 31 MAR

    What’s the science behind ice thickness and when is it safe to drive on a lake?

    Back in the 1970s, a Canadian ice researcher developed a formula to determine how thick lake ice needed to be for logging trucks to drive across. It helps inform the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' ice safety guidelines today. Reporter Kim Hyatt talks with host Erica Pearson about the history and science of ice roads.

    16 min

  2. 17 MAR

    The story behind Basshenge, one musician’s monumental ode to his instrument

    You’ve heard of Stonehenge in England ― but what about Minnesota’s own Basshenge? Reporter Alicia Eler shares its story with host Erica Pearson. The 2001 piece of public art celebrates an instrument — the double bass. Located off Hwy. 11 west of International Falls in the northernmost part of Minnesota, it was created by a musician who spent his later years in the area.

    17 min

  3. 3 MAR

    What’s the history of the Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory and the Whipple Building?

    The Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, the federal government headquarters for U.S. Immigration Court and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, isn’t part of Historic Fort Snelling, but it sits on a small, unincorporated swath of land known as the Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory. Reporter Chris Vondracek talks with host Erica Pearson about the troubled history of that land, including the first arrival of the U.S. government to this area.

    19 min

  4. 17 FEB

    Introducing Essential Minnesota

    A special treat for Curious Listeners: Check out the latest episode of the Minnesota Star Tribune's newest podcast, Essential Minnesota. Even with the announcement that Operation Metro Surge is coming to an end, many Minnesotans are still in hiding.  Our reporters visit with one family who has been wondering when it will be safe to come out again.

    20 min
  5. What's the history of the abandoned Cold War station in Finland, MN?

    3 FEB

    What's the history of the abandoned Cold War station in Finland, MN?

    An abandoned Air Force station on Lookout Mountain above Lake Superior has become a ghost town. But during the Cold War, it was seen as a crucial spot to watch the skies in case of a Russian attack. Reporter Christa Lawler talks with host Erica Pearson about the station and Minnesota's once-secret Cold War history.

    16 min

  6. 20 ENE

    How 'Bachelormania' once swept the town of Herman, Minnesota

    “Wanted: A Few Good Women.” That’s how a 1994 Associated Press story about the west-central Minnesota town of Herman began. The tale of the town with 78 bachelors and fewer than a dozen unmarried women became an international media sensation. Jenny Berg caught up with some of those erstwhile eligible bachelor farmers and shares their stories with host Erica Pearson.

    16 min

  7. 6 ENE

    The coldest day in Minnesota history

    The coldest day ever recorded in Minnesota was Feb. 2, 1996. Casey Darnell joins host Erica Pearson to talk about what happened when temperatures plunged to a record low of minus 60 in Tower, about 90 miles north of Duluth.

    13 min

  8. 23/12/2025

    How did Minnesota become home to the world's first shopping mall?

    Southdale in Edina became the first fully enclosed shopping mall in the world when it opened in 1956.  Its architect had a vision to thwart the cold and create an indoor town square where it was always 75 degrees. Southdale spawned thousands of suburban shopping malls across the country, shaping an era of American life. Host Erica Pearson makes a visit.

    16 min
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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.

Información

  • Creador
    Minnesota Star Tribune
  • Años de actividad
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodios
    133
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    ℗ & © 2020 Star Tribune 386829
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Curious Minnesota

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