Minnesota Unraveled: Pulling on the Threads of Minnesota History

Written by: Minnesota Historical Society | Pod People
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  • Summary

  • Minnesota history is a rich tapestry, weaving together the diverse experiences, cultures, and events that tell the story of our state. It’s a story that affects—and includes—all of us. Minnesota Unraveled, a podcast by the Minnesota Historical Society, pulls on the threads of the past to reveal new perspectives and expand our knowledge of the history we share. Host Dr. Chantel Rodriguez and her guests invite listeners to think like historians and recognize that learning about other people’s lives in the past can be a powerful way to reveal our place in the present. Join us on a journey across the North Star State as we take a look around us and ask questions that pull us into the past.
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Episodes
  • Logging the Northwoods: Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji

    Logging the Northwoods: Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji
    Feb 6 2025
    The Midwest—and Minnesota in particular—is known for its roadside attractions, from the world’s biggest ball of twine to the world’s largest boot. But drive through the Northwoods town of Bemidji, Minnesota, and you’ll find towering statues of a legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyan and his pal— Babe the Blue Ox—looking over the lake shore. This episode, historian and host Dr. Chantel Rodríguez probes the history—and myths—behind these statues. How did they end up there, and why does Paul Bunyan’s story linger in popular culture and what does it tell us about the logging industry? To better understand these questions and more, Chantel speaks with librarian and educator Jennifer Kleinjung, as well as Kasey Keeler, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin.
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    49 mins
  • Enduring Connections: Native Community and Basketball

    Enduring Connections: Native Community and Basketball
    Jan 23 2025
    Women’s basketball is having a moment in the United States—in fact, Minnesota’s own WNBA team, the Lynx, have won four championships and even made it to the finals in 2024. But while sports have empowered women in modern society, the history of basketball—not unlike the history of women in this country—is, well, complicated. Peek into the far corner of the Minnesota History Center’s exhibit on girlhood, and you’ll uncover another layer to that history—the relationship between Native communities and basketball. In this episode, historian and host Dr. Chantel Rodriguez dives into the intimate and complex history of Native peoples and what came to be known as rez, or reservation, ball. How did Native people develop a deep, communal connection to something that was introduced as part of an effort to destroy that very sense of community? To better understand these intricacies, Chantel talks with historian and former ball-player Syd Beane, along with former player and coach Brook LaFloe and documentary filmmaker Leya Hale.
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    45 mins
  • Part Two: Bringing Bison Home

    Part Two: Bringing Bison Home
    Jan 2 2025
    Buffalo once roamed across Minnesota in the thousands. Now, the Minnesota Bison Collaborative is working to bring them back. It’s a trickier proposition than you might think. It requires community involvement, prairie restoration, and careful monitoring of it all. This episode, host Dr. Chantel Rodriguez talks with natural resource manager Ferin Davis Anderson and conservation biologist Mary Mallinger about the ins and outs of bringing bison home to Minnesota. Publishing note: Our next episode will be available January 23, 2025
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    42 mins

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