Minnesota Books

I have to admit that I was surprised there was not a photograph of Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge in this look at "Minnesota" for the From Sea to Shining Sea (second) series, because it is the iconic image of the Zenith City. When Jessica Lange, who was born down the road in Cloquet, come up here to make "Far North" (1988), they managed to put the Aerial Lift Bridge in most of the shots so that it became something of a running joke in the film. It gets mentioned in this book, but no picture. In fact the photograph that accompanies Chapter One, Introducing the North Star State, shows a Minnesotan embracing the cold winter, which serves as a reminder that up here it is winter six months of the year, most of the 12,000 lakes get frozen, along with Lake Superior, which means there comes a time when the Aerial Lift Bridge no longer needs to be lifted. But then that is just our little corner of the North Star State.

The second chapter is devoted to the geography of The Land of Minnesota, which covers how the melting of the glaciers resulted in four geographic regions: the Superior Upland, the Young Drift Plains, the Dissected Till Plains, and the Driftless Area (you have to love these names). Pay attention to the Rivers and Lakes section this time around because with the 6,564 rivers and the aforementioned 12,000 lakes, Minnesota has 90,000 miles of shoreline, which is more than California, Florida, and Hawaii combined. Then there is the great understatement in the Climate section where Hasday informs us that, "Minnesota gets very cold." This, I will admit, is true, and explains why this book has one of the longest sections on climate in the series (think of it as an apologia).

Minnesota Through History is the subject of Chapter Three, where several pages are devoted to the Native American settlements that were supplanted by the arrival of the European fur trappers. Hasday covers Minnesota as a developing land, a territory, and then a state in 1858. The slavery issue and the Civil War are covered, as is the Dakota conflict that was happening at the same time. The impact of the Homestead Act and the logging and mining industries on Minnesota are explained. The final sections in the chapter are devoted to the two World Wars, and how the postwar period led to the modern times of today (ending with some rather kind words for former governor Jesse "the Body" Ventura).

The fourth chapter talks about Governing Minnesota, although after explaining the three branches of state government, the rest of the chapter is devoted to a tour of Saint Paul, the one of the Twin Cities that is the state capital. The map of downtown shows where the Minnesota Children's Museum, Science Museum of Minnesota, and Minnesota History Center are located. The final chapter is about The People and Places of Minnesota, which goes into detail on where people came from (although talking only along Finnish people when you mention the Scandinavians in the state is treading on thin ice), and what they do for work up here. With great joy I can tell you that the recipe here is for Minnesota Blueberry Tiramisu, and while the last word frightens me a bit, nothing beats blueberries. The last section is a tour of Minnesota that gives you an indication of what there is to see from the Mall of America to the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca (where you can walk across), and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Throughout the book there are the standard sidebars categories Find Out More (What can be made from iron ore?), Who's Who in Minnesota (Hubert Humphrey), Extra! Extra! ("whaleback" steamers), and What's in a Name? (Minneapolis is a combination of the Dakota word "minne" for "water" and Greek "polis" for "city"), but apparently nothing every happened here first because there is not Famous First box. There are some nice color photographs of Split Rock Lighthouse and the shore of Lake Superior at Grand Marais, and also shots of things further south from here.

The back of the book has an Minnesota Almanac, two-pages of statistics and basic information. A Timeline contrasts Minnesota state and U.S. history, while the Gallery of Famous Minnesotans has photos of Garrison Keillor and Charles Schulz, but also names Bob Dylan and Prince, although younger readers will be most excited about Mary GrandPre (illustrator of the American "Harry Potter" books in case you are out of the loop). After the Glossary, Hasday has a list of websites, books and addresses where young students can go For More Information. But there is plenty of basic information here and if you need something more specific for a school report it might entail more research. The Mighty Mississippi begins in Minnesota and we are going to follow is down to the Gulf of Mexico, so our next stop on the tour is going to be Iowa, the Hawkeye State.

John Radzilowski is a Minnesota native, writer and historian. He therefore brings a special expertise to Minnesota: On-the-Road, a panoramic survey of the cultural, historical, and geographic aspects of a surprisingly multi-ethnic upper midwest state which always ranked high with respect to the environmental, the economic well-being of its citizens, the arts, health, and education. Along with a lively account of Minnesota's history, Minnesota: On-the-Road is enhanced for the traveller with full-color and black/white archival and contemporary photographs and maps; a chronology of major events; "infobits" such as state symbols, songs, etc.; literary extracts; visitor resources and "must-see" sights; cultural highlights and special events; and a select bibliography. Minnesota: On-the-Road is recommended for on-site visitors and armchair travellers alike!

Minnesota in winter is both brutal and beautiful. But there's more to it than Prince, hockey, and snow. Minnesota is rich in culture and history. And this little volume will tell you and your students all about it.

The "Portrait of America" series is a terrific introduction for pre-teens to the 50 states and to the places and events that shaped the history of the United States. This "Minnesota" installment is particularly good. The book is broken down into sections like "History", "Culture", "Economy" etc., and each section is thoughtfully written and edited. The "Culture" section is especially good and is very inclusive.

This book, as well as the entire "Portrait of America" series, will prove to be a valuable teaching tool to all primary school educators.

We travel with 2 young (2 yr & 6yr) children and this guide is fabulous to carry and let the kids use to point out what they see. Very light for the kids to carry & laminated so survives the stomp in every puddle that accompanies our every hike...We have a number of them, CA, PA, MN etc. We get one wheever we are traveling to a new state. It's also jurable enough to help make longer car trips more interesting.

Minnesota Family Weekends: 28 Fun Trips For You And The Kids by author and travel writer Martin Hintz is an "interesting things to do and places to go" guide for the whole family. Individual chapters are divided by county and geographical regions of Minnesota, with a wealth of practical information on lodgings, tourist attractions, museums, hikes, places to shop, sights to see, and much, much more. A concise and useful resource, Minnesota Family Weekends is a definitive planning guide for anyone wanting taking a "kid friendly" trip or excursion anywhere in Minnesota.

As a beginning gardener, this book was invaluable to me in identifying the common plants in my neighborhood. The pictures are very good for getting a real sense of what each plant is like. Also, the number of plants included is manageable - not too many so as be completely overwhelming for the beginning or casual gardener, not too few as to be limiting. I also like the easy picture keys for each plant (native, sun/shade, drought, etc) - you can quickly scan through for plants that'll work for your situation.

Gardening on the Minnesota prairie had its origins with the advent of pioneer homesteads in the 1840s. Because of the climate (especially the severe and extended winters), prospects for horticulture were grim. But in the following 150 years, Minnesota saw the development of estate gardens whose beauty and opulence would rival those of Europe, and who public landscapes would be numbered among the best America had to offer. Hundreds of new plant varieties, a flourishing seed industry, and gardens of all kinds and sizes would extend to every corner of Minnesota. In Minnesota Gardens: An Illustrated History, reference librarian and dedicated gardener Susan Price has drawn upon original sources (including old newspaper accounts, diaries, historic photos, and interviews) to showcase Minnesota gardening past and present in the first comprehensive and superbly illustrated history of the subject that is enthusiastically recommended for the all gardening enthusiasts -- and would serve as an admirable template for similar works celebrating the history of regional gardening anywhere else in the nation.

Minnesota Grit is the remarkable true story of Northfield, Minnesota, and how its ordinary citizens mobilized to break a notorious gang of robbers. When the James-Younger Gang tried to rob Northfield's bank, the citizenry turned against them so fast that two members of the outlaws were killed moments later, and ultimately only Jesse and Frank James escaped the posses, their power broken for the rest of history. Painstakingly researched, and illustrated with a handful of black-and-white photographs, Minnesota Grit tells the true tale with rousing intensity and accuracy, including the story of the "Magnificent Seven" who captured the Younger Brothers at Hanska Slough. An exciting portrayal of a legendary episode in American history.

It so well written and full of good information for making ones trips in Minnesota wonderful.

This is a great guide for anyone exploring Minnesota by car. It lists 348 highway markers and their complete texts, all arranged by county. There is also a very thorough index of topics and names mentioned on the markers. Local history buffs or anybody interested in Minnesota history and geology will find this book a wonderful read.