Curious Minnesota

Rest areas are a common site on roadways across Minnesota. While they are easy to overlook, rest areas also serve an important purpose for driver safety. And it turns out that Minnesota has some of the nation's most exceptional rest areas. Reporter Erica Pearson joined host Eric Roper to discuss the history, function and design of these facilities.

LINKS:

Why are Minnesota’s roadside rest areas so nice?

After Gov. Tim Walz joked about the state's low spice tolerance in a campaign video, a reader asked Curious Minnesota about the origins of the idea that Minnesotans don't like spicy food. The cultural stereotype is so pervasive in the state that many restaurants include menu warnings or simply offer versions of dishes with extremely minimal seasoning. Reporter Susan Du joins host Erica Pearson to unpack the geography, cultural history and science behind it.

LINKS:

What’s behind the stereotype that Minnesotans don’t like spicy food?

The Old Dutch potato chip company is a regional icon in the Midwest, known for its twin pack box. They have been frying potatoes for 90 years. And it all began in a kitchen in St. Paul.

Reporter Brooks Johnson joins host Erica Pearson to talk about the company's history and what it was like when he toured their Roseville plant.

LINKS:

How did Old Dutch potato chips get started in St. Paul?

A surplus of military Quonset huts after World War II provided a unique solution to a housing shortage in Minnesota and across the country. Steph Quinn joins host Eric Roper to discuss these temporary neighborhoods.

LINKS:

How Quonset huts helped solve the post-WWII housing crisis in the Twin Cities

This special episode of Curious Minnesota was recorded at the State Fair on August 28th. Erica Pearson and Eric Roper discussed the origins of the Minnesota Star Tribune, which dates back to Minneapolis' incorporation as a city in 1867. The Strib is a descendant of three very different papers. The conversation also delved into what life was like on Minneapolis' Newspaper Row.

LINKS:

How did the Minnesota Star Tribune get its start?

We had a blast chatting with fairgoers on Curious Minnesota Day at the Minnesota Star Tribune's State Fair building. Today's episode is a roundup of the questions we recorded.

LINKS:

Why Wisconsin claims — incorrectly — to have more lakes than the Land of 10,000 Lakes

Why is Minnesota's Democratic Party called the DFL?

How Mayo Clinic became one of the world's most famous medical centers

Minnesota takes great pride in its lakes. "10,000 Lakes" is even emblazoned on the state's license plates. But at least some people in Wisconsin think their state has more lakes than Minnesota. It's because there's not one standard for what defines a lake. 

A reader wanted to know more about why the states are measuring their lakes differently. Erica Pearson, who wrote a story on this topic for Curious Minnesota, digs into the details with host Eric Roper.

LINKS:

Why Wisconsin claims — incorrectly — to have more lakes than the Land of 10,000 Lakes

Why does Minnesota have so many lakes?

Curious Minnesota will be hosting events at the Minnesota Star Tribune's State Fair building on Saturday, August 24th and Wednesday, August 28th.

Anyone who has spent time in south Minneapolis over the last 50 years has likely run across the unusual intersection at Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue. These are two of the city's most important thoroughfares. But the city decided in the 1970s to close Nicollet at Lake Street so a Kmart store could extend over a portion of two blocks. Adelie Bergström joins host Eric Roper to discuss what led to this controversial decision.

LINKS:

Why did Minneapolis close Nicollet Avenue for a Kmart?

Minnesota is known for its Scandinavian roots, which are apparent in everything from the Vikings football team to the Norwegian bachelor farmers of Lake Wobegon. But more residents report having German ancestry than Scandinavian. So why isn't that German heritage more reflected more in the state's culture?

Reporter Greta Kaul joins host Eric Roper to discuss the effort to erase German culture in the state around World War I.

LINKS:

Why did Minnesota erase much of its German culture?

Is Minnesota actually more German than Scandinavian?