Curious Minnesota

Latest Episodes:

Why did Minneapolis tear down its biggest train station? Mar 05, 2021

Show notes

The Great Northern Depot on Hennepin Avenue was a de facto welcome mat for Minneapolis for many years. Along with the Milwaukee Road Depot, it was the primary place people arrived in the city. So why was Great Northern torn down in 1978, while the Milwaukee Road Depot survived? Rail historian Aaron Isaacs joins host Eric Roper to discuss the history of the Depot and the decline of passenger rail travel in the 20th Century.

Story and photo gallery

How Ford made millions of windows from the sand beneath St. Paul Feb 12, 2021

Show notes

For part of the 20th Century, Ford Motor Company relied heavily on sand beneath its plant in St. Paul to make windows for its cars. Host Eric Roper discusses that operation with reporter John Reinan.

LINKS:

John's Curious Minnesota story about the Ford Plant sand mining

A timeline of St. Paul's Ford Plant operations

Made in St. Paul: Stories from the Ford Plant (Twin Cities PBS / Producer: Peter Myers)

How do cities make Mississippi River water safe to drink? Jan 13, 2021

Show notes

Both Minneapolis and St. Paul draw their drinking water from the Mississippi River. Curious Minnesota host Eric Roper paid a visit to Minneapolis’ water treatment campus in Fridley to understand the complex process that makes river water safe to drink.

LINKS:

Photo gallery

Article (published in October 2020)

Will Minnesota join push toward a national popular vote? Dec 03, 2020

Show notes

A number of states have joined an effort that would effectively bypass the Electoral College in determining America's president. Those states have signed on to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would commit their electoral votes to whoever wins the national popular vote. Will Minnesota participate? Reporter Torey Van Oot joins host Eric Roper to discuss the proposal. Read her story here. The reader question was inspired by a discussion on the New York Times' "The Daily" podcast, which you can listen to here.

Why do so many Twin Cities malls end in ‘dale’? Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

Malls ending in the suffix "Dale" are peppered across the Twin Cities. But why "Dale"? Reporter John Ewoldt joins us to discuss the history of the Dales, starting with the landmark mall that started it all — Southdale. Host Eric Roper and Ewoldt discuss how the vision of the Dayton Corporation reshaped retail in the region. Read John's story here.

Why hasn't Minnesota passed the Equal Rights Amendment? Sep 23, 2020

Show notes

What's the latest we know about COVID-19's treatment, transmission? Sep 02, 2020

Show notes

When you flush a toilet in the Twin Cities, where does everything go? Aug 08, 2020

Show notes

Do the things we recycle all actually get recycled in Minnesota? Jul 16, 2020

Show notes

How did Minnesota become one of the most racially inequitable states? Jun 30, 2020

Show notes