49 Interesting Facts About Minnesota

Last updated on June 3rd, 2023

42. Gastronomy

The state has a long culinary tradition. It is regarded as the nation’s barn thanks to a remarkable production of wheat, pig and dairy products. There are more than 1,000 restaurants throughout the State.

43. Minnesota’s license plate references one of the state’s nicknames, the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”^[25]

44. The land of 10,000 lakes has more recreational boats per capita than any other state.

45. The Mayo Clinic is an American nonprofit academic medical center based in Rochester, Minnesota. The facility employs more than 60,000 staff people including scientists, physicians, administrators and allied health staff. Surgery at Mayo Clinic began with the frontier practice of Dr. William Worrall Mayo, who moved to Rochester in 1863.^[26,27]

46. An amazing fact about Minnesota is that that the world’s first open heart operation was performed in the University of Minnesota in 1952 by Dr. C Walton Lillehei. Lillehei has been called the “King of Hearts” for his pioneering research as a surgeon and inventor of medical devices.^[28]

47. Modern inline skates were invented by two Minnesota students – Scott and Brennan Olson, who wanted to practice ice hockey in the summer.^[29]

48. It is also the only state with the source of three main rivers – the Mississippi, the St. Lawrence and the Red River of the North.^[30]

49. Minnesota is the most northerly of all the states (reaching lat. 49°23’55″N),
except for Alaska. The state’s motto is L’Etoile du Nord, which in French means “Star of the North.”

About the flag of Minnesota

1. Design and Symbolism

The flag of Minnesota is a showcase of culture, history, and industry. The colorful visuals tell a compelling story in vivid detail.

Like many other state flags, it features the state seal on a blue background. The thick white border has gold trim. Inside, clusters of stars depict Minnesota as the 19th state to be admitted after the original 13 states. Its name appears in red.

The center of the seal is a busy mosaic. A Native American rides a horse in the distance to honor the state’s heritage. The sun sets on the plains that cover most of Minnesota. The new design also includes the Mississippi River and St. Anthony falls to underscore their importance to early settlers.

Meanwhile, a pioneer plows the field in the foreground to signify the importance of agriculture. A tree stump shows how settlers tamed the wild land. Pine trees represent the regions of St. Croix, Lake Superior, and Mississippi.

Surrounding the image is the state flower, commonly known as pink-and-white lady slippers. The date of statehood, 1858, appears at the top of the seal. A red ribbon snakes across the scene carrying the words “L’Etoile Du Nord” (The Star of the North), “1819” (the establishment of Fort Snelling), and “1893” (the year of statehood).

2. Adoption

Minnesota adopted the current flag on August 2, 1983. It uses the design of Amelia Hyde Carter.

3. Technical Details

The flag has a proportion of 3:7. There are five clusters of stars, with most having four and the top cluster having three. One is larger than the rest to represent Minnesota.

4. History

Civil War Flags

Minnesota did not have an official flag during the outbreak of the Civil War. Each of its 11 regiments carried a unique banner, typically with a blue field and an American Eagle or a State Seal.

The 1893 Flag

Gov. William Merriam went all-out preparing for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, where Minnesota was sponsoring an exhibition. The Women’s Auxiliary Board held a flag design contest and got 200 entries from the public. Amelia Hyde Center won $15 for her effort. Her design had white and blue sides, with moccasin flowers adorning the seal.

The 1957 Flag

Minnesota redesigned the flag for the 1958 centennial with a single color for both sides. It made it more practical and durable. The flowers also changed to the native Pink-and-White Lady’s Slipper.

The 1983 Seal Change

Minnesota changed the seal design, so the flag had to reflect that. The background became paler, going from royal blue to medium blue.

5. Flag Restrictions

The Minnesota flag must rise above the State Capitol from sunrise to sunset.

When folded for display, do it lengthwise four times from each side. The resulting triangle must show the motto “L’Etoile du Nord” in front. When folding for storage, apply the same method used for the national flag.

Desecrating the state flag is considered a misdemeanor. It should not be mutilated or defiled. It cannot figure in advertising.

6. Other Flags

The North Star Flag

Over the years, people have tried to change the flag design saying that the current one is overly complicated and problematic in its use of Native American symbols.

In 1989, William Becker and Lee Harold proposed the North Star Flag as a replacement. It has a blue field representing bodies of water and a golden star at the upper left to symbolize the state’s natural resources. A wavy white band signifies winter, while the green below is the farmland and forests. The design won in an unofficial contest but was never adopted.

Minnesota – quick facts and state symbols