Minneapolis City Guide: Hidden Gems, Dark History & Local Secrets

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Longform stories and essays exploring Minneapolis's history and culture

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Meeting of Waters

Flour mills, frozen rivers, and the particular satisfaction of surviving January

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The 5 Best New Restaurants in Northeast Minneapolis

From Hmong fusion to wood-fired pizza, Northeast is having a moment

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The Gateway District: When Minneapolis Demolished Its History

In 1959, Minneapolis razed 40% of downtown — 200 buildings, including its birthplace — to eliminate "Skid Row." It was America's first federally funded urban renewal project. The results were parking lots.

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The Great Mill Disaster: When Flour Exploded

On May 2, 1878, the world's largest flour mill exploded, killing 18 workers and destroying half the city's milling capacity. The cause? Flour dust. The explosion changed industrial safety forever.

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Bohemian Flats: The Immigrant Village Minneapolis Erased

For sixty years, a thousand immigrants lived in shanties beneath the Washington Avenue Bridge. They scavenged from the river, climbed 79 stairs to work each morning, and were evicted to make room for a coal terminal. Now it's a park.

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From the Horn of Africa to the Land of 10,000 Lakes

How the largest Somali community outside of Africa ended up in one of the coldest places in America — and built a capital city of the diaspora

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Duck Duck Grey Duck: Minnesota's Hill to Die On

Every other state plays Duck Duck Goose. Minnesotans play Duck Duck Grey Duck. Both sides think the other is insane.

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Meeting of Waters

Flour mills, frozen rivers, and the particular satisfaction of surviving January

Read

The 5 Best New Restaurants in Northeast Minneapolis

From Hmong fusion to wood-fired pizza, Northeast is having a moment

Read

The Gateway District: When Minneapolis Demolished Its History

Read

The Great Mill Disaster: When Flour Exploded

On May 2, 1878, the world's largest flour mill exploded, killing 18 workers and destroying half the city's milling capacity. The cause? Flour dust. The explosion changed industrial safety forever.

Read

Bohemian Flats: The Immigrant Village Minneapolis Erased

Read

From the Horn of Africa to the Land of 10,000 Lakes

How the largest Somali community outside of Africa ended up in one of the coldest places in America — and built a capital city of the diaspora

Read

Duck Duck Grey Duck: Minnesota's Hill to Die On

Every other state plays Duck Duck Goose. Minnesotans play Duck Duck Grey Duck. Both sides think the other is insane.

Read

Meeting of Waters

Flour mills, frozen rivers, and the particular satisfaction of surviving January

Read

The 5 Best New Restaurants in Northeast Minneapolis

From Hmong fusion to wood-fired pizza, Northeast is having a moment

Read

The Gateway District: When Minneapolis Demolished Its History

Read

The Great Mill Disaster: When Flour Exploded

On May 2, 1878, the world's largest flour mill exploded, killing 18 workers and destroying half the city's milling capacity. The cause? Flour dust. The explosion changed industrial safety forever.

Read

Bohemian Flats: The Immigrant Village Minneapolis Erased

Read

From the Horn of Africa to the Land of 10,000 Lakes

How the largest Somali community outside of Africa ended up in one of the coldest places in America — and built a capital city of the diaspora

Read

Duck Duck Grey Duck: Minnesota's Hill to Die On

Every other state plays Duck Duck Goose. Minnesotans play Duck Duck Grey Duck. Both sides think the other is insane.

Read

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Curated collections of curiosities, dark history, hidden gems, and more

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Minneapolis's Dark History

Severed heads on park benches, frozen evidence, and the hot dog napkin that solved a murder

Curious Minneapolis

Articles

Meeting of Waters

The 5 Best New Restaurants in Northeast Minneapolis

The Gateway District: When Minneapolis Demolished Its History

The Great Mill Disaster: When Flour Exploded

Bohemian Flats: The Immigrant Village Minneapolis Erased

From the Horn of Africa to the Land of 10,000 Lakes

Duck Duck Grey Duck: Minnesota's Hill to Die On

Meeting of Waters

The 5 Best New Restaurants in Northeast Minneapolis

The Gateway District: When Minneapolis Demolished Its History

The Great Mill Disaster: When Flour Exploded

Bohemian Flats: The Immigrant Village Minneapolis Erased

From the Horn of Africa to the Land of 10,000 Lakes

Duck Duck Grey Duck: Minnesota's Hill to Die On

Meeting of Waters

The 5 Best New Restaurants in Northeast Minneapolis

The Gateway District: When Minneapolis Demolished Its History

The Great Mill Disaster: When Flour Exploded

Bohemian Flats: The Immigrant Village Minneapolis Erased

From the Horn of Africa to the Land of 10,000 Lakes

Duck Duck Grey Duck: Minnesota's Hill to Die On

Discover

Minneapolis's Dark History

Curiosities

Hidden Minneapolis

Lost Minneapolis

Minneapolis's Dark History

Curiosities

Hidden Minneapolis

Lost Minneapolis

Minneapolis's Dark History

Curiosities

Hidden Minneapolis

Lost Minneapolis

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