On this date in 1961, the loon (Gavia immer) was designated as Minnesota’s State Bird by the Minnesota State Legislature. The statute (Minnesota Statutes 1.145) also states that “a photograph of the loon shall be preserved in the Office of the Secretary of State.” Before the Legislature decided on the loon as Minnesota’s state bird, […]
General
1851-03-17
On this date in 1851, Minnesota’s first St. Patrick’s Day celebration is held in St. Paul. According to the Minnesota Pioneer (from March 20, 1851), “The Sons of the Emerald Isle, and our citizens generally, joined an impromptu celebration of the anniversary of St. Patrick on Monday last.”
1958-09-16
On this date in 1958, a U.S. Airforce B52D Strattofortress on a Cold War training mission crashes in a cornfield on the August Kahl farm located in Inver Township (now Inver Grove Heights). Seven of the planes eight crew members died in the crash. On the ground, the crash destroyed a house and two barns […]
1956-06-05
On this date in 1956, an Air Force F89 Scorpion fighter jet carrying 104 live rockets crashed into a car on a road adjacent to Wold-Chamberlain Field (now Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport). A 38-year-old Minneapolis woman and her 5-year-old daughter were killed.
1868-02-29
On this date in 1868, the St. Paul Daily Dispatch, an evening journal, was issued for the first time by H. P. Hall and David Ramaley. The Dispatch would run as a daily, independent newspaper for the next 117 years. The Dispatch was purchased by George Thompson in 1885 forming the Dispatch Printing Company (DPC). […]
