Naming Places: Nellie Stone Johnson Elementary School
Names are important. What do these locally named places and streets tell us about who we are, where we come from, and what we care about?
Category: History
The Remarkable Garden of Miss Iris (Republished)
“Saint Paul by Bike” blogger Wolfie Browender leads readers to interesting neighborhoods throughout St. Paul. In Frogtown, he visits Frogtown Farms and Miss Iris, lover of plants, mosaics and other works of art.
Discovering Democracy and the Crocus Hillbilly
A tour of the Justice & Democracy Center in downtown St. Paul, unique views from a couple parking ramps and a visit with the “Crocus Hillbilly.”
Who Was Bishop Henry Whipple?
The Whipple Federal Building has become infamous during Operation Metro Surge, but few know about the person for whom it’s named and what he stood for.
The Accidental Backbone: A 100-Year History of Incrementalism on Highway 36
Highway 36 evolved from a 1930s “disjointed mess” into a critical regional “backbone,” shaped by reactive suburban growth, jurisdictional friction, and incremental infrastructure compromises.
The “Pines to Palms” in Northfield: A Biography of Highway 3
A personal and historical biography of Highway 3 in Northfield, exploring how a familiar road became a boundary shaping a community
Walking All the Streets of the North Loop, Day 2
The river-adjacent portion of Minneapolis’s North Loop neighborhood largely corresponds to the Warehouse Historic District.
An Ode to the Nicollet Avenue Bridge Over the Midtown Greenway
A look at unique features and changes to the area amidst the demolition of the Nicollet Avenue bridge over the Midtown Greenway.
A 125 Year Legacy In the North End – Part 2
The most conspicuous work of the Tri-Area Block Club was establishing Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary. Here’s the story of how the dedicated North Enders accomplished it.
A 125 Year Legacy In the North End – Part 1
Meet a woman with 125 year roots in the North End and how the neighborhood successfully fought unwanted industrial development.