15 Facts About Minnesota

Why did the University of Minnesota decide to call their teams the Golden Gophers?

Photo by Joe Pohle on Unsplash

Like my memories of other states, when I think of Minnesota, I think of the state’s sports teams. I remember the Vikings going to a bunch of Super Bowls and the Twins wreaking havoc with the White Sox. Obliviously there is more to Minnesota than that.

Minnesota is also home to the fictional Mary Tyler Moore. As far as actual facts I know Minnesota has a lot of lakes and is really cold. It’s also home to Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose. Hold on, being told they are also fictional. Okay, on to some actual facts about Minnesota.

1: The state motto comes from the French expression, L’Étoile du Nord, which means “The Star of the North.”

So, is that why their NHL team was originally named the Minnesota North Stars?

2: Tensions between settlers and Indian tribes in the area were very real. At different times the government offered bounties for the scalps of Dakota Indians. Hundreds of settlers were killed and 38 men from the Dakota tribe were hanged.