The Twin Cities hold a key place in the environmental history of Minnesota and the larger nation as well. Both cities benefitted from auspicious locations. Developing at the nexus of rail and water transportation in the Upper Midwest, and alongside the intersections of three rivers and three major biomes, St. Paul emerged as a hub for trade and government at the head of navigation of the Mississippi River. A mere fourteen miles upstream, Minneapolis sprang to life around St. Anthony Falls and became known for milling grain and timber, two of the region’s key natural resources.
Together, the cities’ markets and manufacturers played a significant role in the nineteenth-century environmental transformations of the Upper Midwest. They helped speed the transformation of prairies and forests into settled agricultural land, for example, furnishing settlers with everything they needed to get their farms up and running. They also acted as the great entrepot for the region’s natural wealth, taking in a steady flow of fur, hides, timber, and grain, and converting it to sellable products for national markets.
In addition to providing outstanding examples of how urban growth has helped transform ecosystems both local and distant, the Twin Cities offer compelling examples of how society has drawn upon nature to initiate and sustain urban growth, as well as how social values have guided urbanites as they have built and rearranged the world around them.
Image credit: Man distributing leaflets, Earth Day rally, University of Minnesota, 1970. MNHS call number: QD4 p8
Gale Family Library
Minnesota Historical Society Library
Located on the Second Floor of the Minnesota History Center
345 West Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102
Library Hours:
Thursday to Saturday: 10am to 4pm
Sunday to Wednesday: Closed
More Information on Visiting the Library
Contact Us:
651-259-3300
Chris Wells
Professor of Environmental Studies, Macalester College
