MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds

MN90: Moosylvania

Ampers — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:58:18 -0500

In 1962, Jay Ward, co-creator of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, leased an island on the Minnesota-Canada border. Britt Aamodt tells us how a nuclear standoff got in the way of Moosylvania, America’s 52nd state. (Ward never identified the 51st state.)

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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

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A Minnesota State Symbol You Can Sautee with Butter

Ampers — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:00:00 -0500

In 1984, Minnesota became the first state to name an official mushroom, the morel.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Katharine DeCelle

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: Man at a table full of morel mushrooms. [credit: Photographer, Peter Leach. Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society]

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MN90: Babbit

Ampers — Mon, 11 May 2026 10:07:00 -0500

In 1920, Sauk Centre native Sinclair Lewis became a sensation with the publication of his novel Main Street. Now the pressure was on for a follow-up. Britt Aamodt turns the page on Babbitt, Lewis’ searing indictment of smug middle-class complacency.
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Producer: Britt Aamodt

Editor: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

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The Sugar Beet Fields

Ampers — Fri, 08 May 2026 10:00:00 -0500

In the late 19th century, Minnesota farmers began planting sugar beets, a domestic alternative to cane sugar. That new crop brought families of migrant workers to the state, and those families established some of Minnesota’s earliest Latino neighborhoods. Here’s Britt Aamodt.
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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: Sugar beet worker near Fisher, Minnesota, 1937 [credit: Photographer: Russell Lee. Minnesota Historical Society Collections].

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Minnesota and the Bicycle Craze

Ampers — Thu, 07 May 2026 10:00:00 -0500

The introduction of the “Safety Bike” changed society for the better. How did Minnesota change?
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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Autumn Haeg

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: Two Women and a Girl with Bicycles, 1897 [credit: Minnesota Historical Society Collections]
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Trumpeter Swans Make a Comeback

Ampers — Wed, 06 May 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Swans used to be a popular game of choice for Minnesota hunters. But by the 1900’s, the entire population of trumpeter swans was gone.
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Produced by Autumn Haeg

Editor: Chris Harwood
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Image: Loring Park swans in Minneapolis Park Board's winter house in Theodore Wirth Park, 1948 [credit: Philip Dittes, photographer. Courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society]

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Nordic Ware’s Humble Beginning

Ampers — Tue, 05 May 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Founded in the Minneapolis basement of Dotty and Dave Dalquist in 1946, Nordic Ware is historically significant to Minnesota, and to the nation’s baking community.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Autumn Haeg

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: Nordic Ware (1987) [credit: Photographer Jet Lowe – collection MNHS]

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The Origin of the Jingle Dress

Ampers — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:51:03 -0500

The origin of a popular dance style across Indian Country is said to have come from Minnesota. Deanna StandingCloud tells us the story.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Deanna StandingCloud

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

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Taylor’s Falls Log Jams

Ampers — Fri, 01 May 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Disaster stuck the St. Croix river in the 1800s. Loggers were battling giant piles of timber stacking up and causing jams. It was nature’s pressure cooker.
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Producer: Autumn Haeg
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
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Wen Ping Pan

Ampers — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Engineer Wen Ping Pan helped relocate Hibbing in the 1920s after iron ore was found beneath the town, redesigning the city and guiding residents through the move.

Producer: Faaya Adem

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger, Britt Aamodt

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: Wen Ping Pan [credit: University of Minnesota Archives]

Music: "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" by Arizona Dranes, from Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order - 1926-1929 [Document Records, 1993] (0:21)

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Minnesota’s Largest Snowman

Ampers — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

The tallest snowman in the state came from an unlikely source of inspiration…and isn’t technically made from snow.
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Producer: Autumn Haeg
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
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Clellan Card’s Legacy

Ampers — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

From commercials to his own TV program, Clellan Card was a beloved comedian in the Twin Cities during the late 1900s. Axel and His Dog became a favorite program among children and adults alike.
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Producer: Autumn Haeg
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
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Legend of Pig’s Eye

Ampers — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Many Minnesotan’s claim Pierre Parrant was the first resident of St. Paul… but the reality is a little murkier. Autumn Haeg debunks the myths of "Pig's Eye" Parrant.
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Producer: Autumn Haeg
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
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Abdallah Chocolate

Ampers — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Albert Abdallah opened the Calhoun Candy Depot, a bustling shop that quickly became a community favorite. Rebranded as Abdallah Candies, the business grew into a Minnesota treasure, now delighting customers all over the state.
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Producer: Autumn Haeg
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
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BOP Minnesota

Ampers — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

For more than 25 years the Bisexual Organizing Project (BOP) has helped champion Minnesota's bisexual, pansexual, fluid, and queer communities.
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Producer: Autumn Haeg
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: BOP logo [credit: Image by: Bisexual Organizing Project]
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Sailing to Norway on the Hjemkomst

Ampers — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Bob Asp was a teacher in Moorhead, MN with Norwegian heritage. In the 1970s, Bob decided he wanted to sail from Lake Superior to Norway on a homemade Viking ship. He spent the next ten years recruiting friends to help him build a ship based on the 800 CE ship Gokstad. His ship, named the Hjemkomst ("homecoming" in Norwegian), is now on display to the public at the Hjemkomst Center in the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County.

Producer: Julie Censullo

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger & Britt Aamodt

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Image: The Hjemkomst Crew in Lake Superior, 1982. [credit: The Rose Asp Collection at the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County]

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Sullivan’s Jewel Box

Ampers — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:20:42 -0500

Owatonna, Minnesota is home to one of legendary architect Louis Sullivan’s finest works: the National Farmers’ Bank.
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Producer: Autumn Haeg
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: National Farmer's Bank [credit: MNopedia]
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Mankato Streets

Ampers — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:21:57 -0500

Many towns in Minnesota name their streets after flowers, numbers, or the last names of Presidents. But Makato’s streets tell a story.
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Producer: Autumn Haeg
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: Mankato, Minnesota [credit: MNopedia]
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Northwest Angle

Ampers — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

At the very top of Minnesota, where forest meets water and maps get complicated, lies one of America’s strangest corners: the Northwest Angle.
Pop art pioneer Keith Haring made colorful marks on Minneapolis’ Walker Art Center when he visited in 1984.
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Producer: Autumn Haeg
Editor: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger, Britt Aamodt

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: The Northwest Angle at the northern border of Minnesota [credit: MNopedia]
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St. Paul Hmong Freedom Festival

Ampers — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:01:00 -0500

Every year, hundreds of people attend the Hmong Freedom Festival to celebrate Hmong culture and history in Minnesota.
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Producer: Autumn Haeg
Editor: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger, Britt Aamodt

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: Qeej (Hmong wind instrument) [credit: MNopedia]
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Haring’s Mural

Ampers — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 02:16:03 -0500

Pop art pioneer Keith Haring made colorful marks on Minneapolis’ Walker Art Center when he visited in 1984.
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Producer: Autumn Haeg
Editor: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger, Britt Aamodt

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: Exterior façade of the Walker Art Center. Photograph by Robert Jacobson, ca. 1960s. [credit: MNopedia [ https://www.mnopedia.org/multimedia/walker-art-center-0 ]]
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Eddie Rogers

Ampers — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Eddie Rogers (Ay-Nay-Way-We-Dung) was an Ojibwe football star who exchanged his prowess on the gridiron into a law degree and a successful career as a lawyer and county attorney.
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Producer: Dan Ninham
Editor: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger, Britt Aamodt

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: Bronze bust of Eddie Rogers in Walker (1997) [credit: Dan Ninham]
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Happy Chef

Ampers — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Happy Chef was a beacon for hungry travelers all over the Midwest. Today, one original still stands, flipping pancakes and memories in Mankato.

Producer: Autumn Haeg

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: The Happy Chef statue in Mankato, MN. [credit: Autumn Haeg]

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Maya Moore

Ampers — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

She soared on the court and shook up the courtroom. Maya Moore didn’t just change the game, she changed lives.

Producer: Autumn Haeg

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Image: A basketball sitting stationary on an outdoor concrete basketball court. [credit: Emily Krumberger]

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Kirby Puckett

Ampers — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

From the sandlots to the Metrodome, Kirby Puckett was more than a ballplayer. He was the heart and soul of the Minnesota Twins.

Producer: Autumn Haeg

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

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Lake Street's Puppet Theater

Ampers — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Where giant puppets meet powerful protest, Minnesota’s In the Heart of the Beast Theater brings stories to life with color and courage.

Producer: Autumn Haeg

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: In the Heart of the Beast Theater, Minneapolis, MN. [credit: Autumn Haeg]

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The First Avenue Depot

Ampers — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Before all the stars and glamor, the iconic Minneapolis music venue had several other purposes.

Producer: Autumn Haeg

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Image: Greyhound Bus Depot, located at First Avenue North and Seventh Street, Minneapolis, ca. 1935. [credit: Charles W. Howson Company, courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society]

Music: "River Deep – Mountain High" by Ike and Tina Turner from River Deep – Mountain High. (A&M Records 1966) (0:10)
Music: "Purple Rain" by Prince from Purple Rain (Warner Bros. Records, 1984) (0:16)

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The Blue Mounds Bison

Ampers — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

In a small town in the southwest corner of Minnesota, you'll find Blue Mounds State Park, one of the few places in the state that visitors can see the historic bison up close and in a natural habitat year-round.

Producer: Autumn Haeg

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger & Britt Aamodt

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: Bison ca 1880 [credit: Collection of the Minnesota Historical Society]

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Sleepy Eye vs. MTV

Ampers — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Madonna and Nirvana were just two of the many fan-favorite acts shown on MTV during the 80s and 90s. But one small town in Minnesota was not entertained.

Producer: Autumn Haeg

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Image by: Autumn Haeg

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Melvin Calvin and the Life Cycle of Plants

Ampers — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Many high school students learn about photosynthesis in their biology classes. However, some may not know about one Minnesotan who was crucial to discovering plant life cycles.

Producer: Autumn Haeg

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
[Image credit: Autumn Haeg]

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The Great Mill Disaster

Ampers — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Minneapolis faced one of its most tragic events in 1878 after a cloud of flour dust got mixed up in a fiery situation.

Producer: Autumn Haeg

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: Photograph altered by an artist to illustrate the Washburn A Mill explosion, 1878. [Credit: Minnesota Historical Society]

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Frances Densmore

Ampers — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

What if the songs of a culture could disappear forever? Frances Densmore of Red Wing, Minnesota wanted to ensure they didn’t. A pioneer in ethnology, Frances Densmore helped preserve Indigenous stories and songs across the state.

Image: Portrait of Frances Densmore, 1928. [credit: Minnesota Historical Society]

Self-Inflating Life Preservers

Ampers — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

After fears of drowning were rising among his customers, Peter Markus knew it was up to him to invent a new way of staying afloat should a boat capsize.

The Haunted Mansion of Forepaugh

Ampers — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

A popular restaurant in St. Paul has a hauntingly delicious history of romance, scandal, and death.
[Image by: Autumn Haeg]

Duane Hanson

Ampers — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Minnesota artist Duane Hanson captivated the country with his hyper-realistic sculptures depicting everyday people and events.

Produced by Autumn Haeg

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger, Britt Aamodt

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Photo: Portrait of Duane Hanson, Minneapolis, 1986 (American Swedish Institute, collection.mndigital.org/catalog/swede:169)

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Trumpeter Swans Make a Comeback

Ampers — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Swans used to be a popular game of choice for Minnesota hunters. But by the 1900’s, the entire population of trumpeter swans was gone.

Produced by Autumn Haeg

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Image: Loring Park swans in Minneapolis Park Board's winter house in Theodore Wirth Park, 1948 (Philip Dittes). Courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society

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The Peavey Fountain

Ampers — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Grain giant Frank Peavey was a wealthy man who needed a way to boast his money. Following trends from other local philanthropists, he donated his money for a new horse fountain.

Produced by Autumn Haeg
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Image: painting of the Rose Garden at Lake Harriet, Minneapolis by Eric Austen Erickson (1992). Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

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Richard Wozniak Was Young at Heart

Ampers — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Richard Wozniak loved the Frank Sinatra recording of the Johnny Richards-Carolyn Leigh song "Young-at-Heart." So, in 1956, when he opened his Duluth business, there was only one name for it: Young at Heart Record Store.

Image: Young at Heart record club business card. [credit: Collection of Minnesota Historical Society]

The Mennonites of Mountain Lake, Minnesota

Ampers — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

With the railroad expanding westward, Minnesota needed farmers and laborers to work in the new settlements along the railroad line. Minnesota State Board of Immigration member William Seeger advocated for a group of Russian Mennonites to come and live in the new settlement of Mountain Lake.

Image: Evangelical Mennonite Church, half-mile north of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, 1959. [credit: MN Historical Society]

Milk: Our State Drink

Ampers — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Many Minnesotans are familiar with our state bird, the loon, and state flower, the lady slipper. But did you know that milk is Minnesota's state drink? Here's how.

[Image by: sommai | Adobe Stock ]

The Red Wing Project

Ampers — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

In 1923, the University of Minnesota launched the Red Wing Project, an experiment to bring electricity to rural farmers in the state. This experiment, believed to be the first of its kind in the world, inspired 23 other states to conduct their own electrification studies and led to the establishment of the national Rural Electrification Administration.

Image: Farmer W.A. Benitt with electric pump, 1938. [credit: MN Historical Society]

The Very Musical Founder of the Westgate Theater

Ampers — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

While no longer standing, the Westgate Theater was a beloved arts space in South Minneapolis for over 40 years. The founder of the Westgate, musician Carl Fust, had a vision of bringing people together during the Depression Era.

Image: Exterior of the Westgate Theater [credit: The Fust Family Collection]

Welcome to the 4077th: Mike Farrell's MAS*H Debut

Ampers — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Actor and South Saint Paul native Mike Farrell was replacing a popular character in one of the 1970's most popular TV shows. He was thrilled for the job, but would M*A*S*H's devoted fan base hate him?

Image: American GIs at a concert in Korea 1952. [credit: Collection Minnesota Historical Society]

Bohemian Flats

Ampers — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Along the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, a community of immigrant families built a life from scratch in a neighborhood known as Bohemian Flats.

Image: Bohemian Flats during a springtime flood, April 7, 1897. The Washington Avenue bridge is in the background. [credit: Hennepin County Library]

Gopher Ordnance Works

Ampers — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

In 1945, a massive munitions plant opened south of Minneapolis to produce smokeless gun powder to supply the US forces fighting in World War II.

Image: World War II artillery crew of a heavy 155mm gun [credit: Wikpedia. This file is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, it is in the public domain in the United States.]

L-O-N-I in Cincinnati

Ampers — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

The former Miss Roseville Minnesota turned what could have been a throwaway part into the breakout role of Jennifer Marlowe, the sexy and savvy receptionist at a struggling radio station in the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.

Image: Loni Anderson in 1985 [credit: Wikipedia [public domain]]

Cows at University and Snelling

Ampers — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

The University and Snelling intersection has seen many changes over time. Once home to Dakota people and wildlife, European settlers took over in the mid-1800s. Streetcars came first, then cars and buses became popular in the 1950s. Interstate 94 brought more businesses to the area. In recent years, a light rail was added along with a soccer stadium, apartments, a playground, and a loon sculpture. This busy corner shows how St. Paul has changed from its early days to the present.

Image: The Southwest corner of University and Snelling Avenues in Saint Paul in 1932. [credit: MN Historical Society]

The Long-Fought Battle of the Strutwear Knitters

Ampers — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0500

The Strutwear Knitting Factory strike was the longest and least violent of the three major labor strikes that happened in Minneapolis from 1934 to 1936. Minneapolis Mayor Thomas Latimer and Minnesota Governor Floyd B. Olson were caught in between pressure from Strutwear and protecting their constituents. In the end, the strike led to a full union victory for the Strutwear workers.

Image: Picketing and striking workers outside the Strutwear Knitting Company building, 1935. [Credit: Minnesota Historical Society Collections]

The Silver Shirts

Ampers — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0600

In 1938, William Pelley, leader of Nazi copycat group the Silver Legion of America, or Silver Shirts, made plans to speak in Minneapolis and, allegedly, to have his followers attack a local labor union headquarters.

Image: Anti-Nazi meeting in St. Paul in 1938 [credit: Collection of Minnesota Historical Society]

The Daughters of Norway

Ampers — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0600

Founded in Minneapolis in 1897, the Daughters of Norway grew into the largest secular organization of Norwegian American women in the country.

Image: Members of Thief River Falls Varblomsten, dressed to waitress at a Norwegian event, a. 1890s-1910s. [credit: Haugen Family Collection - MNopedia]

Sweet Martha’s Cookies

Ampers — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0600

In 1979, Martha Rossini Olson built a homespun recipe for chocolate chip cookies into a Minnesota State Fair juggernaut.

Dr. Orianna McDaniel

Ampers — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:09:12 -0600

In 1896, Dr. Orianna McDaniel became the first female physician hired by the state of Minnesota to work in its new bacteriology lab.

Image: Dr. Orianna McDaniel. State Health Board Service from 1896-1946 [credit: Collection of Minnesota Historical Society]

Phyllis Wheatley House

Ampers — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:53:47 -0600

Founded in 1924, the Phyllis Wheatley House was the first settlement house in Minneapolis to serve the social service needs of African Americans.

Image: Exterior view of the Phyllis Wheatley House, 1931. [Image courtesy of: Minnesota Historical Society]

Uusi Kotimaa

Ampers — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:49:14 -0600

From the 1880s to the 1930s, the Finnish-language newspaper Uusi Kotimaa connected immigrant communities across Minnesota and the United States. Based largely in New York Mills, it served as a cultural lifeline for thousands of Finnish Americans.

Image: Front page of Uusi Kotimaa, July 7, 1922. [credit: Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub]

Balloon Bomb

Ampers — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:34:40 -0600

During World War II, the Japanese military floated thousands of balloon bombs to the United States, its wartime enemy. The casualties were surprisingly few, but two Minnesota children would number among the victims of the campaign.

Producer: Britt Aamodt
Image description: A World War II-era Japanese balloon bomb
Image by: Wikipedia [public domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Japanese_fire_balloon_Moffett.jpg]

Indigenous Seed Libraries

Ampers — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0600

Indigenous seed-saving traditions in Minnesota are being revived today through community and library programs that preserve ancestral crops and the knowledge behind them.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Faaya Adem

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Photo Credit: Faaya Adem

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For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media.

instagram.com/ampersradio/

Facebook.com/MN90Ampers

Never miss a beat. Sign up for our email list to receive news, updates and content releases from AMPERS. ampers.org/about-ampers/staytuned/

Springsteen Dancing in St. Paul

Ampers — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:43:20 -0600

For two days in June 1984, Bruce Springsteen recorded a music video for a new single he was putting out at the St. Paul Civic Center. The video was pretty basic, but it would help make "Dancing in the Dark" the biggest hit of his career.
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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
Photo Credit: MN Historical Society
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For the latest episode drops and updates, follow us on social media.

instagram.com/ampersradio/

Facebook.com/MN90Ampers

Never miss a beat. Sign up for our email list to receive news, updates and content releases from AMPERS. ampers.org/about-ampers/staytuned/

Dar Al-Hijrah Masjid

Ampers — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0500

Dar Al-Hijrah is the oldest Somali masjid in Minnesota. Founded in 1988 in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, the masjid is a center for the Somali community.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt
Producer: Faaya Adem
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church

Ampers — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:25:43 -0500

From humble prayer meetings in their home, Paul and Mattie Brown helped birth one of Minnesota’s oldest Black churches. Despite setbacks and exclusion, the congregation built St. James AME in Minneapolis – leaving a lasting symbol of faith and freedom.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt
Producer: Amira Warren-Yearby
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Minnesota’s Oldest Cold Case

Ampers — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:22:23 -0500

On a quiet November day in 1951, Betty Klein’s three sons went out to play and never came home. Though the case was closed as a presumed drowning, their bodies were never found—and Minnesota’s oldest cold case remains a haunting mystery.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt
Producer: Amira Warren-Yearby
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Little Oromia

Ampers — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:18:40 -0500

Oromos began immigrating to Minnesota in large numbers during the 1970s and 1980s, fleeing government violence in Ethiopia.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Faaya Adem

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

The Holy Land Deli

Ampers — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:16:28 -0500

At the heart of the Wadi family were their recipes. Wajdi, the eldest son knew they were special. Hear how a small storefront in northeast Minneapolis became a go-to destination for Middle Eastern food.

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Producer: Amira Warren-Yearby
Editorial support: Britt Aamodt, Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Duane Pederson and the Living Room

Ampers — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:14:57 -0500

Minnesota native Duane Pederson moved to California with dreams of entertainment but instead launched —a radical, Jesus-centered publication that sparked a revival. He helped birth one of the largest religious movements in America.
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Producer: Amira Warren-Yearby
Editorial support: Britt Aamodt & Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Birney Quick and the State's First Art Colony

Ampers — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:12:57 -0500

Inspired by the collaborative art colonies he experienced in Boston, Duluth native Birney Quick returned to Minnesota, where a single summer cohort with his students in Grand Marais sparked the founding of the state’s first art colony.

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Producer: Amira Warren-Yearby
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger & Britt Aamodt
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

The Aria Building: From Warehouse to Social Gathering Place to Church

Ampers — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:10:48 -0500

Widely remembered as an illustrious wedding venue, the Aria building in downtown Minneapolis holds a dramatic history that stretches back to 1889, when it first rose as a bustling industrial warehouse with grand architectural ambition.
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Producer: Amira Warren-Yearby
Editorial support: Britt Aamodt & Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Jay's Longhorn Leaves a Legacy

Ampers — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In June 1977, Jay Berine opened a live music club in what had been a Texas ranch-themed steakhouse. Jay’s Longhorn Bar, with its cow head and wagon wheel decorations, would become the epicenter of the Twin Cities punk and New Wave music scene.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt
Producer: Britt Aamodt
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Russell Lee in Craigville

Ampers — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Russell Lee’s most famous photograph, out of the thousands he took during the Great Depression, is the unlikely shot of bargoers at a logging town in Northern Minnesota.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt
Producer: Britt Aamodt
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Borghild Dahl Finds Her Way

Ampers — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In 1960, Borghild Dahl was at a school to talk about her new children’s book. But author had lost her sight in 1958 and the students were more interested in that. Their questions that day would lead Dahl to write a memoir, Finding My Way, about life after blindness.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt
Producer: Britt Aamodt
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Funkley Finds New York Friendly

Ampers — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In 1953, the entire town of Funkley, Minnesota (population 25) won an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Work People's College

Ampers — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:09:30 -0500

In 1907, a new college opened in Duluth. The Work People's College taught its working-class students about unions and how to organize against the powerful industries that ruled Minnesota's vast Iron Range.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt
Producer: Britt Aamodt
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Winona Municipal Band

Ampers — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:08:12 -0500

Winona has the oldest municipal band west of the Mississippi River. Its story began July 31, 1915, with a performance at Winona's Levee Park.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt
Producer: Britt Aamodt
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Tilsenbilt Homes

Ampers — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:06:39 -0500

From 1954 to 1957, Archie Givens, Sr., a black architect, and Edward Tilsen, a home builder and Jewish immigrant, combined their talents and energies to create the first privately developed integrated housing project in Minneapolis.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt
Producer: Britt Aamodt
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Danebod Folk School

Ampers — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:05:48 -0500

The Danebod Folk School opened in 1888 to provide an education in arts, culture and politics to the Danish population that had recently arrived in Lincoln County.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt
Producer: Britt Aamodt
Editorial support: Emily Krumberger
Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

B'nai Abraham Synagogue

Ampers — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:04:21 -0500

In 1905, eighteen Jewish families met in Virginia, Minnesota, to plan the building of B'nai Abraham, the Iron Range's first synagogue constructed from the ground up and not fashioned from a repurposed building.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

Minnesota Stone Cutters

Ampers — Fri, 29 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

The Minnesota State Capitol is a must-see building. Allison Herrera tells us all about the men who built it...by hand.

Minnesota's Homegrown Communist, Gus Hall

Ampers — Thu, 28 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Born on the Iron Range to Finnish immigrant parents, Gus Hall (born Arvo Kustaa Halberg) grew up in a rich brew of socialism and political activism. MN90 Producer Andi McDaniel discovers how Hall’s early life set the stage for him to become the longtime leader of the American Communist Party and a perennial Presidential candidate on the Communist ticket.

Minnesota's Most Able Attorney

Ampers — Wed, 27 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

To say that Frederick McGhee had a remarkable life would be an understatement. Born into slavery, he became the first African American attorney to practice in MN. He was among the founders of the NAACP. He argued against separate but equal laws in 1910, nearly forty years before Plessy vs. Ferguson. MN90 producer Allison Herrera tells us about his legacy.

Minnesota's Deadliest Snowstorm

Ampers — Tue, 26 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

When you’re in the middle of it, every blizzard seems like the worst blizzard. But the Armistice Day Blizzard of 1940 really was one of Minnesota’s most lethal storms, primarily because there was so little warning.

Michael Koppelman and the 11-Billion-Year-Old Gamma Ray

Ampers — Mon, 25 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

The First Case of Spanish Flu

Ampers — Fri, 22 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

The Spanish Flu descended on Minnesota in 1918, at a time when the world had no effective answer to major pandemics. The state's disjointed response had mixed results, but helped future health workers decide how to prepare for infectious outbreaks. Produced for Ampers by Art Hughes.

Minnesota Broadcaster’s Pioneering Use of Satellites

Ampers — Thu, 21 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

The invention of the satellite newsgathering truck by lifelong Minnesota broadcaster Stanley S. Hubbard was met with skepticism when he first demonstrated it in 1981. But as MN90 producer Marisa Helms reports, nowadays every T-V station that has a meaningful news operation has a satellite newsgathering truck. No matter where news is happening or when it’s happening, we can all watch it live thanks to Mr. Hubbard.

Last Flight of the Queen

Ampers — Wed, 20 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Carole Lombard was the queen of 1930’s screwball comedies, and she was married to Clark Gable. The two Second Lieutenants from Minnesota never expected to end up on a night flight with her, and, says Britt Aamodt, never expected it to be their last.

Young JFK Hits the Airwaves

Ampers — Tue, 19 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

In 1940, John F. Kennedy was 23 and sick, which explains his visit to the Mayo Clinic. But he was also a newly published author. Britt Aamodt has the story behind JFK’s radio interview at KROC-AM

Attacking an Epidemic without a Plan

Ampers — Mon, 18 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

In 1872, the Minnesota State Board of Health was created to coordinate sanitation and disease control statewide. And by 1918, the average lifespan for Minnesotans was inching up—until September when Spanish flu arrived. No one had anticipated an outbreak like this so there was no plan in place. Britt Aamodt has the story.

Hazeltine National Golf Club

Ampers — Fri, 15 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Totten “Tot” Heffelfinger was an amateur golfer who worried that Minnesota’s golf courses were becoming too small and cramped for a new era of hard-hitting pro golfers. What was needed was a bigger, better course. Britt Aamodt investigates the origins of Hazeltine National Golf Club

Minnesota's GLBT Champion

Ampers — Thu, 14 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Allan Spear accomplished a lot in his three decades in the Minnesota Senate. But it’s the 1993 Minnesota Human Rights Act that he would call his “proudest legislative victory.” MN90 Producer Andi McDaniel finds out how one of the first openly gay Americans serving in elected office made Minnesota proud.

A Druggist in a Time of Influenza

Ampers — Wed, 13 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

James Douglas Falconer might have chosen to become a vet like his dad Thomas. Instead, the young man from Alexandria, Minnesota, trained as a druggist. September 1918, Falconer started his new job at Rexall Drug Store in Marshall—in the very month Spanish flu appeared in Minnesota. Suddenly, the 29-year-old found himself on the frontlines of an epidemic that had no cure. Yet that didn’t stop customers from lining up. Britt Aamodt has the story.

In the Middle of the 2014 Ebola Outbreak

Ampers — Tue, 12 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

July 2014, Patrick Sawyer just wanted to finish his conference in Nigeria and get home to Coon Rapids. Two of his daughters had birthdays coming up. Britt Aamodt has the story of the Minnesota man’s encounter with Ebola.

Minnesota Madness

Ampers — Mon, 11 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Intercollegiate basketball conjures up images of March Madness and games played at some of the nations most popular universities. The birthplace of this pastime happens to be right here in Minnesota-Hamline University in St. Paul to be exact. Allison Herrera tells us about the infamous Hamline Pipers

Evidence of an Ancient Cataclysm

Ampers — Fri, 08 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

The Ham Lake Fire of May 2007 devastated thousands of acres in Northeast Minnesota. Britt Aamodt looks at how it also turned up evidence of a cataclysmic event that took place 1.8 billion years ago.

The Dance of Healing

Ampers — Thu, 07 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

University of Minnesota professor Brenda Child heard a story growing up on the Red Lake reservation about a sick girl and the vision her father received of a dress and a dance that would—and did—heal her. Professor Child wanted to know if that story gave a clue to the origins of the Ojibwe jingle dress and dance of healing during the Spanish flu epidemic.

Frankenstein on Stage

Ampers — Wed, 06 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Victor Frankenstein and his Creature never had a true heart-to-heart in Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. Britt Aamodt looks at how playwright Barbara Field finally brought the creator and created together in her 1988 Guthrie Theater stage play.

Minnesota Kicks the Habit

Ampers — Tue, 05 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Minnesota is the only state that took on the tobacco companies and won. Now, thanks to a settlement of more than 6 billion dollars, Minnesotans and citizens all over the country are more aware of the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke. Producer Allison Herrera tells us why we can breathe easy.

Inventing The Slider

Ampers — Mon, 04 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

For nearly 50 years, Charles Albert Bender was the only Minnesota-born baseball player inducted into the Hall of Fame, in part for inventing the slider, a powerful pitch for striking out batters. Bender’s rise to fame is poignant. He was an Ojibwe, born on the White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota, and later forced to live at a boarding school in Pennsylvania. Listen to MN90 producer Marisa Helms’ story about the inspirational life of Charles Albert Bender.

A Nurse in the Spanish Flu Epidemic

Ampers — Fri, 01 May 2020 05:00:00 -0500

September 16, 1918, Nora Emilie Anderson was embarking on the biggest adventure in her 37 years. The native of Rock Dell, Minnesota, was one of hundreds of nurses boarding a ship en route to the Great War in Europe. Unfortunately, a stowaway—Spanish flu—boarded with them. Here’s Britt Aamodt with Nora’s story

Surf's Up

Ampers — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

"Well, everybody's heard about the bird. Well, uh, bird, bird, bird, bird is the word." Britt Aamodt traces the origins of the 1963 surf rock hit, "Surfin' Bird", to Minneapolis.

The Animating Docter of Pixar

Ampers — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Pete Docter imagined adventures at his childhood home in Bloomington, MN. But at Pixar, says Britt Aamodt, he animated them.

Supermayor is Watching Over You

Ampers — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

St. Paul has had a lot of mayors. But, according to Britt Aamodt, only one Supermayor.

The Pioneer Seedswoman

Ampers — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Carrie H. Lippincott was merely looking for a way to support her mother, sister and brother-in-law. But out of necessity grew a flourishing seed business. Britt Aamodt reveals the Pioneer Seedswoman of America.

Sum-Sum-Summertime in Albert Lea

Ampers — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

There was Gene Vincent. There was Chuck Berry. And there was Eddie Cochran. But Britt Aamodt reveals that only one of these '50s rockers made "Summertime Blues" a hit—and hailed from Minnesota.

Surviving the Tornadoes of 1965

Ampers — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0500

While many powerful and deadly tornadoes have battered Minnesota, those that struck on May 6th, 1965, stand out because they hit the densely-populated Twin Cities metro area. Six separate funnel clouds moved across Chanhassen, Deephaven, and North Minneapolis, taking 13 lives and causing $50 million in damage. The fast-growing city of Fridley was hit particularly hard, with three funnel clouds touching down there over the course of just a couple of hours. MN90 producer Marisa Helms takes a look back at the Fridley tornadoes of 1965 with the voices of those who survived the disaster.

The Art of Migration

Ampers — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Cy Thao wanted to tell the story of the Hmong people. Britt Aamodt finds out that he did it not with words but with paint and canvas.

The Architect, The Girl, and a Big Mistake

Ampers — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright may have made a name for himself with his legendary homes all over the country, but he also had a reputation with the ladies. Producer Allison Herrera tells us about one incident that happened right here in Minnesota...resulting in Wright's arrest!

Ike's Farewell Speechwriter

Ampers — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

In 2010, Grant Moos finally decided to go through the boxes left behind by his dead father, Malcolm Moos, President Eisenhower’s chief speechwriter. Britt Aamodt looks at how some housecleaning uncovered the creative development behind one of Ike’s most famous speeches.

Studying Chimps with SIV

Ampers — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Growing up in Minnesota, Michael Wilson knew he wanted to work with primates after he watched a documentary on Dian Fossey. Britt Aamodt looks at Wilson’s work with the research team that studied the primate version of HIV (simian immunodeficiency virus) in chimpanzees.

Sweating It

Ampers — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Minnesota weather isn’t known for its steaminess. So Britt Aamodt wonders how the state ended up with the oldest Finnish steam bath in North America.

Mr. Cool

Ampers — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Frederick McKinley Jones was an inveterate tinkerer. So it wasn’t surprising that after a sweltering summer drive in Minnesota, he hit upon an idea. Britt Aamodt looks at the inventor behind the refrigerated truck.

Texting Away History

Ampers — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

You hardly ever hear about kids writing in diaries anymore because paper and pencils seem to have been replaced by computers and text messages. As MN90 producer Marisa Helms explains, the technology that makes it easier for our children to communicate may be destroying their legacies.

The Artist In Red Wing

Ampers — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Charles Biederman was one of the great abstract artists in the 20th century. Britt Aamodt tries to discover why this Cleveland-born artist has more art in Minnesota museums than anywhere else.

The Automatic Pop-up Toaster

Ampers — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Charles Perkins Strite was tired of burnt toast. So the Minnesota inventor set out to do something about it. Britt Aamodt offers up a tale of a new kind of toaster.

Death by Hearse

Ampers — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

To prepare lectures for his course on Death and Dying at Hamline University in St. Paul, Mark Berkson visited religious centers around the Twin Cities. But on a lunchtime walk near school, he nearly met his own death. Britt Aamodt has the anecdote of the professor and the hearse.

The Beatles' Minnesota Guitar

Ampers — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

The Beatles' press conference in Minneapolis, August 1965, played a part in—or rather, added guitar to—the group's 1966 album Rubber Soul. Britt Aamodt opens up the case on the 12-string Rickenbacker guitar with the Minnesota provenance.

The Carlton Celebrity Room

Ampers — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

The Carlton Celebrity Room was featured in the film Fargo. But Britt Aamodt tells us this dinner club was more than a piece of Coen Brothers fiction.

Kodiak Days

Ampers — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

They were southern Minnesotans who signed up for the National Guard during the Great Depression. Many did it for a job when jobs were scarce. But when America entered World War II, they found themselves on an island. Britt Aamodt tells the story of the Minnesotans stationed on Kodiak Island.

The Cereal Shot from Guns

Ampers — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Everybody would like to have the kind of accident botanist Alexander Anderson had at the turn of the 20th century. He went looking for starch granules and discovered breakfast cereal with a bang. Britt Aamodt gets the scoop.

The Citizens League

Ampers — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 05:05:00 -0500

What makes Minnesota unique? The lakes, the weather...and the Minnesota Citizen's League. For over 60 years, the Minnesota Citizens League has helped tackle some of the toughest problems in the state. MN90 producer Allison Herrera tells us more about this influential organization.

The Death of Superman

Ampers — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 05:00:00 -0500

Dan Jurgens had a Clark Kent childhood in Ortonville, Minnesota. But Britt Aamodt reveals that Jurgens's relationship with the Man of Steel didn’t end there.

World's Tougest (Toy) Trucks

Ampers — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

The variety of toys available today seems endless. But in the 1940s, a now-classic toy designed near Lake Minnetonka practically ruled the industry. MN90 Producer Andi McDaniel takes us back the early days of Tonka trucks.

Whoopee John

Ampers — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

He was born John Wilfart in New Ulm, Minnesota. But legions of fans knew him as Whoopee John. Britt Aamodt resurrects the king of Midwest polka.

Wilde Nights

Ampers — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

Before Oscar Wilde became a dead author studied in literature courses, he was a dandy with a love of beauty, the arts and the written word. Britt Aamodt gets the dirt on his drab overnight in Minneapolis

Weaver's Sweet Land

Ampers — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

Will Weaver needed to get away from his father’s dairy farm to have more time to write. And did he write. Britt Aamodt examines how one of Weaver’s story went from New York Times notable book to film and stage.

A National Geographic Photographer’s Time at the Lake

Ampers — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

William Albert Allard spent boyhood summers at Lake Gladstone outside Nisswa, Minnesota. Decades later, the National Geographic photographer returned, says Britt Aamodt, to tell the Minnesota Lake Country story in pictures.

Yanni's Chameleon Years

Ampers — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

The musician Yanni is famous for his New Age style and prolific solo career. But before he went out on his own, he was part of a “bombastic pop band” in the Twin Cities called Chameleon. MN90 Producer Andi McDaniel gives Chameleon a closer listen.

A Sleepy Eye Babe

Ampers — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

Babe Ruth was born in Baltimore, traded by Boston and beloved by the world. But Britt Aamodt looks at a day in 1922 when Babe Ruth came to Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.

Father Time

Ampers — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

Franz Halberg, a scientist and physician at the University of Minnesota, was fascinated by the human body’s daily rhythms. Not only did people wake and sleep in concert with the sun, but internal processes, like heart rate and blood pressure, also seemed to vary in a regular pattern. Britt Aamodt investigates the man who coined the term Circadian Rhythm

A Small Town's Identity Bound By Twine

Ampers — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

With a population of around 300 people, the town of Darwin, Minnesota, is fairly small. But it’s home to one gigantic ball of twine. Weighing in at nearly 9 tons, the supersized twine ball is 40 feet around, and stands over 12 feet high. The ball’s creator, Francis Johnson, was a child of the Great Depression and an obsessive collector of mundane objects including pencils, buckets, and of course, twine. MN90 producer Marisa Helms reports that the town of Darwin has created its civic identity around Johnson’s twine ball.

When Minnesota Learned to Meditate

Ampers — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

He was called Paramahansa Yogananda but many knew him better at Swami Yoganada, the Indian guru whose spiritual mission brought him to America in 1920. Britt Aamodt fast forwards seven years to 1927 when, for three months, Swami Yogananda taught Minnesotans how to reach self-realization and meditate.

Up and Atom

Ampers — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

America in the 1950s was preparing for the Soviets to drop the bomb any minutes. But less than two decades later, says Britt Aamodt, Minnesota was building the first rural nuclear plant in America.

Bon Appetit!

Ampers — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

In 1995, hundreds of Minnesotans lined up at the Minneapolis Dayton’s with cookbooks under their arms. There were here to see cookbook author and television personality Julia Child. Britt Aamodt has the story of that rare personal appearance and the Minneapolis food writer, Lee Svitak Dean, who got to share an afternoon glass of wine with the author of Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Van Gogh, the Final Frontier

Ampers — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

Leonard Nimoy created an iconic character for Star Trek in Spock. Britt Aamodt tells us about another of Nimoy’s iconic roles produced with the help of a Minnesota theater.

What's That Smell?

Ampers — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

3M is famous for inventing the Post-It note. But Britt Aamodt has uncovered a 3M that gave you a scratch you just had to sniff.

Cow Town

Ampers — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

In 1886, Alpheus Beede Stickney built a stockyard along the Mississippi. Britt Aamodt traces the history of South Saint Paul as Minnesota’s cow town.

Tom Nelson vs. the Ghost Bird

Ampers — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

Tom Nelson was an electrical engineer living in Minnesota who got involved in a birding controversy. Britt Aamodt reports how the engineer weighed on the resurrection of the ivory-billed woodpecker, believed extinct for over 70 years.

Eat Well and Stay Well

Ampers — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0500

Ancel and Margaret Keys, researchers at the University of Minnesota, wondered why Twin Cities businessmen were dying of heart disease, while, an ocean away, the townsfolk of Naples, Italy, rarely did. Britt Aamodt discovers how the couple’s quest for a healthy diet (and good eats) led to their best-selling 1959 cookbook Eat Well and Stay Well.

Dr. Martha Ripley, an Early Champion for Women's Rights

Ampers — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0600

Martha Ripley was a nurse by training when she moved to Minneapolis with her husband in 1883. Her expertise in medical care and her commitment to the rights of some of the city's destitute young mothers led to her to open a hospital dedicated to their care. Allison Herrera tells us about her remarkable life.

High Priestess of the Women’s Magazine

Ampers — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0600

Minnesotan Margaret Culkin Banning (1891-1982) is probably one of the most prolific writers you’ve never heard of. Though often overlooked, Banning wrote 36 novels and over 400 essays and short stories for magazines. MN90 producer Marisa Helms introduces us to the so-called “High Priestess of the Women’s Magazine.”

Women in the House

Ampers — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0600

The feminists who arose in the '60s and '70s set out to change the world. Britt Aamodt finds out how one Minnesota feminist made changes one legislative seat at a time.

Gary Paulsen’s Tales of the Wild

Ampers — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 00:10:00 -0600

Gary Paulsen was working for an aeronautics firm when it suddenly dawned on him: he was meant to be a writer. Britt Aamodt finds the connections between Paulsen’s life in the Minnesota wilds and his books Hatchet and Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod.

Women Strike for Equal Pay

Ampers — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 00:09:00 -0600

In the late 1970s, eight female employees from the Citizens’ National Bank in Willmar stirred up controversy in their town and across the country when they filed a complaint against the bank for unequal pay and gender discrimination. The Willmar 8, as they were called, formed their own union and went on strike for two years. MN90 producer Marisa Helms tells us the Willmar 8 came to symbolize the uphill climb many American women face when seeking equity in the workplace.

Minnesota's Glacial Days

Ampers — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 04:00:00 -0600

Minnesotans grouse about long, cold winters now. But until 10,000 years ago, those long cold stretches were positively glacial, says Britt Aamodt.

Forever Ours

Ampers — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0600

Dr. Janis Amutuzio started collecting stories about the possibility of life after death, though she didn’t know it yet, as a first-year medical intern in Minneapolis. Later, she would spend decades as a coroner—and collect more stories from families of the bereaved. Britt Aamodt tracks the genesis of Dr. Amatuzio’s 2004 book Forever Ours: Real Stories of Immortality and Living from a Forensic Pathologist.

Kirkbride Sanctuary

Ampers — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 02:05:00 -0600

They were known as Kirkbride facilities, hospitals designed to give more comfort and privacy to patients with mental illness. Britt Aamodt takes us to Minnesota's Kirkbride building, the Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center.

Janis' Albert Lea Drummer

Ampers — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:10:00 -0600

The photo is iconic: Janis Joplin astride a Harley-Davidson. Britt Aamodt tells us how a Minnesotan captured that indelible image.

MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds

MN90: Moosylvania

A Minnesota State Symbol You Can Sautee with Butter

MN90: Babbit

The Sugar Beet Fields

Minnesota and the Bicycle Craze

Trumpeter Swans Make a Comeback

Nordic Ware’s Humble Beginning

The Origin of the Jingle Dress

Taylor’s Falls Log Jams

Wen Ping Pan

Minnesota’s Largest Snowman

Clellan Card’s Legacy

Legend of Pig’s Eye

Abdallah Chocolate

BOP Minnesota

Sailing to Norway on the Hjemkomst

Sullivan’s Jewel Box

Mankato Streets

Northwest Angle

St. Paul Hmong Freedom Festival

Haring’s Mural

Eddie Rogers

Happy Chef

Maya Moore

Kirby Puckett

Lake Street's Puppet Theater

The First Avenue Depot

The Blue Mounds Bison

Sleepy Eye vs. MTV

Melvin Calvin and the Life Cycle of Plants

The Great Mill Disaster

Frances Densmore

Self-Inflating Life Preservers

The Haunted Mansion of Forepaugh

Duane Hanson

Trumpeter Swans Make a Comeback

The Peavey Fountain

Richard Wozniak Was Young at Heart

The Mennonites of Mountain Lake, Minnesota

Milk: Our State Drink

The Red Wing Project

The Very Musical Founder of the Westgate Theater

Welcome to the 4077th: Mike Farrell's M*A*S*H Debut

Bohemian Flats

Gopher Ordnance Works

L-O-N-I in Cincinnati

Cows at University and Snelling

The Long-Fought Battle of the Strutwear Knitters

The Silver Shirts

The Daughters of Norway

Sweet Martha’s Cookies

Dr. Orianna McDaniel

Phyllis Wheatley House

Uusi Kotimaa

Balloon Bomb

Indigenous Seed Libraries

Springsteen Dancing in St. Paul

Dar Al-Hijrah Masjid

St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church

Minnesota’s Oldest Cold Case

Little Oromia

The Holy Land Deli

Duane Pederson and the Living Room

Birney Quick and the State's First Art Colony

The Aria Building: From Warehouse to Social Gathering Place to Church

Jay's Longhorn Leaves a Legacy

Russell Lee in Craigville

Borghild Dahl Finds Her Way

Funkley Finds New York Friendly

Work People's College

Winona Municipal Band

Tilsenbilt Homes

Danebod Folk School

B'nai Abraham Synagogue

Minnesota Stone Cutters

Minnesota's Homegrown Communist, Gus Hall

Minnesota's Most Able Attorney

Minnesota's Deadliest Snowstorm

Michael Koppelman and the 11-Billion-Year-Old Gamma Ray

Welcome to the 4077th: Mike Farrell's MAS*H Debut