Minnesota History Magazine Spring 2026 (70.1)

Articles

Charting a New Course: How Duluth Harnessed “The Spirit of ’76”
Thomas Saylor

Duluth became Minnesota’s first Bicentennial Community by leveraging the 1976 national anniversary to transition from a declining industrial hub into a tourist destination. Civic leaders hosted high-profile events that attracted tens of thousands of visitors, successfully revitalizing the local economy and establishing Duluth as a travel destination.

Order in the Underworld: The O’Connor System in St. Paul
Ethan Osten

The “O’Connor System” that governed early 20th-century St. Paul was a sophisticated political machine. Led by brothers John and Richard O’Connor, the system maintained order by providing sanctuary to fugitives in exchange for bribes and keeping a clean record within the city limits.

MNHS Press Book Excerpt
“We Looked Like the Enemy”: Japanese American Chick Sexers in World War II
Ka F. Wong

During World War II, Japanese Americans resettled in Minnesota as “chick sexers,” practicing a specialized agricultural skill vital to the national food supply. While Japanese American families sometimes navigated surveillance, wrongful arrests, and public hostility, their contributions to the poultry industry provided a pathway out of incarceration camps and allowed them to build new lives in the Midwest.

Departments

Editor’s Note
Amy L. Boxrud

Curator’s Choice
Yves Hoppie
Waking Up with Little Green Sprout

EyeWitness
John Rosengren
Pelé Meets the Minnesota Kicks

LandMark
Marsha Neff and Greg Gaut
Winona Athletic Club, Winona County

Book Review
Susan Curtis
Her Place in the Woods: The Life of Helen Hoover by David Hakensen

Take Three/News & Notes/Letters

Highlighting MNopedia
Doug Rossinow
Tradition, Schism, and Continuity in Minnesota's Communities of Faith

Preserving > Sharing > Connecting
John P. Monahan: Returning to His Roots