Our History

1878, May 2: The Washburn ‘A’ Mill — the largest flour mill in the United States at that time — explodes when flour dust in the air inside it ignites...

1878: The Knights of Labor establish an assembly in Minneapolis; they form another the following year in Saint. Paul. The Knights of Labor are kn...

1875:  Minnesotan Ignatius Donnelly helps found the National Greenback Party to challenge the rail and timber monopolies.  In the 1880'...

1870:  The Minnesota Legislaure provides the first legal basis for cooperatives.  Among the first producer co-ops are barrel shops.&nbs...

1868, July 9:  Congress ratifies the 14th Amendment, establishing that African americans are citizens.  It also provides all Americans with...

1868:  About seventy-five Minneapolis and Saint Anthony Coopers (workers who make barrels) strike for 3-cents more pay per barrel, which wou...

1867:  German immigrants in Minneapolis establish a Workingman's Society to find jobs for Society members, the first mutual benefit group of...

1865, December 6:  Congress adopts the 13th Amendment, outlawing slavery.  The end to official slavery is perhaps the greatest labor vi...

1861:  The Minnesota Education Association (MEA) is founded in Rochester as a professional organization for teachers and administrators.  Th...

1860:  Training schools for teachers open in Winona, Mankato and Saint Cloud.  For the first time, women are allowed to attend and trai...

1860, September 6:  In the summer of 1860, a slave named Eliza Winston is brought to Minnesota by her master, a Mississippi plantation owner...

1858, May 11:  Minnesota becomes the 32nd state.  The vast majority of the 150,000 inhabitants work as farmers, small business owners, mill...