Surrounded by History

Learn more about the rich history of Camp Patterson!

Learn more about the golf courses that used to be in Blue Earth County

Learn more about one of Blue Earth County’s pastimes.

Discover more about Mankato’s first public library building.

There once was a dam at Sibley Park and a lake for swimming!

Take a trip down memory lane and Front Street including Brett’s Department Store.

Explore the history of the rails in Blue Earth County.

Explore the different traditions of Holiday Lights in the area.

Explore the two different streetcar lines that ran in Mankato.

Explore the history of Mankato’s first school – Union School

Explore how the Mahkato Wacipi or Mankato Powwow got its start and the cross-cultural significance of this annual event.

Explore the history of a local landmark: the Hunt House; today better known as the Moulin Rouge Bed & Breakfast.

The history of the Ott Cabin, now located in Mankato’s Sibley Park.

Discover the history of a local landmark – The Rapidan Dam

The Blue Earth County Fair has a long history. Learn about it here.

Discover the history of Minneopa State Park, located just outside of Mankato.

Explore the mystery of the Yaeger School house in Rapidan Township.

Hear about Blue Earth County’s deadliest tornado: the 1946 Green Gable Tornado.

From Tourtellotte to ISJ – over 130 years of Mankato’s hospitals.

Discover the early history of Madison Lake resorts

Take a look back to the flood of 1965 and how it changed the landscape.

Explore the history of Victory Highway – the stretch of State Highway between Mankato and Mapleton.

Hear about the Typhoid Fever Epidemic of 1908

The Blue Earth County Historical Society started in 1902. Learn more about its history.

Discover the long history of Seppman Mill.

Explore the area of James Avenue (aka Tinkcomville) and Stoltzmann Road.

Explore the history of a local landmark: Mount Kato also known as SkiHaven.

Discover the life story of Mankato’s very own nationally-acclaimed artist, Marian Anderson.

Learn about one of Minnesota’s largest oil spill, the Honeymead Oil Spill of January 1963.

Explore the history of a local landmark: the Mankato Post Office and Federal Courthouse.

Explore local Prohibition stories, including Gangsters, a Shady Lady, and a drunk carp.

Explore Mankato Street Names based on some of our very first settlers and the impact they had on the budding community. Part 2

Explore Mankato Street Names based on some of our very first settlers and the impact they had on the budding community. Part 1

Explore the mystery steps near Thompson Ravine that stand in memory of Rural Grove Cemetery and Pioneer Memorial Cemetery on North 6th Street; the location of one of our City’s heritage plaques.

Meet the 10 “remarkable” men of Garden City.

The history of the Maud Hart Lovelace, the beloved Besty-Tacy series of children’s novels, and the two local homes dedicated to the memory of the author and books.

Discover the history of the Historic R.D. Hubbard House: the home, the family, and the mill; all woven in the rich history of Mankato.

Historic Blue Earth County Courthouse is a prominent building filled with over a century of stories from the top to the bottom.

The history of the Ellerbe Building – its vibrant past that continues to serve as a community gathering space today.

Women's History Month continues with two women who made history in education. Mankato’s first teacher, Sarah Jane Hanna, and higher education leader Julia A. Sears. The original air date was March 2020.

For Women's History Month meet some of the women who made local history in law and politics, including Charlotte Farrish, Sarah Christie Stevens, and Najwa Massad. The original air date was March 2020.

The history of the 19th Amendment and the League of Women Voters.

The history of Mankato’s First Presbyterian Church and the historic 1857 bell.

The history behind the heritage plaque at Sibley Park honoring our county’s World War I servicemen and women. Plus one local woman’s lasting legacy to support veterans.

Hear about the Spanish Flu Pandemic that ravaged the world from 1918-1920.Original Air Date: February 24, 2020

The history of Riverfront Park – a city park along the River, from a Captains of Industry and Innovation to today’s premier event venue.

The history of Highland Park – the history of a city park on a hill; from a Civil War recruitment center to a Tourist Camp, to today’s neighborhood park.

The history of Tourtellotte Park: the history of a place, a city park, and a pool, all named after Mankato’s first philanthropist.

The history of Sibley Park – a city park and gathering place for all ages. From horse races to Mutt and Jeff, to today’s Kiwanis Holiday Lights.

The history of Washington Park – a city park that once housed a railroad line and depot, Mankato’s first schools and churches; and today serves as a recreational space for a vibrant neighborhood.