In 1850, Alec Ramsey was in the middle of a rapidly rising political career. He'd been a U.S. Congressman, and now he was Governor of a U.S. Territory--and it seemed the possibility of being President grew more and more likely. But this meteoric rise was brief. One year later, a crime which one historian called "the monstrous conspiracy" rocked the country, and Alec Ramsey was at the center. At stake: not just Ramsey's career, but his entire project to build Minnesota. Alexander Ramsey was Minne...
Mar 11, 2022•55 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In 1849, a scattered group of settlers and fur traders were granted permission by the U.S. Congress to organize themselves as a political territory. They chose a name for this new territory from a phrase used by its Dakota inhabitants--a name translated variously as "land where the water reflects the clouds," or "land of cloudy lakes," or "sky blue waters"--Mni Sota. In this frontier on the borderlands, where nearly every U.S. citizen was wrapped up in a world of liquor smuggling, embezzlement, ...
Feb 01, 2022•45 min•Season 3Ep. 2
When Alec was a small boy, he traveled deep into the woods outside his home in Pennsylvania. With other children, he hoped to catch a glimpse of a man known as the Pennsylvania Hermit, a cave-dwelling old man who had gone insane and hidden himself away from society after his sister was executed for murdering her own children. But when Alec was 6, the Hermit finally died, passing away into legend. By the time the boy was a man, his father had died by suicide, the same year that Thomas Jefferson a...
Jan 14, 2022•44 min•Season 3Ep. 1
If you sit down for a chat with Donald "Buck" Burkhartzmeyer, there's a good chance you'll be walking away holding a new pair of shoes or a collection of custom-made inserts. When we met him, at age 93, his eyes still lit up when he talked about how shoes are made, and as he excitedly examined our insoles to figure out what kind of orthotic adjustments would make walking more comfortable, he seemed almost like a kid in a candy store. We interviewed Buck together with his nephew, Bruce Burkhartzm...
Jan 07, 2022•38 min•Season 2Ep. 15
There's only one man from a Minnesota school who won the Heisman trophy, the highest award in college football. His name was Bruce Smith. Bruce Smith came from Faribault, Minnesota, and across a life that included being a three-sport-athlete, a Navy fighter pilot during WWII, spending years with the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams, playing himself in a movie about his life, and even being nominated for sainthood, Bruce made an incredible impact. Tragically, he died of cancer in 1967, when...
Dec 11, 2021•22 min•Season 2Ep. 14
If you live in Minnesota, there's a good chance you've heard of Liz Strohfus. Elizabeth "Betty" Wall Strohfus served in the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II. She had an early fascination with aviation, encouraged by members of the Faribault Sky Club to pursue flying. As a woman in the 1930s, societal barriers made following that dream difficult. Liz, and others like her, were granted the unique opportunity to fly for the military when the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) was...
Dec 03, 2021•23 min•Season 2Ep. 13
The Faribault Woolen Mill is a Minnesota icon. A major employer of Faribault residents for over 150 years, the business has faced highs and lows with support from the community. Its story is one of adaptation, opportunity, and passion. In 2017, we released a documentary on the history of the Faribault Woolen Mill. For that documentary, we had the pleasure of interviewing Lisa M. Bolt Simons, author of Faribault Woolen Mill: Loomed in the Land of Lakes . Today, we share a few snippets from that i...
Nov 25, 2021•12 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Ten weeks later, we have finished our review of Ken Burns' 1990 Civil War documentary series. And what a journey it's been. As always, there is a lot to say--even thirty years after this series came out, much of what Burns tells us about the Civil War is relevant, contentious, and fascinating. We summarized the ninth and final episode of the series, which covers the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the fate of the documentary's main characters, and the legacy of the Civil War. Thanks for joinin...
Nov 18, 2021•30 min•Season 2Ep. 10
1865: William Sherman finishes up his conquest of the South, the Confederate government falls apart, and Lee and Grant finally shake hands at Appomattox Courthouse. It's a lot to talk about. How does Ken Burns do it? We break down the the eighth episode of Ken Burns' Civil War documentary series, which covers the Georgia and South Carolina campaign, the surrender of Lee's Army, and John Wilkes Booth's team of conspirators. We're Logan Ledman and Sam Temple, and we've made it to our penultimate r...
Nov 11, 2021•24 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Ken Burns is a talented documentarian--maybe the best in the biz. So how did he screw up this episode so bad? We've been going through Ken Burns' Civil War series recently, and we sat down to watch its seventh episode, which covers... well, it's hard to say exactly what it covers. We're Logan Ledman and Sam Temple, and after learning to love the Ken Burns style, we are confused about why, sometimes, it just doesn't work. Let us know what you think. This episode attempts a discussion on the Battl...
Nov 04, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 8
At the beginning of the Civil War, Ulysses Grant and Robert E. Lee could not have been more different; one was an aristocrat and the nation's top soldier, one was a middling tanner working for his father. But when they met on the battlefield in 1864, they had developed similar strengths--strengths that matched the brutality of modern war. As part of our continuing review of Ken Burns' Civil War documentary series, we decided to analyze his dissection of Generals Grant and Lee, the sixth episode ...
Oct 28, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Think back: what buildings have you seen designed by Olof Hanson? Would you know? And would you know the story of the man behind the sketch? Olof Hanson was an icon in the history of deaf America. He is believed to be the first deaf architect in the United States, with prestigious buildings of his still celebrated today. Throughout his life, he taught, worked as an advocate and a priest, and served as President of the National Association of the Deaf. His story is an inspiration to the deaf comm...
Oct 22, 2021•13 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In part 5 of our review of Ken Burns’ Civil War series, the 1855 History Team tries to figure out: does the Battle of Gettysburg deserve all the attention it gets? This episode of Ken Burns’ The Civil War is one of the most influential works of history still being watched. It’s helped shape our national memory of the largest battle in North American history ever since it was released. So is Gettysburg truly more important than any other Civil War battle? Could any other lay claim to the title “m...
Oct 14, 2021•34 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Many say the Civil War defined American history. That's why it's so widely discussed today. The era was difficult to survive. Low food supply hurt troops and civilians. Medicine could not address the damage caused by modern military machinery. The lack of understanding around disease caused viruses and bacteria to spread wildly. Both the North and the South were more likely to loose troops to illness than battle. Morale was low. 1863 saw the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and wides...
Oct 07, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 4
The line between narrative storytelling and history is blurred, if not entirely nonexistent. At what point does a historian decide to follow the most interesting narrative in order to attract an audience? At what point does a storyteller have to grapple with the social implications of the history they're dramatizing? How does one piece of media balance both of these priorities, while also making an engaging documentary? Like you, we are fans of history; we are Logan Ledman and Sam Temple. Over t...
Sep 30, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 3
When we asked our audience for their opinions on Ken Burns, we had no idea the passionate debate we would ignite. Some called Ken Burns a proponent of the Lost Cause. Others claimed Ken Burns has an agenda akin to the 1619 Project. Clearly, there was a lot of disagreement. The impact of his work was never in dispute, and many listeners were major fans even if they had detractions, but the conversation itself was entirely fascinating. We decided to break down the discussion of these passionate hi...
Sep 23, 2021•53 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Like, is he actually? We are no experts, and are certainly humbled by the contributions Burns has made to our culture, but we think examining his work from a contemporary perspective could do us all some good. Is his Civil War series still a good tool for learning about the subject? The Civil War will never stop being revisited and reframed-- it is a defining era in American history. Arguably, no one has directly shaped our modern understanding of the war more than Ken Burns did with his 1990 te...
Sep 16, 2021•49 min•Season 2Ep. 1
What use is history? How does history help us function, help us navigate life? In what way does history shape who we are today? These are the principal ideas explored in this podcast from Logan Ledman and Sam Temple. In a wide ranging conversation, they discuss the historiography of Minnesota, contemporary issues informed by our shared past, and Disney's Pocahontas. Logan and Sam have been sharing local history for the past six years through documentaries, live performances, and social media eng...
Sep 09, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Governor Alexander Ramsey said, "The Sioux Indians of Minnesota must be exterminated or driven forever beyond the borders of the state." In this episode: The surrenders at Camp Release, along with the retribution of the government and the settlers. Henry Sibley leads hundreds of sham trials. Abraham Lincoln struggles with the politics of executing fighters. The State of Minnesota puts a bounty of indigenous scalps. Little Crow returns to Minnesota. The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 is a murky historic...
Sep 02, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Truth did not matter to white Minnesotans in 1862. The white population was scared, angry, and fed lies by their leaders. They contributed to the brutality of the war and its aftermath. Dakota society was fractured, largely by the reservation system and the generations of corruption in U.S. Indian policy. When a small group of young men broke out in violence, it set off a rampage from their likeminded kin. Their disillusionment coupled with their disorganization began the bloodshed. Henry Sibley...
Aug 26, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 13
What caused the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862? Like any war, there is no single answer to the question. Genocidal policies from the government, apathetic officials, fraudulent fur traders, and a series of unforgiving seasons have all been to blame. This episode seeks to understand the rising tensions in the young state of Minnesota and why these series of events led to mass bloodshed. Discussed in this podcast are the stories of German immigrants, the fact and fiction of Inkpaduta, and the desperate m...
Aug 19, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Race is an unavoidable and complicated element of Minnesota history. How neighbors viewed each other, how the population was counted, and who was considered fully human; perspectives on these issues shaped and, in turn, were shaped by public policy. Often, businesses could profit by painting one group as lesser and one group as greater. Politicians could exploit cultural divides whenever it might suit their political needs. Individuals could have a great many reasons for personal biases. But big...
Jul 03, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 11
If you attended sixth grade history class in the State of Minnesota, you've probably heard of the treaties of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota. You've also probably heard that those treaties were both corrupt and important to the foundation of the state. But perhaps you need a refresher on what exactly that means. You're in luck: on this podcast, we touch on many of the major treaties from the 1840s and 1850s. You'll hear about the shady exploits of Henry Rice and how he mysteriously convinced the...
Jun 24, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 10
St. Paul was not supposed to be the seat of government in Minnesota Territory. Land grabs, purchased elections, and alcohol determined the course of history in 1850s Minnesota. Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant and Alexander Ramsey introduce themselves to our story in this chapter, and the dreams of both men changed the lives of countless Minnesotans for generations. For one, their ambition was to lead a wealthy new territory to statehood; for the other, it was to sell alcoholic beverages in peace. How...
Jun 17, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 9
Minnesota was a complicated place to be for a mixed race fur trader. Throughout his life, Alexander Faribault had to navigate a world with constantly changing cultural, political, and professional norms. As he tried to build a town, the state was torn apart by a war that would define his legacy. Historian Susan Garwood, Rice County Historical Society Executive Director, was interviewed in 2015 for our "Alexander Faribault" documentary. This interview has been adapted to the podcast platform to e...
May 29, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 8
The Dakota people who populated the land of Faribault were primarily Wahpekute. Their relationships with the land, the white settlers, and the U.S. government were complicated and sometimes dangerous. Local historian Larry Richie was interviewed in January of 2017 for our "Peoples of Faribault" documentary. This interview has been adapted to the podcast platform to explore Faribault's perspective on Minnesota history in the 1850s and '60s. View the full "Peoples of Faribault" documentary here: h...
May 20, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Stolen land and fraud define Minnesota's history. Henry Sibley, Alexis Bailly, and Hercules Dousman were among those seeking profits in the 1830s and '40s. Lawrence Taliaferro made the case against the former fur traders. Both parties worked to sweet talk and bribe both indigenous leaders and Washington politicians alike. Hunger and desperation drove leaders like Wakinyatanka (Little Crow) to the bargaining table. In addition to treaties, this episode will discuss early white settlement, the deh...
May 13, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Steamboats were a game changer for the North Country. They brought profiteers, tourists, and a certain #Hamilton into the Minnesota story. Missionaries plied their faith and attempted to Christianize indigenous people; some successful, some not. American leaders delivered aristocracy and began the push toward white settlement. It is a time of transition in Minnesota. The characters of Joseph Nicollet, Henry Sibley, Augustin Ravoux, and that mysterious #Hamilton play important roles in this week'...
Apr 29, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Zebulon Pike. Lawrence Taliaferro. Henry Hastings Sibley. Big names come into play, this week on the podcast. Land cessions from indigenous people, fraud by ambitious profiteers, and drunken "dregs" at Fort Snelling dot the landscape of this era in Minnesota history. Sam Temple and Logan Ledman discuss and explain Chapter Four of North Country, by Mary Lethert Wingerd. Subscribe for more on YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCe3G-VvizZaU0FkbEuDww_g Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/1855Faribau...
Apr 22, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 4
The culture of the fur trade is changing. Britain is picking up the shambles of French Minnesota. The Dakota and the Ojibwe are trying to reckon with this changing climate while staving off illness and the new British social caste. Meanwhile, to the east, rebellious Yankees throw a wrench into the machinations of the fur trade by declaring independence from Britain. Monopolies, river rendezvous, and more excite this chapter of Minnesota history. Sam Temple and Logan Ledman discuss and explain Ch...
Apr 15, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 3
