There’s so much history in Minneapolis that it should come as no surprise that there are many things Minneapolis did first. We may not be as old as some cities that were founded with the original colonies, but there are so many great inventions from Minneapolis that have quite literally changed the world! Minneapolis and Saint Paul might not be anywhere near the oldest cities in the United States, but we’ve been trailblazers on some very special things. Here are 11 things Minneapolis and St. Paul did before anyone else. Check out these fun facts about Minneapolis:
1. Did you know that the first successful open heart surgery was performed here in Minneapolis?
If that's not a claim to fame, we don't know what is. This has been life-changing for so many people all over the globe. The groundbreaking surgery was performed on a five-year-old girl at the University of Minnesota in 1952. This paved the way for the future of cardio-thoracic medical practice.
2. Have memories of shopping at an indoor mall? Yeah, a Minneapolis suburb was the first to make that happen.
It makes sense that Edina, Twin Cities suburb, would create the first indoor shopping mall in 1955. After all, it's not very practical to expect Minnesotans to shop outdoors in the winter! Today, of course, Minnesota is home to the largest mall in the country: the Mall of America, located just outside in another nearby suburb.
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3. You can thank Minneapolis for frozen pizza with crispy crusts.
The Totino family owned a restaurant in northeast Minneapolis. They eventually sold their beloved crispy crust recipe to Pillsbury in the 1970s. The matriarch of the Totino family even began working for Pillsbury in an attempt to perfect the pizza crust. Every time you throw a frozen pizza in the oven, appreciate that the crust isn't the texture of cardboard. Thanks, Minneapolis!
4. The popular party game Twister was invented here.
Nothing like a game encouraging you to bend your body in ways it isn't supposed to. The game was unique in that the players themselves served as the game pieces. The patent was granted in 1969 and the game was originally called Pretzel.
5. Our beloved skyways were invented here, and they are certainly here to stay.
The first skyways in Minneapolis were built in 1962. You might assume they were created to keep Minneapolitans warm in the winter as they made their way downtown, but you would be wrong. The skyway system was built to encourage consumer consumption and keep downtown business attractive. Who knew? The benefit of heated walks in the winter is certainly a huge one!
6. The first grocery bag with handles was invented here.
The Brave New Workshop has been around since 1958! It's the oldest workshop for comedy and improv in the country. former Senator Al Franken actually started his comedy career here, before moving on to be one of the original writers of Saturday Night Live.
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8. The Minneapolis Public Library was the first to designate a "kids" section for books.
Before that, Harlequin romance novels might be placed adjacent to Dr. Seuss, which could certainly make an outing to the library as a kid quite interesting!
9. Here's a tasty invention from Minneapolis: the Milky Way candy bar was created here in 1923.
The Mar-O-Bar company was founded in Minneapolis in 1920. Three years later, the world's first "filled candy bar," known as the Milky Way, was crafted here. You can eat these the old-fashioned way, right out of the wrapper, or take a trip to the Minnesota State Fair and enjoy one deep-fried on a stick... the choice is yours.
10. We created the original Carrie Bradshaw (sort of).
Okay, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" wasn't as risque as "Sex and the City," but Mary Tyler Moore's character was a single, confident, ambitious woman making her way in the city of Minneapolis. No cosmopolitans or Manhattan socialites needed here! Moore's character paved the way for later female-driven shows.
11. Minneapolis is home to the ugliest pants in the world.
Zubaz. What can we say about them? Former governor Jesse Ventura sported them and thought they were a good idea. They weren't. This still hasn't aged well. Minneapolitans are capable of some serious fashion faux pas.
We guess it turns out Minneapolis and Saint Paul aren’t too shabby, history-wise. There are certainly a lot of things Minneapolis did first! Which of these did you find most fascinating? Do you know of any other fun facts about Minneapolis, or inventions from Minneapolis? Share in the comments!
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History of Minneapolis
Lisa Sammons|June 11, 2023
What are some more things Minneapolis did first?
This achievement may not be quite as flashy as some of the ones mentioned above, but Minneapolis-Saint Paul was a huge innovator in the process of milling. This led to us being an early champion in the flour production field.
Are there any other big inventions from Minneapolis?
The Bundt pan was invented in St. Louis Park, a suburb of Minneapolis. The round shape causes the cake to bake much faster than a traditional cake. Another huge invention was the Honeycrisp apple, which was developed at the University of Minnesota. They were first made in the 1960s and released to the public in 1991. Their large size and crunchy texture made them an instant hit!
What are some more fun facts about Minneapolis?
Did you know the first bridge to cross the Mississippi River was built in Minneapolis? The Father Louis Hennepin Bridge was built in 1854. The bridge deteriorated over time and has been rebuilt now, but parts of it were preserved in First Bridge Park in Minneapolis. The first mail-order catalog was from Richard Sears of eventual Sears fame. Before he moved to Chicago and formed the Sears Roebuck Company, he published a watch catalog in Minneapolis in 1886.
