Creating Minnesota: A History from the Inside Out

by Annette Atkins

Winner of a Spur Award, presented by the Western Writers of America (WWA), for the Best Western Nonfiction Historical Book.

Renowned historian Annette Atkins presents a fresh understanding of how a complex and modern Minnesota came into being in Creating Minnesota. Each chapter of this innovative state history focuses on a telling detail, a revealing incident, or a meaningful issue that illuminates a larger event, social trends, or politics during a period in our past.

A three-act play about Minnesota's statehood vividly depicts the competing interests of Natives, traders, and politicians who lived in the same territory but moved in different worlds. Oranges are the focal point of a chapter about railroads and how did a St. Paul family manage to celebrate their 1898 Christmas with fruit that grew no closer than 1,500 miles from their home? A photo essay brings to life three communities of the 1920s, seen through the lenses of local and itinerant photographers. The much-sought state fish helps to explain the new Minnesota, where pan-fried walleye and walleye quesadillas coexist on the same north woods menu.

In Creating Minnesota, Atkins invites readers to experience the texture of people's lives through the decades, offering a fascinating and unparalleled approach to the history of our state.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2007

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars for subject matter only - I’ve lived in Minnesota my whole life. Author’s political leanings come through on every page and I doubt we agree on much.

Liked the hand-waving over how this state elected Jesse Ventura as its governor (none of us can explain it much better). Minnesota politics is and will probably always be a game of “think that was crazy? Hold my beer.”

[Paul Lunger · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a recent visit to the Minnesota State History Museum in St Paul, I was recommended a book on the history of the Land of 10,000 Lakes by a woman for whom I will forever be grateful to. "Creating Minnesota: A History from the Inside Out" by Annette Atkins is hands down one of the best state history books I've ever read because it's beyond engrossing & very hard to put down. The story of the state of Minnesota is told in story form as we the reader read about conversations that could've transpired in this periods of history & also get a real feel for what the state was like in it's infancy and also the book asks the question as to where it thinks the state will go. Each piece of the way had me more & more engrossed to the point where this book became very hard to put down & has me eagerly looking forward to my next trip back to Minnesota to explore more of it & see more of it. I'll always be thankful for the recommendation of this book on that stop & highly recommend this book for anyone with not only an interest in history of any place (whether it's Minnesota or not) as this book becomes for me a must have for anyone from anywhere.

[Joann Pittman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting stories of the early days of Minnesota.

[Rock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gee this was a fun book to read. It appears that Mtv has also taken over non-fiction writing, as Mrs. Atkins has proven a deft mistress of the literary jump-cut. This book uses a solid inch-think margin because just about every page has a side note that variably relates to the main text from fairly well to not-at-all. In addition, this is a two-bookmark book, seeing as you'll need to turn to the endnotes for the meat of the read. Yes, you heard me, there are both side notes and end notes. But as much shit as I just flung, I stick by my introductory sentence: a fun (if insubstantial) way to learn about Minnesota history.

And no, I can't explain the subtitle.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I fell asleep twice while reading chapter 8. Probably not a good sign. Either I'm getting old or the book got a little wordy in the middle. Hopefully I'll stay awake for the rest of it.

Finally finished it. Interesting take on Minnesota history. Not the best MN book I've ever read, but it was okay.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Comments from the reviewers at the 44th Conversation with Books: "MN Book award winner. Readable as a storybook; multiple methods of telling story. "the House that Hubert built"". ... This book is interesting but to me it reads more history than story. Just not in the mood for it right now.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four stars as a textbook--I think that it would fit in perfectly in a Minnesota history class--Three stars as a book to sit and read--the more personal vignettes were engaging, but it is so fact-laden, it is hard to "lose" youself in it.

[Cc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable history of Minnesota. Atkins has created a history book that shows how people lived and then talks about the facts of the era as they impact those ordinary lives. I really enjoyed the last 2 chapters. They are a very good essay on how Minnesota has developed in the last 40 years.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting narrative about the History of Minnesota.

[Rays1944 · Rating 3 out of 5]

More popular history than academic, which I often like, this is a somewhat episodic treatment of state history, rather than the more usual/conventional chronological.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this accessible, engaging account of the history of Minnesota.

[Vivian Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am starting to learn about the destruction of Native Americans in Minnesota in the 1860s. This was a good beginning to Minnesota then.