Here Are The Oldest Photos Ever Taken In Minnesota And They're Incredible
By Betsy Rathburn|Published August 12, 2017
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Betsy Rathburn
Author
Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at brathburn@onlyinyourstate.com or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.
Minnesota became a state in 1858, not long after photography began to spread across the globe. Many of the earliest photos of our state are long gone, but others remain to give us a glimpse into what life was like in the early days of our state. These pictures from the 1860s to 1890s may be some of Minnesota’s oldest photos. They offer a fascinating look at the state’s past, from the state’s early logging operations to some of its most famous natural wonders. Take a look:
1. This image shows an instructor holding a skull and standing next to a human skeleton in front of a class of at least thirteen women and three men in 1889.
4. The original Union Depot was built in St. Paul in 1881. This photo shows the historic building in 1882, just one year after construction was completed.
7. This stereograph, dating back to 1865, shows Minnehaha Falls, complete with two people bravely crossing the rushing water on a rustic wooden bridge.
Library of Congress
8. By 1890, St. Paul's population surpassed 100,000 people. You can see just how much the city had grown since its founding in this 1896 shot from Daytons Bluff.
10. A woman looks over confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. In the background, you can just make out a low building nestled among the trees.
12. This shot shows a clear view of the Winona Sugar Loaf. The photo dates back to 1898, before the area was as populated and developed as it is today.
What did you think of Minneosta’s oldest photos? I love looking at Minnesota’s landscape when it was still mostly undeveloped. Did any of the pictures stick out to you? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
