St. Paul

The First Years of St. Paul

St. Paul , Minnesota is a thriving city, and the capitol of Minnesota . The history of St. Paul is an interesting part of Minnesota history as a whole. Minnesota ’s history is one of both native peoples and trade, from early in the 19^th century onward.  More than 160 years ago, St. Paul was just a small settlement called Pig’s Eye Landing near both the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. Today, the Mississippi river winds through the city of St. Paul , reminding us of its role as a trade center in Minnesota history. Minnesota state history is the history of this area, today a part of the thriving Minnesota twin cities.

Native Settlements

The river valley where St. Paul now sits holds some of the most ancient of Minnesota state history. The Hopewell Indians buried their dead in mounds in this area more than 2000 years ago, today located in Indian Mounds Park . The Dakota Indians later used the same area for burials. As traders entered the area in the early 19^th century, the native population left the region. A treaty in 1837 removed the Dakota from the St. Paul area entirely, ending their role in the history of Minnesota ’s capitol city.

Fort Snelling and Pig’s Eye Landing

Fort Snelling drew traders, explorers and missionaries to the area. Over time, the military staff at Fort Snelling grew uncomfortable with the traders, who had drifted north from the United States and south from Canada and Pig’s Eye Landing was established as little more than a trading post, inhabited by fur traders and bootleggers, then a small side note in Minnesota state history. In 1841, a Catholic church was established, and the name of the now thriving trading center changed to St. Paul .

The Founding of St. Paul

St. Paul continued to grow and thrive, and its role in the history of Minnesota grew as well. In 1849, a year of note in the history of Minnesota , Minnesota ’s status as a U.S. territory was established and St. Paul named its capitol. St. Paul was incorporated as a city in 1854, and Minnesota history as a state begins in 1858.  St. Paul began as a trading post, and the reason is clear as to why it had that role in Minnesota state history. The river, easy access to docks, and shortly after the founding, the introduction of the railroad made this an important stop for travelers venturing both to the north and south, as well as from east to west.