Nickname: The North Star State

Capitol: St. Paul

Judy Garland, born in the state, is famous for saying “It’s a swell state, Minnesota.”

Early French Canadian fur traders, called voyageurs, used large canoes to navigate the waters of Lake Superior. These floaters could hold as many as 12 men who paddled up to 16 hours a day.

St. Paul was originally named “Pig’s Eye” until a Catholic priest had his say.