Listen: How did Minnesota become the Gopher State?

Goldy Gopher at TCF Bank Stadium on the U of M campus in 2009. (Brian Peterson / Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Curious Minnesota podcast host Eric Roper talks with reporter M.L. Smith to unravel the mystery behind Minnesota's unofficial Gopher State nickname.

Further reading:

How did Minnesota become the Gopher State? (October 2019 Curious Minnesota story)

A Minnesota Weekly Times reader suggests calling Minnesota the Gopher State in 1856.

about the writers

about the writers

Eric Roper

Curious Minnesota Editor

Eric Roper oversees Curious Minnesota, the Star Tribune's community reporting project fueled by great reader questions. He also hosts the Curious Minnesota podcast. 

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Mary Lynn Smith

Reporter

Mary Lynn Smith is a general assignment reporter for the Star Tribune. She previously covered St. Paul City Hall and Ramsey County. Before that, she worked in Duluth where she covered local and state government and business. She frequently has written about the outdoors.

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