Minnesota: A History of the Land

Synopsis

Brings to life the epic story of the people and landscapes of Minnesota - from the retreat of the last ice sheets to the growth of today’s suburbs - using nature videography from across the state, never-before-seen historic images, state-of-the-art animations, and historic recreations.

First Air Date: 2005-02-21

Last Air Date: 2006-10-18

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 5

Networks: PBS

Top Cast

Lansing Shepard as Self - Narrator (voice)

Seasons

Season 1 (2005)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Ordering the Land (16,000 B.P. – 1870s) (2005-02-21)

Prominent members of Minnesota's Native American community describe their long relationship with the land. Europeans arrived with a new way of looking at the land: the land survey, which carved the natural world into squares that could be bought and sold. The fur trade era and early lumbering are brought to life with historic reenactments and photographs. Early entrepreneurs failed to understand the geology of St. Anthony Falls.
Ep. 2: Changes in the Land (1870s – 1900) (2005-02-21)

Voices from the past and stunning nature videography re-create the natural world Euro-Americans first encounter. Find out what happens to North America’s most abundant wildlife species as commercial hunters and the railroad arrive in Minnesota.
Ep. 3: Out of the Ashes (1900 – 1940s) (2005-02-22)

Never-before-seen historic footage brings to life the beginnings of conservation in Minnesota. Minnesota was at the forefront of conservation in the early 1900s U.S., and women played a key role. Historic images and interviews convey the impact of the Twin Cities' exploding population on the Mississippi River. Computer animation depicts the predicted results of one man's plan to flood the boundary waters region. Actors re-create the story of one prominent Minnesota conservationist who began his career promoting the destruction of wolves.
Ep. 4: Second Nature (1940s and Beyond) (2005-02-22)

Unique historic footage and photographs depict the momentous changes brought to Minnesota during and after WWII. A vivid re-creation brings to life the revolutionary work of a University of Minnesota graduate student. Simple inventions like nylon nets and the introduction of an exotic species bring the fishery of Lake Superior to the brink of collapse.
Ep. 5: The Northern Forest (1910s – Early 21st Century) (2006-10-18)

With its majestic pines, glittering lakes, and rich human history the northern forest is central to many Minnesotans' sense of place. But at the turn of the 20th century, the landscape lay in ruins; decades of unchecked logging had been followed by catastrophic fires. This new episode chronicles efforts to understand and restore this important landscape just as a new threat looms.