April 9, 2019 Image from HHM Collections Hennepin History Museum has three sets of The Game of Cootie in its collection. Given Cootie’s iconic status and the fact that it has been continuously sold for seventy years, it is [...]
April 2, 2019 Image from HHM Collections As Hennepin History Museum explores the legacy of innovation in our county through objects in our collection, sometimes one must look beyond the surface of the artifact and see a deeper story [...]
March 26, 2019 In celebration of International Women’s Month it seems appropriate to explore one of the many untold stories surrounding the women of Hennepin County. Being a woman, much less a mother, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was no easy feat. Women were [...]
March 1, 2019 Image from HHM Archives The Dakota, like many American Indian communities, passed down information orally over generations, without incident. However, during ever-important treaty negotiations, under the pressure of white settlers to cede territory, the Dakota were [...]
February 7, 2019 Image from HHM Collections Residents of Hennepin County are always thinking up new ways to stay warm during our frigid winters. About seventy years ago, John W. Smith of Minneapolis invented a product called the Jon-e [...]
December 31, 2018 Honeywell is best known for pioneering the field of automated technology. Some may even argue the company essentially created the entire automated control industry. However, the company’s foray into the computer business is less well known. Honeywell was [...]
Image from HHM Collections In December 1949, a contest was held in which 100 competitors fought for their honor as well as a $25,000 grand prize. The competition was held in New York City at the Waldorf Astoria, but it was the [...]
December 31, 2018 A well-known local figure has modestly enjoyed his fame for over 50 years with a grin and a giggle. Though he may be small, the Pillsbury Doughboy has become larger than life. The beloved brand icon has appeared in over [...]
December 28, 2018 The Jolly Green Giant is almost one hundred years old, but he looks great for his age. He still has a handsome smile and his toga made of leaves has never fit him better. The iconic mascot, arguably one of the [...]
December 28, 2018 Image from HHM Collections Many Americans used to believe Betty Crocker was a real person. This is because her likeness and voice were well publicized throughout the Twentieth Century. Even today, her trademarked signature can be found on [...]
