Minnesota History Quiz

On Sept. 19, 1970, the "Mary Tyler Moore" show premiered on CBS. What fictional Minneapolis TV station employed Moore's character, Mary Richards? A) MTM-TV B) WJM-TV C) WHZ-TV For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Aug. 27, 1979, Sheriff's Deputy Val Johnson saw bright lights, lost consciousness and 14 minutes of his life. Over the years it's become one of the state's most celebrated UFO cases. Where was it? A) Marshall County B) Hennepin County C) Crow Wing County For the answer, click on the headline above...

On July 19, 1967, Minneapolis experiences some of the unrest in African-American communities seen nationwide as rioting breaks out along Plymouth Avenue. How long did it last? For the answer click on the headline above.

On Nov. 13, 1970, police arrest a man on charges of conspiracy to kidnap Minnesota's governor and a member of the St. Paul city council. Who were the targets? A) Rudy Perpich and Ron Maddox. B) Al Quie and Dave Thune. C) Harold LeVander and Rosalie Butler. For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Nov. 12, 1892, this Minneapolis-born athlete becomes the first person to sign a professional football contract. Who was he? 1) Jim W. Thorpe 2) Barney W. Rubble 3) William W. Heffelfinger For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Nov. 8, 1898, the so-called Kensington runestone was discovered in Minnesota, an alleged remnant of a 1362 Viking visit. Where was it found? A) On a farm near Alexandria. B) In a Nisswa gift shop. C) Near Duluth's famed Lemon Drop Hill. For the answer, click on the headline above...

Was it: A) Jesse Ventura B) Harold Stassen C) Floyd B. Olson For the answer click on the headline above...

On Nov. 6, 1860, Albert Lea was named the county seat in Freeborn County over Itasca. How was it decided? A) By a horse race. B) By the Minnesota Legislature. C) By the flip of a coin. For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Sept. 27, 1888, this Catholic Bishop would be named St. Paul's first Archbishop, and in the years ahead would oversee the building of a city landmark. Was it: A) Bishop Joseph Cretin B) Bishop John Ireland C) Bishop John Roach For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Oct. 1, 2006, Twins catcher Joe Mauer won the first of three American League batting titles. How may big league catchers have finished the year as the top hitter in their league? A) 2 B) 3 C) 4 For the answer, click on the headline above..

On Sept. 27, 1935, former Minnesota Secretary of State Joan Growe was born in Minneapolis. In her long political career, she would do two things no other woman had done up to that point in state history. What were they? For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Oct. 25, 1987, the Minnesota Twins won their first World Series with a 4-2 Game 7 victory over St. Louis. How was the final out recorded? A) Hot shot to Hrbek at first, he steps on the bag...Twins Win!!! B) Lazy fly ball to left, Gladden is under it ...Twins Win!!! C) Ground ball to Gaetti, over to Hrbek ...Twins Win!!! For the answer (you know the answer!), click on the headline above...

On Oct. 24, 1987, Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek hit a grand slam in Game 6 of the World Series against St. Louis to help tie this Fall Classic at three games apiece. Which Twin also hit a huge homer in the winning cause? A) Kirby Puckett B) Don Baylor C) Dan Gladden For the answer (you know the answer, come on!), click on the headline above...

On Oct. 23, 1920, the Sinclair Lewis novel "Main Street" was published, a satirical look at small-town complacency. What was the Minnesota town Lewis wrote about? A) Gopher Lake B) Gopher Prairie C) Gopher Heights For the answer, click the headline above...

On Oct. 22, 1969, the Twins named their fifth manager, to replace the mega-popular -- but recently-fired -- Billy Martin. Who was he? A) Ray Miller B) Johnny Goryl C) Bill Rigney For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Oct. 18, 1987, the Twins won Game 2 of their World Series matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals, with Bert Blyleven on the mound as the starting pitcher. How many games would the future Hall of Famer win in this series? A) 0 B) 1 C) 2 For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Oct. 17, 1987, this Twin would cap a seven-run fourth inning with a grand slam at the Metrodome in Game 1 of the World Series against St. Louis. Who had the big blast? A) Kent Hrbek B) Gary Gaetti C) Dan Gladden For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Oct. 16, 1989, David Brom is sentenced for murdering his Olmsted County family with an axe. When is he eligible for parole? For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Oct. 15, 1971, the Minnesota Supreme Court made an historic stand on the same-sex marriage issue. What was its ruling? For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Oct. 12, 1987, the Twins beat the Tigers to win their first American League pennant in 22 years. Who was the Most Valuable Player of that best-of-seven series? A) Bert Blyleven B) Kirby Puckett C) Gary Gaetti For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Oct. 10, 1918, a fire along a well-traveled railroad line results in the deaths of 435 people and burns 38 communities. Which area was affected? A) Duluth to Hibbing. B) Minneapolis to Rochester. C) Stillwater to St. Paul. For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Oct. 9, 1946, a statue of Leif Erikson, titled "Discoverer of America" is dedicated on the explorer's holiday at the state capitol in St. Paul. Where in Minnesota is the other well-known Erikson statue? 1) Fridley 2) Two Harbors 3) Duluth For the answer, click on the headline above...

On Oct. 8, 1956, Southdale opened in Edina -- the first enclosed suburban mall in the United States. It was the first of four "Dales" to ring the Twin Cities. The others were: A) Rosedale, Tonkadale, Fairdale. B) Brookdale, Ridgedale, Rosedale. C) Moundsdale, Venturadale, Ridgedale. For the answer, click on the headline above...