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The French explored, trapped, hunted, fished, and claimed the Mississippi River region for a hundred years until Napolean sold all of the French claims to Thomas Jefferson with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Fort Snelling was established on the banks of the Mississippi where the Minnesota River joined it near the Falls of St. Anthony. A sawmill and gristmill were built to use the river's power of the falls and a small settlement began on the East side, which became St. Paul. It wasn't until the 1850's that settlement began on the West bank where the village of Minneapolis was born. The name was derived from a Sioux Indian word for 'water' and Greek for 'city'. The city became a storage and shipping point for grain, as well as a milling and grain processing center. It also became a banking and financial community with a Federal Reserve Bank and the Grain Exchange.

Although St. Paul is the capital of the state, Minneapolis is the largest; together the Twin Cities and their suburbs total over 2 million. The Falls of St. Anthony are now tamed. The Twin Cities are cosmopolitan cities that share much in common, such as the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Symphony, and the industry giants of 3M Company, Honeywell, Control Data, and General Mills. The area is a mix of many ethnic cultures, but heavy with German and Scandinavian origins.

Activities: See the 100+ year old Stone Arch Bridge, the American Swedish Institute in a 33-room mansion resembling a French chateau, the Minneapolis Planetarium, Children's Museum, Science Museum, Historical Society, Museum of American Art, Walker Art Center, and the Frederick Weisman Art Museum. The Minneapolis River City Trolley provides entertaining and narrated tours of the city. The Mall of America (largest mall in the U.S.) is in the suburb of Bloomington.