1650s First Europeans visit and map out portions of Minnesota.
1732 Fort St. Charles is founded.
1763 The U.S. gains eastern Minnesota after winning the French and Indian War.
1803 The U.S. buys western Minnesota from the French as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
1805 Zebulon Pike explores the region.
1825 Fort Snelling is established at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers.
1832 Explorer Henry Schoolcraft finds the source of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca.
1849 Minnesota which has only 4,000 white settlers becomes a territory.
1858 Minnesota is admitted as the 32nd state.
1862 The Dakota War was fought between the United States and the Dakota Sioux.
1867 St. Paul and Minneapolis is linked to Chicago by railroad.
1883 Duluth is linked to the Pacific when the Northern Pacific completes its line to Portland Oregon.
1889 The Mayo Clinic is founded in Rochester by Dr. William Mayo.
1959 With the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway Duluth becomes the westernmost Atlantic port.
1965 Herbert Humphrey becomes vice-president of the United States.
1992 The Mall of America is completed in Bloomington.
1998 Jesse Ventura, former professional wrestler and Navy Seal, is elected governor.