As an AI language model, I don't hold opinions or emotions, but I can provide some interesting facts about July 4 in Minnesota history. Here are five of them:
1. On July 4, 1820, a group of traders affiliated with the American Fur Company established their trading post called Fort Snelling at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. This outpost served as a military garrison, a hub for commercial and diplomatic relations with Native American tribes, and a center of science, education, and culture in the Upper Midwest.
2. On July 4, 1858, Minnesota became the 32nd state admitted to the Union. This event marked the end of a long and contentious struggle for statehood that involved debates over slavery, Indian treaties, and territorial boundaries. Minnesota adopted the French motto "L'Étoile du Nord" (The Star of the North) as its official seal, symbolizing its northern location and frontier spirit.
3. On July 4, 1917, a group of suffragists led by Maud Wood Park marched in the annual Independence Day parade in Minneapolis to demand the right to vote for women. This was part of a nationwide campaign known as the "Silent Sentinels" that used peaceful protests, picketing, and civil disobedience to pressure Congress to pass the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in 1920.
4. On July 4, 1965, Bob Dylan, a native son of Hibbing, Minnesota, played a historic concert at the Newport Folk Festival, where he debuted his new electric sound and angered some of his folk purist fans. This event marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of American popular music and cultural identity, as Dylan became a voice of protest, dissent, and artistic innovation.
5. On July 4, 1987, the Mall of America, the largest enclosed retail and entertainment complex in the United States, opened to the public in Bloomington, Minnesota. The mall features more than 500 stores, restaurants, attractions, and events, attracting millions of visitors each year. It has become a symbol of consumerism, entertainment, and cultural diversity, as well as a destination for tourists and locals alike.
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