Minnesota & The American Story
Companion Learning Resources
In collaboration with Minnesota Public Television Association stations, Prairie Public is commemorating America’s 250th birthday with video features and learning resources that highlight Minnesota’s contributions to the nation’s history, culture, and identity.
Two collaborative documentaries, Minnesota & The American Story: 250 Years and Minnesota & The American Story: Revolutionary Roots, aired on public television stations across Minnesota in the lead-up to the United States’ semiquincentennial. View Prairie Public’s contributions to the documentaries below, along with learning resources.
Minnesota’s Sea of Grass
Two hundred and fifty years ago, the prairie stretched across western Minnesota.
For thousands of years, the prairie has been shaped by the people who inhabit the land — from the indigenous people who lived with the prairie, to the western expansion of Europeans who changed the landscape to meet their needs. What remains of prairie, why is it so important, and how can we be better stewards in the future?
🔎 Explore PBS LearningMedia curriculum for this documentary. (Grades 6-12)
Clay County Settlements
From its earliest days, life in Minnesota was shaped by resilience, determination, and the pursuit of opportunity as newcomers sought to build better futures on unfamiliar land. This is especially evident in the history of Scandinavian and German immigrants who settled in western Minnesota, particularly in Clay County, drawn by the railroad and the promise of land through the Homestead Act.
Historians and archivists help illuminate their journeys, as they established communities despite harsh climates and difficult terrain. Settlements along the Buffalo River and at Winnipeg Junction reflect both the struggles and successes of early pioneers, including Olaf Thortvedt, R.M. Probstfield, and Solomon Comstock, whose perseverance helped define the region’s cultural legacy.
🔎 Explore PBS LearningMedia curriculum for this documentary. (Grades 6-12)
This project was funded by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.