Minneapolis | Dowdle Fine Art

The original natives of Minneapolis were the Dakota Sioux until the first French explorers arrived in 1680. Later, the U.S. acquired the territory from France and established posts there. Lumber was one of the most valuable resources for the city which thrived on the lumber industry. Numerous sawmills were powered by the Saint Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River. In modern times, you can still see some French influence here as the motto of the city is "En Avant" which means "Forward" in the French language. And although the winters are cold here, the city boasts the highest number of golders per capita in the nation. If you love sports, you're all set with a NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings, a NBA team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and a MLB team, the Minnesota Twins, but the natives here will tell you that the one sport they really love is hockey.