Minnesota is the birthplace of many favorite people. From Bob Dylan to Prince to Charles Schultz to Judy Garland, there have been countless musicians, actors, and artists with roots in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. But our state is the birthplace to many other things as well. Many common objects were invented right here in Minnesota. One of the most iconic is a cereal brand that has been around since the 1920s. The popular cereal Wheaties were invented in Minneapolis, and you can still visit the place where they were created today. Read on below to learn more about the history of this Minnesota invention.
Minneapolis has a rich milling history that goes back to the 1800s. The history of Wheaties cereal starts in 1856 when the Minneapolis Milling Company was founded. In 1887, the company’s name changed to Washburn-Crosby.
Wikipedia
The Washburn-Crosby Company flourished. It built the Washburn A Mill, which at the time was the largest flour mill in the world.
Boston Public Library/Flickr
The company was not without its disasters, however. A devastating explosion and fire at the Washburn A Mill killed 18 workers and destroyed several buildings.
Wikipedia
By 1880, a new Washburn A Mill was built. With better machinery, it was able to make even better flour. It was here that the now-famous Gold Medal flour was first milled.
NatureNerd/Flickr
It was also here — but many years later — that Wheaties found life. A doctor working for the company in 1924 dropped wheat gruel onto a hot stove to create a crispy flake.
Famartin/Wikipedia
The company worked to perfect the cereal, going through many names in the process, from Nutties to Gold Medal Wheat Flakes, before landing on Wheaties.
Beth/Flickr
The famous cereal soon became the Breakfast of Champions. Four years later, Washburn-Crosby became General Mills. Countless athletes have graced the company’s Wheaties boxes over the years, and the cereal and its boxes and slogans became iconic.
Mike Steele/Flickr
The new Washburn A Mill was shut down in 1965. But the city has worked to preserve the ruins. Archaeological surveys were completed, and work was done to make the area safe after a 1991 fire.
Keith Ewing/Flickr
Today, you can still visit the place where so many iconic products were created. People can visit the Mill Ruins Park and Mill City Museum to take a look at the grounds where much of the city’s early history was determined.
August Schwerdfeger/Flickr
You can look at old equipment, take in the architecture of the abandoned mill, and learn about General Mills and its history and products. It is a fascinating step back in time!
Nicholas Gray/Google
Mill Ruins Park and the Mill City Museum are wonderful ways to look back at Minneapolis history. And as the company where so many iconic brands, including Wheaties, were invented, it’s a nostalgic trip back in time. Have you ever visited? Next, take a look at our article about how Tonka Trucks were invented in Minnesota.
Wikipedia
Boston Public Library/Flickr
NatureNerd/Flickr
Famartin/Wikipedia
Beth/Flickr
Mike Steele/Flickr
Keith Ewing/Flickr
August Schwerdfeger/Flickr
Nicholas Gray/Google
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Address: Mill City Museum, 704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401, USA
