German Immigration to the Minnesota River Valley Frontier, 1852-1865

Wir Stammten aus Deutschland nach Hausen Minnesota

"We originated out of Germany and have come home to Minnesota"

The major role played by German immigrants on the settlement and development of the Minnesota River valley frontier has been underestimated. Contrary to popular myth, Germans were some of the first white settlers to occupy the region, causing later immigrants of other ethnicities to receive more attention by historians. The large number of German immigrants that came to the Minnesota River valley frontier made them seem invisible. The German presence was taken for granted; because it seemed to have always been there. Most notably, the fierce desire of the German immigrants to assimilate into American society, while retaining some of their cultural heritage caused them to be ignored as well.

Through research involving books, journal articles, written interviews, letters, government documents, maps, photographs and newspapers, it was revealed that the German immigrants came to the Minnesota River valley frontier seeking economic opportunity after it was denied them in central Europe. In the process, they helped to shape the course of history in both Minnesota and the rest of the United States. This is the German Immigrant's story, as told by one of their descendants.

The geographical area of the Minnesota River valley includes the counties of Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Dakota, Faribault, Hennepin, LeSueur, Nicollet, Scott and Sibley.