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Minnesota trivia questions are a great way to test your knowledge of the state's history, culture, and landmarks.
From famous residents to iconic foods, there's much to learn about the "Land of 10,000 Lakes."
Whether you're a native Minnesotan or just passing by, there's always something new to learn about the state.
Here's a warm-up question to get you started:
Question: Which Minnesotan lake is considered the main source for the Mississippi River?
Answer: Lake Itasca
Before we dive into the questions and answers, we just want to briefly tell you about Water Cooler Trivia.
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1. When he retired in 1975, Harmon Killebrew had the fourth most home runs in major league history after spending most of his career with the Minnesota Twins. In what sport did Killebrew ply his trade for more than two decades?
Answer: Baseball
2. Large swaths of Minnesota are considered to be in the biome known for plants in mid- to high latitudes that shed their leaves as temperatures drop in autumn. What is the d-word for this type of foliage?
Answer: Deciduous
3. In 2021 Minnesota priest Mike Schmitz launched a daily podcast which, over the course of a year, discussed the entirety of which book?
Answer: The Bible
4. At “Sioux Chef” Sean Sherman’s award-winning Minneapolis restaurant Owamni, diners enjoy dishes made entirely from Indigenous ingredients, including sweet potatoes, wild rice, and ribeye steaks from what 3,000-lb.bovine?
Answer: Bison
5. Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz was born in Minneapolis in 1922 and grew up in nearby St. Paul. Name the most famous dog drawn by Schulz.
Answer: Snoopy
6. Although the statue is located more than 60 miles from its company headquarters, the city of Blue Earth, MN is home to a 55-foot tall statue of what verdant vegetable mascot?
Answer: Jolly Green Giant
7. Ralph Samuelson didn't know what he was doing when he took a pair of boards and a rope out on Lake Pepin in Minnesota in the summer of '22. After a couple days of experimenting, he ended up inventing what recreational activity?
Answer: Waterskiing
8. What manufacturer of toy trucks was originally the Mound Metalcraft Company, making metal garden tools out of the basement of a Minnesota schoolhouse before turning to making metal toys? Their toy truck would eventually land on Time Magazine's list of History's Best Toys.
Answer: Tonka
9. The 1984 US election can only be described as a landslide, with Democratic candidate Walter Mondale winning just one state (and then only by 3,761 votes). Which state, who has given their 10 electoral college votes to the Democrats in every election since, did Mondale win?
Answer: Minnesota
10. Which U.S. bus line set off with its first route in Hibbing, Minnesota in 1914 when Andy "Bus Andy" Anderson and C. A. A. "Arvid" Heed started a business to take iron ore miners two miles from Hibbing to the town of Alice for 15 cents per ride? In 1929, the company took on the name it’s known by today, which it shares with a very speedy pup.
Answer: Greyhound
11. Although her family moved frequently during her childhood, actress Jessica Biel is a native Minnesotan who was born in what three-letter city with a population of only 3,000 but well known as an entry point to the Boundary Waters?
Answer: Ely
12. What four-letter “L” word is a bobcat or a member of Minnesota’s WNBA team?
Answer: Lynx
13. What 1992 sports movie starred Emilio Estevez, was produced entirely in Minnesota, and followed a team of ragtag young Minneapolis athletes?
Answer: The Mighty Ducks
14. Minnesotan baseball commentator Halsey Hal was the first man to use what sacred mammal expression to express awe?
Answer: Holy Cow
15. Minnesota hosts the largest state fair in the US as measured by average daily attendance, and it also features the tag-line "The Great Minnesota Get-Together." Located near, but not in the Twin Cities, you'll instead find the fairgrounds in what city?
Answer: Falcon Heights
16. Democratic candidates in the state of Minnesota compete in elections not on the "Democratic" party ticket but that of the DFL. The "D" in "DFL" stands for "Democrat," and the "F" and "L" stand for what two professional words?
Answer: Farmer
17. Which Minnesota-based S&P 500 company has the NYSE ticker symbol "MMM"?
Answer: 3M
18. Headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, what airline was a large force in the US aviation industry until being acquired by Delta Air Lines in a 2008 merger?
Answer: Northwest Airlines
19. Allan Page and Gary Larsen were a couple of members of the Purple People Eaters, the '60s and '70s defensive line of what NFL team?
Answer: Minnesota Vikings
20. With rides including "Pepsi Orange Streak", "Shredder's Mutant Masher", and "Avatar Airbender", what is the name of the indoor theme park found inside Minnesota's Mall of America?
Answer: Nickelodeon Universe
21. According to World Population Review, Minnesota's most-populous city is the 46th biggest in the United States. Minnesota's next most-populous is what 64th biggest city?
Answer: St. Paul
22. One summer day in July 1922, in Lake City, Minnesota, Ralph Samuelson used household items to invent what water-surface sport? Samuelson went on to perform and teach the sport for over 20 years.
Answer: Water skiing
23. What Minnesota-born actress left the television show "7th Heaven" in 2006 and had earlier starred in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "The Rules of Attraction?"
Answer: Jessical Biel
24. "Starfish and Coffee" is a lesser-known song from the 1987 album "Sign O' the Times," by what late, great, one-named Minnesotan?
Answer: Prince
25. Minnesota junior Senator Tina Smith first moved to the state in 1984 for a marketing job at what multinational consumer packaged goods company that can trace its history in the state back to 1856?
Answer: General Mills
26. What Minnesota city was named after a French city near Paris which itself was named after the 6th-century French monk Clodoald?
Answer: St Cloud
27. Lift Bridge, Boom Island, and Canal Park are all Minnesota companies that focus on the production of what?
Answer: Craft beer
28. What coffee company/coffeehouse chain was founded in Edina, Minnesota, and in 2021, merged with Panera Bread and Einstein Bros. Bagels to form Panera Brands? (Hint: It’s name was inspired by a trip to Alaska.)
Answer: Caribou Coffee
29. The Giant Canada Goose is the largest subspecies of Canada Goose. Although widespread now, it had once been thought extinct until a small group was found in what Midwestern state in 1962?
Answer: Minnesota
30. To train for a race back in the 1970s, Ed Pauls built a static cross country skiing machine in his Chaska, Minnesota garage. That's the origin of what exercise equipment company based in Utah, not Sweden?
Answer: NordicTrack
31. A pair of filmmaking brothers born in Minnesota in the 1950s have been nominated for 13 Academy Awards together, including a handful of wins for "No Country for Old Men." What is the surname of these brothers?
Answer: Coen
32. What canine bus service began with a single route serving miners in Hibbing, Minnesota?
Answer: Greyhound
33. If you had tickets to the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome in 2011, what Big 4 professional sports franchise would you be watching play a home game? Note that one of the Big 4 franchises calling the stadium home had left for Target Field 2 seasons prior.
Answer: Minnesota Vikings
34. "L'Étoile du Nord," the state motto of Minnesota, was the state's first official named symbol when designated in 1861. What does this phrase mean in English?
Answer: Star of the North
35. The 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry regiment played an important role in winning what battle against Confederate soldiers on July 2, 1863? The regiment was on the front lines of the battle and suffered casualties >80%.
Answer: Battle of Gettysburg
36. Founded by art collectors Raymond and Susan Johnson, TMORA is a non-profit museum in Minneapolis that is the only major institution in North America devoted entirely to art and culture from what massive nation's history?
Answer: Russia
37. The Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of what U.S. city is notable for having the country's largest concentration of Somali-Americans? This city also represented by Ilhan Omar, the U.S.'s first and only Somali-American representative.
Answer: Minneapolis
38. Minnesota shares a border with four U.S. states. Which of these shared borders is the shortest?
Answer: South Dakota
39. What famed American author was born in St Paul in 1896, married a woman named Zelda, and released 4 finished novels during his lifetime?
Answer: F. Scott Fitzgerald
40. What is the name of the first designated state park in Minnesota? This park famously contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
Answer: Itasca State Park
41. What multinational manufacturer based in Minnesota was once named the Washburn-Crosby Company?
Answer: General Mills
42. The St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota is actually not within St. Paul city limits but is rather in what neighboring municipality?
Answer: Falcon Heights
43. What Minnesota politician wrote a senior thesis in college titled "Uncovering the Dome" with over 250 pages on the decade of politics surrounding the Metrodome in Minneapolis?
Answer: Amy Klobuchar
44. Launched on June 10, 2010, what is the name of the public-private partnership that operates the docked bike share system in Minneapolis-St Paul?
Answer: Nice Ride Minnesota
45. Peggy Flanagan is the 50th person to hold what statewide office in Minnesota? She is the second Native American woman to ever be elected to statewide executive office in U.S. history. The office sounds vaguely militaristic.
Answer: Lieutenant Governor
46. Grand Rapids, Minnesota has an annual festival dedicated to what hometown actress, singer, dancer, and vaudevillian?
Answer: Judy Garland
47. Summit, Lift Bridge, and August Schell are all names of what type of company located in Minnesota? They are all part of an industry that has exploded in popularity across the US in the 2010s.
Answer: Brewery
48. From 1961 to 1981 the Minnesota Vikings called a multi-sport stadium its home. That stadium has since been replaced by what famous retail complex?
Answer: Mall of America
49. Minnesota is the 36th most densely populated state in the United States. What is the *most* densely populated?
Answer: New Jersey
50. What annual Minnesota festival had 176 shows and 895 performances over 11 days in 2013 and features shows 60 minutes or less across a wide variety of performing arts disciplines? The alliterative festival has other incarnations throughout the US.
Answer: Fringe Festival
51. Pierre Parrant was the first person of European descent to live in the area that would eventually become Saint Paul. His swine-referencing nickname at one point even was the namesake of the burgeoning village where he lived. What was this ocular nickname?
Answer: Pig's Eye
52. Gopher 5 and Daily 3 are both Minnesota contests administered and marketed by what state agency?
Answer: State Lottery
53. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 36% of Minnesotans fish. This ranks second highest of any state; what is the one state higher?
Answer: Alaska
54. The Mainroom is the colloquial name for what Minneapolis music venue that features hundreds of stars on the exterior of the building indicating past performers at the venue?
Answer: First Avenue
55. What Minnesota commuter rail route began passenger service on November 16, 2009?
Answer: Northstar Line
56. The word comes from the Dakota word for waterfall and is the name of a female character from a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem. The word is also a park, creek, and academy in Minnesota. What is the word?
Answer: Minnehaha
57. What long-serving politician from Minnesota was known as "Mr. Environment" and has a namesake recreational trail that runs between Hinckley and Duluth?
Answer: Willard Munger
58. Minnesota and Mississippi both considered the same name for their state but both ultimately rejected it. A different state, admitted to the Union in 1889 as the 42nd state used this name (and continues to). What is the state?
Answer: Washington
59. Minnesota governor Tim Walz earned his Master's degree from what Minnesota school that was established as Second State Normal School in 1858?
Answer: Minnesota State University Mankato
60. What Minnesota city features the only all-freshwater aquarium in the US, the Aerial Lift Bridge, the world's longest freshwater baymouth bar (Park Point)?
Answer: Duluth
61. The largest city by population in northwest Minnesota was named for an official of the Northern Pacific Railway, and the city is bordered on the west by the Red River of the North and the city of Fargo. What is this city?
Answer: Moorhead
62. International Falls is a Minnesota city that is, unsurprisingly, on the border of another nation (Canada). It is also nicknamed "Icebox of the Nation” because it averages more than 100 days per year with a high temperature below 32 °F (0 °C). What is the name of the Canadian city directly across the river from International Falls?
Answer: Fort Frances
63. St. Paul is the capital of Minnesota. Which other capital of a US state is closest in distance to St. Paul? We're using "as the crow flies" or haversine distance, rather than driving distance.
Answer: Madison
64. The precursors to Charles Schulz's famous Peanuts comic strip was a comic named Li'l Folks which appeared mainly in what Minnesota newspaper from 1947 to 1950?
Answer: St. Paul Pioneer Press
65. Applegate, Columbus Craft Meats, Dinty Moore, Jennie-O and Skippy are all brands owned and managed by what food processing company founded in Austin, Minnesota in 1891?
Answer: Hormel
66. Husband and wife team Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen designed the centerpiece of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden in the 1980s. What is the common food that is part of their design?
Answer: Cherry (Spoonbridge and Cherry)
67. What Minneapolis-based manufacturer of paint and coatings has over 11,000 employees in 25 countries, is one of the 10 largest paint and coating corporations in the world, and took its name from a namesake clear varnish?
Answer: Valspar
68. Although the majority of the movie "Fargo" takes place in Minnesota, the movie's title references a city in what other state?
Answer: North Dakota
69. Known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," but only one can take the prize as the largest lake within Minnesota's borders. Which lake is it?
Answer: Red Lake
70. The Mall of America is technically within city limits of what Twin Cities suburb?
Answer: Bloomington
71. Assuming office in January 2019 alongside Tim Walz, who became Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota?
Answer: Peggy Flanagan
72. What three-season NBC television show was set in Minnesota and featured FBI profiler Will Graham, behavioral scientist Jack Crawford, and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Lecter?
Answer: Hannibal
73. "The Great Minnesota Get-Together" is the official slogan for what Minnesota-based event that has been ongoing since 1859 and had a record 2.1 million attendees in 2019?
Answer: Minnesota State Fair
74. The Minnesota State Fair holds a yearly competition as part of the Minnesota Dairy Princess Program, wherein one woman is appointed to serve as a good-will ambassador for the state's dairy industry. What is the title given to the winner?
Answer: Princess Kay of the Milky Way
75. What is the name of the legendary Minneapolis music venue which was featured in Prince's film "Purple Rain?"
Answer: First Avenue
76. What retail giant is the eighth largest retailer in the United States and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
Answer: Target
77. In 1999, Jesse Ventura became the first actor from the movie Predator to serve as governor. What state did Ventura govern?
Answer: Minnesota
78. In 1975, which city in Minnesota became the first in the U.S. to pass a civil rights ordinance that included protections for transgender citizens?
Answer: Minneapolis
79. Each year, Minnesota's "Princess Kay of the Milky Way" has her likeness sculptured in what agricultural product, millions of pounds of which are produced each year in the state?
Answer: Butter
80. Although Jesse Ventura's election as governor of Minnesota is probably its greatest achievement, what third party is most closely associated with two-time presidential also-ran Ross Perot?
Answer: Reform Party
81. Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin were two potential candidates who were under consideration to be part of what ironically-named political party founded in December 13, 2010 under the slogan “Not Left. Not Right. Forward?”
Answer: No Labels
82. Obtaining her license in Minnesota in 1899, who was the first woman to practice optometry in the USA?
Answer: Gertrude Stanton
83. Founded in Minnesota in 1891, what food processing company was known throughout the 20th century as the manufacturer of Spam? Today, the company owns and distributes brands such as Jennie-O and Skippy.
Answer: Hormel
84. The Minnesota DFL is a political party in its namesake state affiliated with the US Democratic Party. The D stands for Democratic. The L stands for Labor. What does the F stand for?
Answer: Farmer
85. The BWCA is a 1 million acre wilderness area in the northeastern part of Minnesota under the administration of the U.S. Forest Service. A mixture of forests, glacial lakes, and streams, the area is a popular destination for both canoeing, hiking, and fishing, and is one of the most visited wildernesses in the United States. What does BW stand for?
Answer: Boundary Waters
86. Vexillologists all over the country celebrated as both the states of Utah and Minnesota adopted new versions of what type of identifier?
Answer: Flag
87. Many named places throughout the state of Minnesota have “Minne” as part of the name: Minnehaha, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, and more. This word “Minne” derives from a word in the Dakota language meaning what?
Answer: Water
88. Lake Wobegon is a fictional, small rural town created by what famous Midwestern author and storyteller?
Answer: Garrison Keillor
89. After losing 49 states in the 1984 presidential election and then a last-minute Minnesota Senate race in 2002, what man became the first and, so far, only person to lose a statewide election in every U.S. state?
Answer: Walter Mondale
90. The MMPI is a standardized psychological test that assesses personality traits and psychopathology. The first “M” in MMPI stands for which U.S. state, the location of the university where the test was first developed?
Answer: Minnesota
91. Two states share the record for most Iditarod wins - unsurprisingly Alaska is one of those states, but mushers from which other state have also won on nine occasions (with "King of the Iditarod" Rick Swenson accounting for over half of those victories)?
Answer: Minnesota
92. Randy Moss is 2nd place all-time in total receiving yards for the Minnesota Vikings. Who is 1st?
Answer: Cris Carter
93. The 7th-biggest city by population in Minnesota was once named Medicine Lake but the current name is shared with one of the most famous granite boulders in the US. What is this city?
Answer: Plymouth
94. Minnesota has a long history of popular third parties, including the Reform Party, which was able to elect former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura as governor in 1998. By what name is the Reform Party now known?
Answer: The Independence Party
95. What chain of 45 retail stores across the Midwest that sells outdoor equipment and appliances was founded in Minnesota, features an orange-and-black color scheme, and has an alliterative F name?
Answer: Fleet Farm
96. Famously nicknamed “The Body,” what former actor and professional wrestler became the 38th governor of Minnesota as a representative of the Reform Party in 1999?
Answer: Jesse Ventura
97. What intelligent-sounding Minnesota city was named in 1870 after the wife of Northern Pacific Railway president John Gregory Smith and is today the county seat of Crow Wing County?
Answer: Brainerd
98. The largest circulated newspapers of New Jersey, Indiana, Minnesota all contain what four-letter word in their names?
Answer: Star (The Star-Ledger in New Jersey)
99. What is the name of the large cavern found in Harmony, MN that, fittingly, includes a large waterfall?
Answer: Niagara Cave
100. In the 2016 Presidential election, the state of Minnesota had the highest share of voter turnout (from the eligible voting population) of any of the 50 states. What was the % turnout in Minnesota?
Answer: 75%
101. At the age of 57, Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose at his Paisley Park recording studio and home in what Minnesota city?
Answer: Chanhassen
102. Although they have campuses in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Jacksonville, Florida, the world-famous Mayo Clinic is located in what Midwestern city?
Answer: Rochester
103. What American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor, comedian and former member of the Monty Python comedy troupe was born in Minnesota, spent his teen years in Los Angeles, and is now only a citizen of the United Kingdom?
Answer: Terry Gilliam
104. Of the ten U.S. newspapers with the highest daily circulation, only two are headquartered in the Midwest. One is the Chicago Tribune, located in Illinois. In which U.S. State would you find the other popular paper?
Answer: Minnesota star tribune
105. 16 years apart, two Minnesotan politicians ran a losing campaign as the Democratic nominee for US President. Both men were a former US Vice President. Name the man who preceded the other.
Answer: Hubert H Humphrey
106. What was the last name at birth of legendary Minnesota musician Prince?
Answer: Nelson
107. At the height of Frank Lloyd Wright's career in 1927, he surprised contemporaries by designing what type of retail outlet? The design was part of his utopian city concept and although intended for Buffalo, NY the structure was eventually built in Cloquet, MN where it remains in business.
Answer: Gas Station
108. The University of Minnesota has a school named after Hubert H. Humphrey that focuses on what area of study?
Answer: Public Affairs
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We do everything we can to ensure that Water Cooler Trivia's questions are appropriate, relevant, and accurate. Our database has tens of thousands of questions, so we don't always get it right. If you see a question that needs editing, we would love if you let us know here or email quizmaster@watercoolertrivia.com.
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