Minneota in Lyon County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The First Settlement of Icelanders in Minnesota
Photographed by Liz Koele, February 17, 2022
1. The First Settlement of Icelanders in Minnesota Marker
Nearly nine centuries after Leif Ericsson established the first settlement of Europeans in North America, several hundred of his Icelandic countrymen left their native land to make their homes in the Minneota area. First of the Icelanders to arrive was Gunnlaugur Pιtursson, who, on July 4, 1875, established a homestead in Lyon County on the Yellow Medicine River. Later, 800 Icelanders settled in Lyon, Lincoln, and Yellow Medicine counties.
The Icelanders who came to Minnesota brought with them little of this worlds goods. Perhaps their most precious possessions were their sincere interest in public affairs and their traditional love of learning. Here they established schools, churches, libraries, reading societies, and the only Icelandic-language periodical in the United States. They also founded numerous farms and commercial enterprises including one of Minnesotas earliest consumer cooperatives, the Verzlunarfelag Islendinga - - a general merchandise retail store.
Erected 1976 by Minnesota Historical Society with the Co-operation of the Minnesota Bicentennial Commission.
Topics. This historical marker
this page online
Location. 44° 33.48′ N, 95° 58.951′ W. Marker is in Minneota, Minnesota, in Lyon County. It is on East Lyon Street, on the left when traveling east. The marker is near St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 412 E Lyon St, Minneota MN 56264, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Minnesota. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and on the Great Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the territory of the Mississippian Culture.
Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Minneota - Ghent - Taunton - Veteran's Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Site of Lincoln Icelandic Lutheran Church (approx. 10.7 miles away); Lyon County, Minnesota Civil War Memorial (approx. 11.9 miles away).
Photographed by Liz Koele, February 17, 2022
2. The First Settlement of Icelanders in Minnesota Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2022, by Liz Koele of St. Paul, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 913 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 5, 2022, by Liz Koele of St. Paul, Minnesota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
