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Welcome to Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.2,368,379 articles in EnglishArtsBiographyGeographyHistoryMathematicsScienceSocietyTechnologyAll portalsOverview · Editing · Questions · HelpContents · Categories · Featured content · A–Z indexToday’s featured articleThe history of Minnesota is the story of a U.S. state shaped by its original Native American residents, European exploration and settlement, and the emergence of industries made possible by the state’s natural resources. Minnesota achieved prominence through fur trading, logging, and farming, and later, railroads, flour milling and iron mining. While those industries remain important, the state’s economy is now driven by banking, computers and health care. Fort Snelling played a pivotal role in Minnesota’s history and in the development of the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The earliest known settlers followed herds of large game to the region during the last Ice Age. They preceded the Anishinaabe, the Sioux, and other Native American inhabitants. Fur traders from France arrived during the 1600s. Europeans, moving west during the 1800s, drove out most of the Native Americans. Fort Snelling, built to protect United States territorial interests, brought early settlers to the area. Early settlers used Saint Anthony Falls for powering sawmills in the area that became Minneapolis, while others settled downriver in the area that became Saint Paul. Minnesota became a part of the United States as the Minnesota Territory in 1849, and became the 32nd U.S. state on May 11, 1858. (more…)Recently featured: Flag of Germany – Glynn Lunney – IsraelArchive – By email – More featured articles…Did you know…From Wikipedia’s newest articles:… that pulmonary laceration was thought to be uncommon before CT scanning (example pictured) became widely available, because the injury is difficult to detect with X-rays alone?… that sanfedisti irregulars, led by Cardinal Fabrizio Ruffo, toppled the Parthenopaean Republic in 1799, restoring the monarchy of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies?… that Barzillai Quaife has been described both as “New Zealand’s first public anti-racist” and “Australia’s first philosopher”?… that the Pond Eddy Bridge, built in 1904, is the only artery to access 22 homes in Pennsylvania?… that because it reflects Hungarian phonology, the original middle name of singer and comedian Ioan Gyuri Pascu was misspelled on his Romanian-issued birth certificate?… that Devil’s Den gully, located within the Heber Down Conservation Area, was so named because the local inhabitants believed that the Devil was holding court there?… that Chris Garneau’s debut album Music For Tourists has a hidden track that is a cover of an Elliott Smith song?Archive – Start a new article…In the newsAn international relief operation begins after Cyclone Nargis strikes Burma, with at least 63,500 people reported killed or missing. The Burmese military regime conducts a significant referendum days from the cyclone’s strike despite international appeals.Skirmishes erupt in Beirut between supporters of Lebanon’s government and the opposition.Dmitry Medvedev (pictured) is sworn in as the third President of Russia, replacing Vladimir Putin, who becomes the Prime Minister.Brian Cowen succeeds Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach (prime minister) of the Republic of Ireland.Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef takes office as Prime Minister of Mauritania.Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events…On this day…May 11: Pentecost in Western Christianity (2008); Mother’s Day in several countries (2008)1745 – War of the Austrian Succession: French forces defeated the Anglo-Dutch-Hanoverian “Pragmatic Army” at the Battle of Fontenoy in the Austrian Netherlands in present day Belgium.1792 – Merchant sea-captain Robert Gray (pictured) first entered the Columbia River, the largest river flowing into the Pacific Ocean from North America.1812 – British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval was assassinated by John Bellingham in the lobby of the House of Commons.1867 – The major powers in Europe signed the Second Treaty of London to solve the Luxembourg Crisis between France and Prussia over the political status of Luxembourg.1918 – The Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus was established, with Tapa Tchermoeff as the first prime minister.1949 – Siam was officially renamed Thailand, a name unofficially in use since it was first coined by Prime Minister and dictator Plaek Pibulsonggram in 1939.More events: May 10 – May 11 – May 12Archive – By email – More anniversaries…Today’s featured pictureThe head and mandibles of an Australian bull ant. Insect mandibles grasp, crush, or cut the insect’s food, or defend against predators or rivals. These mandibles move in the horizontal plane unlike those of the vertebrates.Photo credit: Fir0002Recently featured: VR warehouses – Northern Mockingbird – John F. Kennedy LibraryArchive – More featured pictures…