early history
1700 - the dakota people
The Dakota people lived on the prairie lands around B-dote by the 1700s. They looked upon Mendota’s setting as the center of the earth and the tall hill overlooking the river, Ohe-ya-wa-he, a sacred burial place.
1779 - fur traders
Fur traders began frequenting the Mendota area.
1803 - The Louisiana Purchase
The land that would eventually become Minnesota was acquired on May 30 with the Louisiana Purchase.
1805 - Pike’s Mississippi Expedition
General James Wilkinson, governor of the Upper Louisiana Territory ordered Army Lt. Zebulon Pike to embark on one of his major expeditions to find the source of the Mississippi River. Pike was described by Thomas Jefferson as “an American hero, a patriot who lived and died for his country.”
1819 - Fort Snelling Construction
Construction of Fort Snelling began with materials assembled of the Minnesota River. Wood huts to house soldiers were built along the river, underneath where the Mendota Bridge is now located.
1844 - Mendota Incorporated as a Town
Congress passed the Town Site Act which incorporated Mendota as a town.
establishment & Growth
1849 A New Territory
Minnesota became a U.S. Territory with a population of less than 5000. The St. Peter’s River was renamed the Minnesota River. The name for the state of Minnesota came from a Dakota name for the river meaning “sky-like water.”
1853 Minnesota’s Oldest Church Was Built
The Church of St. Peter completed construction of their permanent stone church which is the oldest Minnesota church in continuous use.
1858 - Statehood and Her First Governor
Minnesota was admitted to the Union on May 11 as the 32nd state and Henry H. Sibley was elected as the first governor, serving from May 24, 1858 to January 2, 1860.
1880 - The Onion Capital of the United States
Bernier introduced onion growing to the farmers surrounding Mendota in the 1880s. His general store handled orders from across the country, shipping out bags of onions through the Mendota rail station.
small town charm
1926 - Building the Longest Continuous concrete arch Bridge
The Mendota Bridge opened replacing the ferry across the Minnesota River between Mendota and Fort Snelling. When it opened, the bridge was the longest continuous concrete-arch bridge in the world, measuring 4,119 feet long and 60 feet wide.
“Please extend my greeting and congratulations to those who have made possible the Mendota Memorial Bridge being opened today and to all present at the exercises. It is fitting that the men of the 151st Field Artillery who died in the World War should be honored by so fine and useful a monument.”
President Calvin Coolidge
1930 - Parker House Restaurant Opens
After the Depression and prohibition, Willard (Bill) and Alice Parker saw the opportunity to open a restaurant in Mendota in a former Buick dealership building.
Infantry at Fort Snelling and residents from St. Paul and Minneapolis could easily get to town with the opening of the Mendota bridge.
1965 - New Channel on the Minnesota River
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked on a navigation project to create a deeper, straighter shipping channel.
A new channel was built under the Mendota Bridge and along Pike Island in Mendota and several other channels were dug in Eagan and Bloomington.
modern growth
1966 - The Jazz Era
After a fifteen-year break as a potato shed, the jazz hall was opened again by the Hall Brothers as the Emporium of Jazz.
The seven-man band was tired of bar owners telling them what to play so they decided to open their own club.
1969 - Inagural Old Mendota Days Jazz Festival
Mendota hosted the first “Old Mendota Days” festival organized by Mayor Red Dougherty and his son Bill.
The 3-day event featured a parade, jazz concerts, dances at the VFW hall, vaudeville acts, kiddie rides and a carnival.
1990 - Mendota Bridge Rebuilt & Big Rivers Regional Trail
The Mendota Bridge was rebuilt over nearly two years for $23.8 million. The bridge deck was completely removed and rebuilt 31.8 feet wider to be 92 feet wide.
The Big Rivers Regional Trail was constructed on the bed of the Milwaukee/Soo Railroad line through Mendota.
