History
4
De Soto was a town platted in 1899 by the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad one mile northeast of this site. A St. Paul resident in charge of the road's town site named it for Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto, identified as the discoverer of the Mississippi River. Because the Spanish-American War had just concluded, citizens of Lake Fremont Township resented having their rail station named for a Spaniard. Since De Soto was accessible only from the east, residents raised $1,500 to move farther south and create the nearby community of Dunnell. De Soto existed only for a few months before yielding to public sentiment and a better location, and the land reverted to its previous owner, the Eric Olson family.
Hear stories like this as you drive
ExploreHere reads historical markers out loud as you pass them: over 325,000 stories across the US. No account needed.
4.7 · 800+ ratings · Free
FIND IT
Dunnell, Minnesota · United States
