Wheaties Were Invented At This Old, Abandoned Ruin In Minnesota From The 1800s
By Betsy Rathburn|Published April 14, 2020
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Betsy Rathburn
Author
Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at brathburn@onlyinyourstate.com or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.
Minnesota is the birthplace of many favorite people. From Bob Dylan to Prince to Charles Schultz to Judy Garland, there have been countless musicians, actors, and artists with roots in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. But our state is the birthplace to many other things as well. Many common objects were invented right here in Minnesota. One of the most iconic is a cereal brand that has been around since the 1920s. The popular cereal Wheaties were invented in Minneapolis, and you can still visit the place where they were created today. Read on below to learn more about the history of this Minnesota invention.
Minneapolis has a rich milling history that goes back to the 1800s. The history of Wheaties cereal starts in 1856 when the Minneapolis Milling Company was founded. In 1887, the company's name changed to Washburn-Crosby.
The company was not without its disasters, however. A devastating explosion and fire at the Washburn A Mill killed 18 workers and destroyed several buildings.
By 1880, a new Washburn A Mill was built. With better machinery, it was able to make even better flour. It was here that the now-famous Gold Medal flour was first milled.
It was also here — but many years later — that Wheaties found life. A doctor working for the company in 1924 dropped wheat gruel onto a hot stove to create a crispy flake.
The company worked to perfect the cereal, going through many names in the process, from Nutties to Gold Medal Wheat Flakes, before landing on Wheaties.
The famous cereal soon became the Breakfast of Champions. Four years later, Washburn-Crosby became General Mills. Countless athletes have graced the company's Wheaties boxes over the years, and the cereal and its boxes and slogans became iconic.
The new Washburn A Mill was shut down in 1965. But the city has worked to preserve the ruins. Archaeological surveys were completed, and work was done to make the area safe after a 1991 fire.
Today, you can still visit the place where so many iconic products were created. People can visit the Mill Ruins Park and Mill City Museum to take a look at the grounds where much of the city's early history was determined.
You can look at old equipment, take in the architecture of the abandoned mill, and learn about General Mills and its history and products. It is a fascinating step back in time!
Mill Ruins Park and the Mill City Museum are wonderful ways to look back at Minneapolis history. And as the company where so many iconic brands, including Wheaties, were invented, it’s a nostalgic trip back in time. Have you ever visited? Next, take a look at our article about how Tonka Trucks were invented in Minnesota.
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