From the founding of Mankato in 1852 to today, this area on the bank of the Minnesota River has served as the birthplace of industrial and commercial development in Mankato.

By the turn of the last century, Mankato saw increased industrial expansion that included large manufacturing plants like foundries, flour mills, knitting mills, quarries, a bottling plant, breweries, tractor and farm equipment plants, a meat processing plant and the famous carp packing plant. Steamboat and railroad transportation allowed the convergence of manufacturing, technology and distribution, not only for Mankato but for the world. This area also served as the hub for power - electricity, gas and oil distribution - for the community; as well as a retail marketplace for the greater Mankato area. Today we celebrate the captains of industry who founded, developed and built this community.

Researched and written by the Blue Earth County Historical Society, 2009