The table below lists certain important dates in history, and songs in the songbook associated with them, as well as references to the songs (by page to the printed songbook or by link to the relevant spot on the web page or CD-ROM)
Year |
Event |
Song |
Reference |
Recording |
| 1585 | Sir Walter Raleigh attempts to found a colony at Roanoke — the first English colony in what is now the United States. It fails. | The Merry Golden Tree | HTML Page | Play MP3 |
| 1759 | James Wolfe conquers Quebec, bringing Canada (and part of Minnesota) into the British Empire | Brave Wolfe | Songbook, p. 8 | Play MP3 by Curtis & Loretta |
| 1775 | Revolutionary War begins | Old Granny Wales | Songbook, p. 9 | Play MP3 |
| 1798 | The 1798 Irish revolt fails, resulting in many executions and some emigration | The Croppy Boy | HTML Page | Play MP3 |
| 1801, 1803 |
In 1803, Thomas Jefferson, president since 1801, agrees to the Louisiana Purchase from France | Jefferson and Liberty | Songbook, p. 13 | Play MP3 |
| 1813 | Battle of Lake Erie gives the Americans command of that lake, and in effect of the whole Great Lakes | James Bird | Songbook, p. 15 | |
| 1814 | Battle of Lundy’s Lane. Americans fail in their last attempt to conquer Canada, but Winfield Scott adds to his reputation | Billie Johnson of Lundy’s Lane | Songbook, p. 14 | Play MP3 |
| 1815 | Final defeat of Napoleon | Boney | Songbook, p. 12 | Play MP3 |
| 1820 | Founding of Fort Snelling, which will become the primary miltary United States military post in the Upper Midwest, replacing Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien. Much of the population of the latter moves west. | The Maid of Prairie du Chien | Songbook, p. 19 | Play MP3 by Curtis & Loretta * Play MP3 by RW |
| 1821 | Death of Napoleon on Saint Helena | Boney on the Isle of Saint Helena | HTML Page | Play MP3 |
| 1844- 1849 |
Irish potato famine and 1849 rebellion inspires a wave of Irish immigration. | Skibbereen | Songbook, p. 44 | Play MP3 |
| 1845- 1849 |
Presidency of James K. Polk. Mexican War. Santa Anna President of Mexico (neither for the first nor the last time). | Santy Anno | HTML Page | Play MP3 |
| 1849 | Minnesota becomes a Territory | |||
| 1849 | Gold Rush. | The Banks of Sacramento | HTML page | Play MP3 |
| 1850 | Height of the search for Sir John Franklin, lost in the quest for the Northwest Passage | Lord Franklin | HTML Page | Play MP3 |
| 1853 | Ole Bull’s Norwegian colony at Oleana starts to fall apart, with many inhabitants moving to Minnesota and Wisconsin | Oleana | Songbook, p. 45 | Play MP3 by Ross Sutter |
| 1855 | First “Show Boat” comes up the Mississippi to Saint Paul | Dance, Boatman, Dance | Songbook, p. 27 | Play MP3 |
| 1857 | Dred Scott decision reaffirms that slaves are property, and can be transported against their will from place to place | Darling Nelly Gray | Songbook, p. 30 | Play MP3 by Curtis and Loretta |
| 1858 | Minnesota Statehood | |||
| 1860 | Loss of the Lady Elgin, one of the greatest Great Lakes tragedies, costing the life of one of the first captains through the “Soo” passage from Lake Superior to the lower lakes | Lost on the Lady Elgin | Songbook, p. 29 | |
| 1860 | “The British/North America Fight:” The Heenan/Sayers boxing match | Heenan and Sayers | HTML Page | |
| 1860 | Abraham Lincoln receives Minnesota’s first electoral votes on his way to becoming the first Republican president | Lincoln and Liberty | Songbook, p. 30 | Play MP3 by Curtis and Loretta |
| 1861 | First Minnesota Regiment formed. | First Minnesota Song | Songbook, p. 34 | Play MP3 |
| 1862 | Battle of Hampton Roads. The Cumberland and Congress sunk; Virginia fights the Monitor | The Cumberland’s Crew | HTML Page | Play MP3 |
| 1862 | Civil War casualties explode at battles such as Shiloh and Antietam. | When This Cruel War Is Over | Songbook, p. 36 | Play MP3 by Curtis and Loretta * Play MP3 by RW |
| 1862 | Homestead Act passed. Western lands made available at low prices. | Uncle Sam’s Farm | Songbook, p. 42 | Play MP3 by Curtis and Loretta |
| 1863 | Battle of Gettysburg. First Minnesota sacrificed. | The Last Fierce Charge | HTML Page | |
| 1864 | Sherman marches to the sea. | Marching Through Georgia | Songbook, p. 35 | Play MP3 |
| 1876 | Northfield Bank Robbery by the James Gang, Younger Brothers, and others | Cole Younger | Songbook, p. 68 | Play MP3 |
| 1878 | Death of James Phalen in a logjam on Canada’s Mississippi Rive | James Whalen | HTML Page | Play MP3 by Brian Miller |
| 1882 | Death of Northfield robber Jesse James | Jesse James | Songbook, p. 67 | Play MP3 by Curtis and Loretta |
| 1885 | Burning of the river steamboat The City of Bayou Sara | The Bayou Sara | HTML Page | Play MP3 |
| 1894- 1895 |
Murder of Minneapolis resident Kitty Ging and execution of Harry Hayward for the crime. | The Harry Hayward Song | Songbook, p. 69 |
The Minnesota Heritage Songbook 