13 Minnesota Urban Legends That People Still Believe
Minnesota has a lot of urban legends that have been passed around from generation to generation. Some people still believe these stories about the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Urban legends are a great way to scare someone around a campfire, but there's something about the possibility of it being true that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
I was born and raised in Minnesota and I love a good ghost and monster story. There's just something about the idea of being scared that gets me excited and gives me goosebumps at the same time.
Let's dive in to see which urban legends of Minnesota people still believe in:
Bigfoot
This might be one of my favorite ones. A lot of people believe there are sasquatches out there, and some people even believe they exist right here in Minnesota. There have many reports of sightings over the years. Remer, Minnesota is even noted as 'Home of Bigfoot'. The city even has a community festival called 'Bigfoot Days'. We may never truly know if this big hairy creature exists, but it could be out there.
Duck On Head Law
This one gets recycled every year on social media. Is it truly illegal to cross the Minnesota-Wisconsin border with a duck on your head? According to Minnesota Lawyer, they say that the law is false and it was a gross misreading of Minnesota Statutes 325F.37. However, many people think this was a "crazy Minnesota law".
Kensington Runestone
Back in 1898 in Central Minnesota, a slab of stone covered in runes was discovered by Olaf Ohman. It was said to be left by Scandinavian explorers, however, now it is said to be an old 19th-century hoax.
Glensheen Mansion Is Haunted
Some say Glensheen is the most haunted house in Minnesota, and it's right here in Duluth. One morning (in 1977), Elizabeth Congdon who inherited the mansion from her father was found murdered in her bed. Her nurse, Velma Pietila's body was found laying on the staircase. Screams and moaning are often heard after hours and some have even seen a white lady dressed in period clothing throughout the mansion.
Dead Man's Trail
Located in Thief River Falls, this trail has a story of tragedy. Legend has is that while on the trail, a Native American woman's baby was carried away by the nearby rushing river. The baby then, unfortunately, fell over the falls onto the rocks below. It was said the woman then cursed the river. Ever since, people have claimed to see her apparition appear wandering the trail, and some have heard faint crying.
Duluth East's Haunted Little Theatre
Now located in Ordean East Middle School in Duluth (the old East High School building) is home to a possible haunting. Some believe a drama director was writing a play and before he finished it, he fell off the balcony and died. No one knew about the play until one day, it randomly showed up on an English teacher's desk with a note on old East High School stationery that read "please perform this" signed with the initials RC. The play was never performed, but some students heard noises and felt a cold presence in the theatre.
The Grey Cloud Island White Truck
Grey Cloud Island is a historic site in Washington County. There are stories of people being followed in an older white truck before mysteriously disappearing. Some also see a translucent-looking man wearing a flannel and holding a hunting rifle in the area. Could be your typical Minnesotan, but the translucent part is what gets me.
Denfeld High School's Historic Haunted theatre
I know I have a lot of Duluth stories on here, but I'm a hometown kid. I graduated in '09 and I will admit, it gets a little creepy in that auditorium. Some say a teacher was on the balcony of the auditorium and fell to his death. They say he's still around and will make noise and mess with stuff off-stage.
There are also rumors that some kids committed suicide under the stage.
I've never personally experienced anything, but the one time I went below the stage I had that eerie feeling I was being watched. I never went down there again and I still get the chills just thinking about the feeling I got.
The Wendigo
One of Minnesota's most famous Urban Legends. Originating from Native American legend, the Wendigo is said to be a cannibalistic demonic half-beast as told by the Algonquian peoples along the Atlantic coast of the United States and Canada. Myths and Folklore wiki went on to say the legend lends its name to the disputed modern medical term wendigo psychosis, which is supposed to be a culture-bound disorder. The name also loosely translates to "evil spirit that devours mankind".
Nopeming Sanitorium
Stories of Nopeming has since been twisted from being an insane asylum (it wasn't) to having unmarked graves on the property.
The Sanitarium throughout the decades was home to the ill and elderly. The doors opened up in 1912 for tuberculosis patients, and many patients died from the deadly disease.
Both 'Ghost Adventures' and Duluth Paranormal Society have investigated the Sanitarium. Many believe the place to still be haunted.
Pepie The Lake Serpent
Similar to the Loch Ness Monster, people believe that a serpent-like creature lurks in the shadowy depths of Lake Pepin near Lake City, Minnesota. Jeanne Ryan even believes there could be something lurking in Lake Superior.
The Haunted Ship Of Duluth
It is said that several spirits claim the ship as The William A. Irvin as their home. The captain of the ship is said to still do his patrols, and mainly stays in the captain's chair overlooking his beautiful ship. If you had the chance to tour the Captain's quarters, you definitely get a weird vibe.
In 1964 a boiler tube broke and exploded killing William Wouri instantly. Some say he is still on board. A few Octobers ago, I got to tag along with the Duluth Paranormal Society to catch some ghostly evidence on the ship. When we went down to the boiler room for an EVP session, I got an experience I will never forget.
The Legend Of The Missing Briefcase
This legend even got a movie made about it. Remember when the Cohens made that movie called 'Fargo' with the terrible-sounding Minnesotan accents? Legend has it that some people believed that 'Fargo' was based on a true story. It had people from all over going up and down the highway looking for a briefcase full of money. Check out a trailer for the movie below: