Minnesota’s identity is deeply tied to its logging history, river towns, and larger-than-life folklore—and no figure represents that better than Paul Bunyan. While Paul Bunyan is a mythical character, his story is closely connected to real places along the Mississippi River, including the historic village of Saint Anthony, one of the earliest and most important industrial centers in Minnesota.
Here’s how the legend of Paul Bunyan connects to Saint Anthony’s past and why the story still matters today.
Paul Bunyan is a legendary lumberjack said to be so large he created lakes with his footsteps and carved riverbeds by dragging his axe. His companion, Babe the Blue Ox, is just as famous, symbolizing strength, endurance, and the rugged spirit of early America.
The stories of Paul Bunyan originated in the late 1800s among loggers working in the Great Lakes region, particularly Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. These tall tales were passed along in camps as a way to build camaraderie, explain the massive landscape, and celebrate the difficult, dangerous work of logging.
More about the origins of Paul Bunyan can be found through the Minnesota Historical Society:
https://www.mnhs.org
Before Minneapolis existed as we know it today, Saint Anthony was a separate village located on the east bank of the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls. The falls were the only natural waterfall on the Mississippi River, making the area a critical power source for sawmills and flour mills.
Throughout the mid-1800s, Saint Anthony became a hub for lumber processing. Logs cut in northern Minnesota forests were floated downriver and milled at the falls, fueling construction and economic growth across the region.
You can explore more about Saint Anthony Falls and its history here:
https://www.nps.gov/miss/learn/historyculture/saint-anthony-falls.htm
While Paul Bunyan himself is fictional, his stories are rooted in the real experiences of loggers whose work directly supported places like Saint Anthony. The massive logs that “Paul Bunyan-sized” strength was said to handle were very real, and many passed through Saint Anthony on their way to becoming homes, railroads, and businesses.
In this way, Saint Anthony represents the real-world setting behind the myth—where nature, labor, and industry converged. The falls powered the sawmills, the Mississippi moved the timber, and the workers created the stories that became legend.
The folklore helped turn hard labor into shared identity, and Saint Anthony was one of the places where that identity took shape.
Over time, Saint Anthony was incorporated into Minneapolis, and the lumber era gave way to flour milling, followed by modern urban development. Still, the village’s name lives on, and its influence remains visible in the riverfront, historic buildings, and preserved landmarks.
Today, the Village of Saint Anthony (now the City of Saint Anthony Village) carries forward a different legacy—quiet neighborhoods, strong community ties, and proximity to the same river that once powered Minnesota’s early economy.
More about Saint Anthony Village today can be found here:
https://www.saintanthonymn.gov
Paul Bunyan symbolizes more than folklore; he represents the scale of effort required to build Minnesota. Saint Anthony represents the place where that effort turned into progress. Together, they tell a story of imagination grounded in real geography, real labor, and real communities.
Understanding this connection adds depth to Saint Anthony’s identity and highlights why the area remains an important part of Minnesota’s story—even today.
The legend of Paul Bunyan may be larger than life, but its roots are firmly planted in Minnesota’s river towns and logging communities. Saint Anthony stands as one of those foundational places—where water power, timber, and human effort shaped the state’s future.
Whether you’re walking near the Mississippi River or living in Saint Anthony Village today, you’re standing in a place where history and folklore meet.