Far north of where the Mississippi River pours into the Gulf of Mexico, it finds its headwaters in the wooded Lake Itasca. From there, it winds downstream, picking up width and speed until it turns into the force of God that defines the lands around it. It's during this early stage that the Old Man River cuts through the Twin Cities - Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

Minneapolis began as land on a military base. Saint Paul was a collection of small villages. Saint Paul is the last city in the East, they say, and Minneapolis is the first city in the West. Minneapolis styles itself with urban renewal and modern architecture while Saint Paul maintains a classic Victorian style. The cities may be split physically by the river and their many differences, but their inexorable ties to one another have grown and flourished, developing a rich history and culture forged by freezing temperatures. Together they share the 7-time champion Golden Gophers, the newly founded Vikings, and the aptly named Twins, as well as economic prosperity and a strong hold over state politics.

Even in the Minnesota cold, the heated rivalry between the two cities has defined their histories to the point of competitive cathedral building, architectural blacklisting, and even the kidnapping of census takers to prevent one city from being deemed larger than the other. Yet today, the internal troubles of each city is the focus of much concern. Both cities contend with unofficial segregation and deep roots of discrimination, despite their liberal tendencies. Both cities struggle with declining populations and labor disputes. Both cities pour effort into distinguishing themselves among the manufacturing metropolises of the Midwest who so often command the attention of America.

Still, through the blizzards and tornadoes, the strikes and the riots, the decline of industry and the tensions of the Cold War, Minneapolis-Saint Paul endures and innovates. Each night, the people can look up to the sky, pick out the brightness of the North Star, and know that no matter what the future has in store, the Twin Cities will be ready to challenge whatever comes.