Faribault History

The city of Faribault is built along the banks of the Straight and Cannon Rivers, two tributaries that played a vital role in our city’s early development.

These rivers, along with the opportunity to trade fur with the Dakota Sioux Indians are what brought Alexander Faribault to this region in 1826. Faribault built a log cabin and established a fur trading post at the foot of the Cannon River. In 1844 Faribault moved the post to a location where the Straight River flows into the Cannon, the present site of the City of Faribault.

In 1853 Faribault built the first frame house in Rice County for $4,000.00. Now known as the Alexander Faribault House, it still stands in it’s original location and is open for tours.

Being a generous man, Alexander Faribault provided the land and funds for the first school and church, two mills and the first manufacturing facilities. Settlers were soon attracted to this booming city, later named the Rice County Seat. Rice County was named for Henry Rice, one of Minnesota’s first two Senators.

Faribault reviews its history with pride, boasting the oldest frame house in Southern Minnesota and the Younger brothers trial. Faribault is home to the world famous “Tilt-A-Whirl”, Faribault Woolen Mills, Faribault Foods Butter Kernel vegetables and Bruce Smith, Minnesota’s only Heisman Trophy winner.

Faribault is home to Shattuck-St. Mary’s School and the Minnesota State Academies for the Blind and Deaf. These historic and beautiful schools can be found within blocks of each other and the historic downtown, which features distinctive architecture of the turn of the last century.