1673. Louis Joliet, accompanied by Father James Marquette, discovered the Mississippi river.
1674. Father Marquette coasted Lake Michigan, from Green Bay, by Milwaukee, to the site of the present city of Chicago.
1679. The Griffin, a schooner built by La Salle, and the first to make a voyage of the lakes above Niagara, arrived at the mouth of Green bay.
Capt. Duluth held a council, and concluded a peace with the natives of Lake Superior.
1680. About the first of May Father Louis Hennepin arrived at Mille Lacs, as prisoner of a Dakotah war party, who captured him at Lake Pepin, while on his way up the Mississippi. He remained at Mille Lacs several months. On his return homeward, after being released, he discovered the falls, which he named for his patron saint, Anthony of Padua. His book, published after his return to Europe, is the first printed account of Minnesota.
1683. Le Sueur made a voyage of the Fog and Wisconsin rivers to the Mississippi.
1688. Nicholas Perrot first planted the cross and arms of France on the soil of Minnesota, and first laid formal claim to the country for France. He built a fort on Lake Pepin, near Lake City.
1695. Le Sueur built a fort on Isle Pelee, in the Mississippi, below Prescott.
1700. Le Sueur established Fort L'Huillier, on the Blue Earth river (near the mouth of the Le Sueur), and first supplied the Sioux with firearms.
1716. Le Louvigny's battle with the Fox Indians at Butte des Morts.