Mark J. Westpfahl's Avatar

Mark J. Westpfahl

@markjwestpfahl

M.Ed., History teacher, President #MCSS, MN State Capitol Preservation Commission, former ISD199 BoE, '20, '17, '16 MNToY Semifinalist, Gilder Lehrman 2020 MN History TOY & National Finalist

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06.08.2023
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Latest posts by Mark J. Westpfahl @markjwestpfahl

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What am I missing with all the penguins? Is it just that they think they're being funny? Are they saying penguins = the new lemmings? Is it code for something else? I'm genuinely curious.

25.01.2026 00:40 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Ahhhh, Minnesota! What a difference 6 months can make! If we hit -20Β°, it will be the coldest air temp we've had since 2019. #mnwx

22.01.2026 13:18 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Winter in Minnesota

β„πŸŒ²πŸŒ²| || 🦌 |πŸŒ²πŸŒ²πŸ‚
🦌🦌🌲| 🚘 || |❄❄❄
🌲🌲🌲| || πŸ•³οΈ |βš οΈβ„πŸ¦Š
β„πŸ¦ŒπŸŒ²| 🦌 || |πŸŒ²πŸŒ²β„
πŸŒ²πŸŒ²β˜ƒοΈ|🦌 || |❄⛷❄
❄❄❄| || |β„β„πŸŒ²
❄❄❄| πŸ•³οΈ || 🦌|β˜ƒοΈπŸŽ„πŸŒ²
πŸŒ²β„β„| || |πŸ πŸ’πŸ₯…
β„πŸŒ²πŸŒ²| || 🦌 |πŸŒ²πŸŒ²πŸ‚
🦌🦌🌲| 🚍 || |β„β„πŸ¦…
🌲🌲🌲| || πŸ•³οΈ |πŸ¦ƒβ„β„
β„πŸ¦ŒπŸŒ²| 🦌 || πŸ•³οΈ |🌲🌲🦌
πŸŒ²πŸŒ²β˜ƒοΈ|🦌 || |❄⛷❄

21.12.2025 15:21 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

What in the actual hell did I just listen to?!?!? I am seriously at a loss.

18.12.2025 02:21 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you. I wish we could have had an half an hour to talk about the Armour Gates and how historic preservation can be a positive for a community as opposed to being seen simply as a hindrance to "progress".

06.12.2025 04:42 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Arlington National Cemetery on December 5, 2025.

The snow made for a breathtaking experience as we honored those who are buried at our Nation's most hallowed ground.

06.12.2025 04:40 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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South St. Paul history teacher mourns demolition of stockyard landmark The Armour Gates that stood in South St. Paul for over a hundred years are coming down despite efforts to save them. Social studies teacher Mark Westpfahl got his students involved in the push for pre...

Here's the article from MPR News in my interview on Morning Edition about the now non-existent South St. Paul Armour Gates. You can also Listen to the full conversation by clicking the link at the top of the story. www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...

06.12.2025 02:07 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The former East Wing of the White House on Thursday, December 5, 2025.

04.12.2025 19:20 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Keeping with tradition, the #FlexSeating #LearningLounge has once again been redesigned as we start Trimester 2.

Try.
Be Kind.
Clean the room before you leave!

01.12.2025 12:40 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Storefronts in historic downtown Red Wing, Minnesota along the Mississippi River during the 24th Annual Red Wing Holiday Stroll.

29.11.2025 04:50 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Storefronts in historic downtown Red Wing, Minnesota along the Mississippi River during the 24th Annual Red Wing Holiday Stroll.

29.11.2025 04:47 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Just went outside and I'm happy to report that I did not see one mosquito.

26.11.2025 20:21 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The snow has arrived in South St. Paul, MN. #mnwx

26.11.2025 03:36 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Unfortunately, the mayor and city council were unwilling to work with country and state officials, along with residents and others to secure money through grants and legislation, MN Legacy Amendment funds, and other funding options.

26.11.2025 00:49 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Inside the south guard enclosure at the historic Armour Gates which has been boarded up for more than 40 years. The City of South St. Paul voted to tear them down rather than seek historic preservation that the community has been asking for for years.

26.11.2025 00:48 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1
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One of the last days of the historic Armour Gates in South St. Paul before they are torn down. 😞

25.11.2025 12:42 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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I forgot to share my year 17 school picture. Here it is.

24.11.2025 12:56 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Social Studies is important.
That's it.
That's the message.

20.11.2025 12:32 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Video: Colbert Recites the Gettysburg Address Stephen Colbert is among the celebrities who are encouraging Americans to memorize Lincoln's famous speech.

My annual reminder of @stephenathomes.bsky.social's rendition of the Gettysburg Address, originally delivered by Abraham Lincoln eight score and two years ago. www.nytimes.com/video/arts/t...

20.11.2025 01:27 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Future me in 2037 ~
Four score and seven years ago was four score and seven years after Lincoln said "Four score and seven years ago."

19.11.2025 12:38 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Good morning South St. Paul.

06.11.2025 12:50 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Beautiful sky this evening.

05.11.2025 02:20 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Election day 2025 is officially over. There are only 363 days until election day 2026, 727 days until election day 2027, and 1,098 until election day 2028.

05.11.2025 02:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

In the end, a petition with more than 2,500 signatures, countless people attending city council and work sessions, offers from the bricklayers union to help restore & preserve them, and calls from our country commissioner state rep & state senator to collaborate & save them were not enough.

04.11.2025 12:56 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The historic South St. Paul Armour Gates will be torn down per the 6-1 vote on Monday.

04.11.2025 11:58 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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I feel these could make for fun puzzles. 🍁

02.11.2025 19:48 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This evening's will be the last sunset after 6pm in SSP until March 1. In fact, all of our sunsets from tomorrow through January 17 will occur in the 4 o'clock hour.

01.11.2025 13:34 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Happy Halloween πŸŽƒ πŸ‘»

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31.10.2025 11:12 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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ToY nomination form - Education Minnesota 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the YearNomination Form Eligibility requirements Nominees must teach in a public or nonpublic Pre-K through 12th-grade school, ECFE or Adult Basic Education program, working ...

I've nominated 2 sensational educators for Minnesota Teacher of the Year. The deadline to submit is Nov 1.

Our communities and schools have so many amazing teachers that create engaging opportunities for our children. Honor your colleague, neighbor, or child's favorite teacher. #MNToY

edmn.me/toy

30.10.2025 22:35 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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White House fires commission charged with advising the president on design as Trump pushes construction projects | CNN Politics The White House has fired all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency charged with advising the president, Congress and the city of Washington, DC, on β€œmatters of des...

The commission was established by Congress in 1910 β€œto advise the federal government on matters pertaining to the arts and national symbols, and to guide the architectural development of Washington, D.C."
www.cnn.com/2025/10/28/p...

29.10.2025 04:09 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0