The gradual accumulation of knowledge about Minnesota's patterned peatlands over the past century is a fascinating story in the history of the science of ecology. Minnesota has more peat than any other state except Alaska, and these peatlands exhibit one of the most remarkable displays of the complex adjustment of living organisms to their environment. The parallel growth of an appreciation of the complexity of peatland ecosystems and of the importance of preserving at least the best of each peatland type is an equally fascinating chapter in the expansion of environmental awareness in the United States. Proposals to mine the peat for energy, combined with timber and mineral interest, stimulated an ambitious program of scientific study as well as debate over the peatlands' future. Research conducted during the past decade has unraveled many secrets of this intricate ecosystem - a unique ecosystem because it has been so little altered by human action since its development thousands of years ago. The Patterned Peatlands of Minnesota is a significant contribution to the current understanding of the ecology, hydrology, and socioeconomic history of Minnesota peatlands, and provides important perspectives for both development and preservation of peatlands wherever they may occur.