Local writer’s book explores feminist trailblazer who named Eden Prairie

Vicki Pellar Price didn’t set out to rewrite history when she moved to Eden Prairie from California years ago. But the natural beauty of the area – and its ties to 19th-century author Elizabeth Fries Ellet – set her on a path she couldn’t ignore.

Ellet, who coined the name “Eden Prairie” in 1853 after likening the blooming prairies along the Minnesota River to the Garden of Eden during a visit to the area, became more than a historical curiosity to Price. She became a personal mission.

Now, after years of meticulous research, Price has written “The Indomitable Elizabeth Fries Ellet – Feminist: Defining the Historical Truth of the Nineteenth Century.” Released in October by Calumet Editions under its Wisdom Editions imprint, Price says the book reclaims Ellet’s legacy as a pioneering feminist and historian whose contributions were overshadowed by the biases of her male contemporaries.

“This was more than just a project for me,” Price said. “Elizabeth wasn’t who her (contemporary) critics – like Edgar Allan Poe (the renowned poet and writer) and Rufus Griswold (a literary critic and anthologist) – made her out to be. I needed to understand who she really was. And after years of research, I discovered that their accounts of her were not just wrong; they were intentionally misleading.”

A personal connection to history

Price’s fascination with Ellet grew after she moved to Eden Prairie, relocating from California during the Halloween Blizzard of 1991. 

She learned that Ellet’s poetic descriptions of the area had inspired its name, and as her research deepened, she discovered a kindred spirit in the 19th-century author. Ellet’s 1853 book, “Summer Rambles in the West,” includes vivid portrayals of Minnesota’s natural beauty, along with accounts of her travels through other parts of the American west.

In her book’s prologue, Price notes that New York-born Ellet and her contemporaries reshaped women’s roles in the 19th century, challenging societal norms and fighting for independence – an effort that still resonates today.

“When I first came here, I felt like I was new to this place – just like Elizabeth must have felt when she visited these same landscapes (in 1853),” Price said. “It was a connection that kept growing the more I learned about her.”

That connection led Price to propose the Elizabeth Fries Ellet Interpretive Trail, established in 2007 at the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area, which overlooks the Minnesota River in Eden Prairie. The trail celebrates Ellet’s literary contributions and her poetic vision of the Minnesota landscape as a place of beauty and inspiration. Seven interpretive signs along the trail provide insight into the area’s history and natural habitat.

Currently, the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area is temporarily closed for trail improvements. According to the City of Eden Prairie, the park and its lower parking lot will remain closed through December while the work is completed.

As director of Writers Rising Up, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting writers who explore place, natural habitats, and wetlands, Price played a key role in bringing the trail to life.

Price detailed this effort in her 2023 book, “Ramblings From The Trail: Wet Feet, Soiled Dress, and Defining Historical Truth,” published in 2023. Serving as a guide to the interpretive trail, the book also explores Ellet’s expansive travels and vivid descriptions of the Minnesota Valley.

“‘Ramblings From The Trail'” is kind of a walking text (of the interpretive trail); it’s a book you’re supposed to put in your pocket and take with you when you go trailing,” Price said after that book was published. “Then the book becomes theirs. It’s not just my book; it’s their book.”

While that book focused on regional interest, Price’s latest work takes a broader approach, exploring Ellet’s historical significance and the societal challenges she faced.

“The more I learned, the more I realized how unfairly Ellet had been treated by history,” Price said. “Her male critics dismissed her, but she was so much more than they gave her credit for.”

Reclaiming a feminist visionary

In her book, Price depicts Ellet as a trailblazer who championed women’s roles in history when their contributions were often ignored.

“She was ahead of her time,” Price said. “She straddled two worlds – pushing for progress while maintaining her place in a society that often punished women for being outspoken.”

According to Price, Ellet’s three-volume work, “Women of the American Revolution,” highlighted women’s contributions to the Revolutionary War, shifting focus away from traditional male-centered narratives.

“Ellet was incredibly strategic,” Price said. “She aligned with women’s rights leaders like Lydia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, but she avoided being publicly labeled a feminist because it could have ended her career. Instead, she worked quietly to help women in dire situations – those institutionalized by abusive husbands or denied custody of their children.”

Contemporary parallels

For Price, Ellet’s story – she died in 1877 at the age of 58 – feels more relevant than ever.

“The parallels between her time and ours are striking,” she said. “The fight for women’s equality continues, and it’s ironic – and infuriating – that this book is being released during a time when women’s rights are again under attack.”

Price said the book has drawn interest from readers across the political spectrum, highlighting Ellet’s universal appeal. Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the publisher’s website, she hopes it will resonate beyond Eden Prairie.

“This isn’t just a local story,” she said. “Ellet’s legacy is part of a larger narrative about the resilience and contributions of women throughout history.”

While “The Indomitable Elizabeth Fries Ellet – Feminist” represents years of meticulous research and historical analysis, Price isn’t finished. With three more books in progress – including two young adult novels and a short story collection – she continues her commitment to uncovering and sharing compelling narratives.

“My joy comes from the writing,” Price has said. “Notoriety or recognition isn’t the goal – what matters is ensuring that women like Ellet are finally given their due.”