3M was originally named Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company.
The company was founded in 1902 by five investors in Two Harbors, Minnesota, to mine corundum. When the mineral proved unsuitable for the intended industrial use, the business shifted toward abrasives and other manufactured products.
The name 3M is derived from the initials of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing. The company later became famous for research-driven consumer and industrial products, including Scotch Tape, Post-it Notes, and reflective materials. Scotch Tape and Post-it Notes are separate products and should not be treated as the same invention.
3M’s history illustrates how a failed mining venture transformed into a diversified technology and manufacturing company. Its corporate headquarters later moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota.