2015
Minnesota State Fair
History
Walking Tour
THREE
NEW
STOPS!
WELCOME TO THE
MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.
This History Walking Tour was developed by the Minnesota
State Fair Foundation and the Minnesota Historical Society.
It’s your guide to some of the State Fair’s most historically
significant spots.
Complete eight stops and earn a prize!
• Start your tour at any of the 12 stops.
• Use the map on the last page of this brochure to find your way.
• Use the hole punch at each stop to punch out the
corresponding number in your brochure.
• Once you’ve punched each stop, bring your brochure to the
J.V. Bailey House or the Minnesota Historical Society booth in
the Education Building by 6 pm.
• Complete 8 or more stops and collect a free prize—
PLUS the added bonus of walking approximately 2 miles!
Hear more great Fair history!
Experience Minnesota State Fair audio, with lots of great
history, stories, and facts about other places around the fair.
Begin by scanning the QR code below or by entering
mnhs.org/tours/statefair into your mobile browser.
Don’t use a smartphone? Simply dial 1-877-411-4123 and follow
the prompts for the same audio content.
Transportation and the
Streetcar Arch
Streetcar Arch Installed 1934
Then: It’s hard to believe, but horses and mules were once used
as a mode of transportation to the State Fair. By the 1890s, a
different type of horsepower took over: trains and streetcars.
The railway allowed companies such as Royal American Shows
to unload a 90-car train filled with midway attractions at the
fair. Streetcars brought visitors into the heart of the fairgrounds.
In 1934, those tracks were shortened, introducing a new gate
entrance and steel arch inscribed with “State Fair” to welcome
guests fresh off the streetcar rails. Streetcar transportation
remained popular until the ’50s when its usage declined with a
new mode of public transportation: the bus.
Now: Fair visitors arrive at the fair by bus, car or bicycle.
Although the Royal American Shows train doesn’t chug into
the State Fair station anymore, a red and yellow train car from
a bygone era sits in the West End Market next to the Transit
Hub. Another treasure from the old railroad days can be
seen overhead by the History & Heritage Center: the restored
Streetcar Arch.
Distance from the Streetcar Arch to the Skyride:
Approximately .04 miles
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Skyride
Installed 1964
Then: The installation of the Skyride was right in step with
the Minnesota State Fair’s 1964 theme: “Pageant of Midwest
Progress.” Created by Von Roll, the manufacturer of the New
York World’s Fair Skyride, this Swiss machinery has been a hit
with visitors for more than half a century. Since 1964,
100 skyrides have been installed across the country and as of
2008, only 10 remain operational.
Now: Today, many amusement parks have removed their
skyrides due to maintenance costs. Yet the Minnesota
State Fair Skyride continues to stand tall with lines of ticket
buyers waiting to take the 70-ft.-high trip running from the
Agriculture-Horticulture building to an area near the West End
Market. With a bird’s-eye view of the fairgrounds, State Fair
guests are suspended in the air like a gondola ride in the Alps.
Distance from the Skyride to the Horse Barn:
Approximately .2 miles
02
Horse Barn
Built 1937
Then: The Horse Barn dates back to 1937 and was built by the
Works Progress Administration (WPA), a federal program that
created jobs for people during the Great Depression. Typical
of WPA architecture, the poured-concrete and steel barn is
ornamented with relief sculptures above the windows. The
imagery beautifully reflects what takes place inside
the building; with 900 stalls, it holds the smallest pony to the
largest draft horse.
Now: Visitors are encouraged to stop in to meet and learn
about horses. The Horse Barn features the “Aisle of Breeds”
and EquiMania!™, an award-winning program that focuses on
equine education. It has been viewed by more than a million
visitors since 2010.
Distance from the Horse Barn to the DNR Building:
Approximately .2 miles
DNR Building
Built 1934
Then: The early 1900s brought a new exhibit: an aquarium
full of live native fish. The popular exhibit moved about the
fairgrounds without a permanent location until 1934, when the
Department of Conservation log cabin was built. Visitors could
even see wolves, coyotes and bears there. When the name
changed to the Department of Natural Resources in 1971, the fair
revitalized the exhibit, turning the formal south lawn garden
and fountain into wetlands and a mesmerizing fish pond.
Now: Each year, the exhibit educates over 500,000 guests about
stewardship of our natural resources in the areas of outdoor
recreation, conservation and sustainable commercial use.
Current topics include hunting regulations, protection against
invasive species, and fire safety with Smokey Bear.
Distance from the DNR Building to the
Dairy Building:
Approximately .3 miles
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J.V. Bailey House
Built 1911, restored 2006
Then: The State Fair’s green thumbs once “planted themselves”
at the J.V. Bailey House. Greenhouse superintendents and
grounds-keepers resided at the 1911 American foursquare-style
home from 1916-2004. The house is named for J.V. Bailey,
founder of Bailey Nurseries, Agricultural Society Superintendent
of Horticulture (1912-1932) and Board Member (1924-1934).
Dairy Building
Built 1967, occupied by dairy products in 1968
Then: The Fine Arts Center, built in 1907, was the original Dairy
Building. Standing 142 feet wide and 118 feet long, the Dairy
Building was said to be the largest fair ground dairy building
in the world. It contained a Milk and Dairy Bar, and for a time a
Land O’ Lakes butter label printing and wrapping machine. In
1968 the Midwest Dairy Association and other vendors moved
to a new and improved structure on the corner of Underwood
and Judson, with plenty of room to showcase Minnesota’s
flavorful dairy production!
Now: The Bailey House is home to the Minnesota State
Fair Foundation. Stop by to learn how you can support the
preservation of the Minnesota State Fair.
Distance from the J.V. Bailey House to the
Creative Activities Building:
Approximately .1 miles
Now: Today, the Dairy Building features educational exhibits
and the famous butter heads. Butter sculptures have been
featured at the Minnesota State Fair for more than a century.
In 1910, a stellar attraction to the Dairy Building was the
life-sized sculpture of Teddy Roosevelt! Today, the morning
after the crowning of Princess Kay of the Milky Way, visitors
gather to watch Princess Kay and her court get sculpted in
90-pound blocks of butter. Fair visitors often leave the Dairy
Building with the all-important chocolate or strawberry
milkshake in hand.
Distance from the Dairy Building to the
J.V. Bailey House: Approximately .1 miles
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06
Machinery Hill
1909
Creative Activities Building
Built 1971
Then: The original building on this site was erected in 1904 to
serve as a manufacturer’s building. Just a few years later, it
was converted to the Woman’s Building, housing commercial
exhibits for education, culture, art, music, and homemaking
activities. The Woman’s Building was torn down in 1970, and
replaced by the Creative Activities Building.
Now: The Creative Activities building showcases entries in
over 1,200 competitions, from needlework and handcrafts to
baking and canning. In 2014, over 2,000 participants exhibited
7,500 items.
Then: Farm implements have been a part of the State Fair
since its beginning. And for more than 100 years, Minnesota
farmers have found the latest and greatest in agricultural
equipment atop Machinery Hill. In its prime, nearly 80 acres
displayed farm implements and vehicles that gave visitors
a glimpse into the future of farming. Countless kids were in
awe of the giant tractors and combines! In 1957, there was
a surprise attraction—two young bison at the Deere and
Webber Co. exhibit!
Now: New agricultural and industrial equipment still find
a home on Machinery Hill. Many State Fair attendees pay
a special visit to Machinery Hill for the Old Iron Show,
showcasing antique machinery including the renowned John
Deere products. Souvenirs such as John Deere toys and hats
bring the memories of Machinery Hill home. The Hill now
features the Little Farm Hands exhibit, a fun place for kids to
learn about agriculture from the field to the grocery store.
Distance from Machinery Hill to Food at the Fair:
Approximately .4 miles
Distance from the Creative Activities Building to
Machinery Hill:
Approximately .3 miles
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Food at the Fair
Since the Beginning of the Fair
Then: In the early days, if you wanted a full meal at the fair, you
had to bring your own. The first foods available for purchase
included peanuts, watermelon, popcorn, and lemonade. Around
the 1900s, churches started pitching tents for sit-down meals, such
as roast chicken and gravy, prepared at home and transported to
the fair. After WWII, fair visitors were introduced to foods from
around the world, like falafel and chow mein.
Now: Eating is an all-day activity. Visitors check off their annual
must-haves like corn dogs, mini donuts and cheese curds, then try
the most outrageous additions, such as deep fried candy bars and
bacon ice cream. Food on-a-stick has become synonymous with
the State Fair, and with good reason. With portable versions of
Key Lime pie, deep fried lobster, walleye or even tater tot hot dish,
it’s much easier to eat on the go!
Distance from Food at the Fair to Ye Old Mill:
Approximately .1 miles
Ye Old Mill
Opened 1915
Then: This fair landmark hearkens back to tunnel rides with
“scenic grottoes” popularized in the 1880s. John H. Keenan and the
Philadelphia Toboggan Co. built this timeless masterpiece, which is
the oldest concession on the fairgrounds. Its first year featured ten
wooden boats that fair visitors could ride in for a mere 10 cents a
person. Boats carried visitors along a romantic waterway, powered
by a 40 horsepower engine that turned the waterwheel. The water
flows through a 17 inch-deep, 1,300-foot long channel.
Now: Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Ye Old Mill, in its original
building, is still managed by the Keenan family, and is said to
“maintain the same gentle appeal that it had in 1915, when
couples first sluiced along its dark waterway.” Over time it
became a popular destination for first dates and even marriage
proposals. Every year, local artist contributions are painted along
the waterway to maintain the appeal, and many famous people—
from Hubert Humphrey, Sonny and Cher and Janet Jackson to
Kevin Garnett—have floated through the nation’s oldest existing
Tunnel of Love.
Distance from Ye Old Mill to Politics at the Fair:
Approximately .1 miles
09
10
Politics at the Fair
1856-Present
Then: Politics and the Minnesota State Fair have been
intertwined from the very beginning. Back in 1856, Governor
Alexander Ramsey opened the second territorial fair, held at
Fort Snelling, with a rousing speech that promoted agriculture.
In 1901, thousands of Minnesotans heard Theodore Roosevelt
utter the famous line “Speak softly and carry a big stick,”
in the presentation that became known as “The Minnesota
Speech.” In fact, political speeches were the main event at the
fair until the 1920s when political speechifying took a backseat
to more thrilling offerings at the fair, like train wrecks and
airplane aerobatics.
Now: Though you won’t hear a lot of formal speeches
anymore, politics remain prominent at the Great Minnesota
Get-Together. Every year you can spot politicos rubbing elbows
with voters or campaigning for upcoming elections. The fair
gives the public a chance to address politicians face-to-face
with ideas, concerns or advice.
Distance from Politics at the Fair to Media at the Fair:
Approximately .1 miles
Media at the Fair
Since the Beginning of the Fair
Then: For more than a century, newspapers were the main
source of State Fair news. From advertisements about when the
fair would begin, to lists of premiums, one could read up on all
the latest fair headlines. By the 1920s, radio stations began to
broadcast live from the fairgrounds too. In the 1950s, television
became mainstay, completing this media melting pot.
Now: Print, radio, and television media still have a presence
at the fair. Newspapers cover State Fair stories throughout the
12-day run of the fair. Radio remains a constant medium, hosting
live broadcasts and entertainment to the delight of passersby.
Television is a fundamental part of the State Fair experience too,
as news anchors mingle with crowds and report live from the fair
multiple times each day. Social media has also become integral
to getting the word out about the Great Minnesota Get-Together
and interacting with fair fans.
Distance from Media at the Fair to the Streetcar Arch:
Approximately .1 miles
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After completing the tour, remember to pick
up your prize at either the J.V. Bailey House or
Minnesota Historical Society booth, located in the
front center aisle of the Education Building.
Minnesota State Fair History
Walking Tour Map
Don’t miss
History-on-a-Schtick,
9:30 am daily on the
Schell’s Stage at the
Schilling Amphitheater,
and enjoy a vaudevillian
romp through Minnesota’s
past, with sing-alongs,
trivia and prizes!
AgStar Arena
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History
Walking Tour
Punch Out
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FAN
Central
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MNHS Booth
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LIKE STATE FAIR
HISTORY? VISIT...
History & Heritage Center:
West End Market at the State Fairgrounds
Share your State Fair memories:
http://bit.ly/1dvtAce
Minnesota State Fair Online Archives:
msffoundation.org
The Minnesota State Fair Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
that preserves and improves State Fair buildings, grounds and
educational experiences.
msffoundation.org
Established in 1849, the Minnesota Historical Society preserves and shares
Minnesota history through museum exhibits, historic sites, libraries and
collections, educational programs and book publishing.
mnhs.org
Made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund,
through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008.