Fair History . 1860: State Fair held at Fort Snelling 145 Years. Today's Item of the Day is the Itasca State Park headwaters sign used from 1975 - … On this day in 1891 Itasca State Park was established, making it the first state park in Minnesota. Since its founding in 1859, the Minnesota State Fair had been an essential yearly tradition in the agricultural state. 1) The answer is D—1859. The gathering is a Minnesota tradition that has more than earned its nickname, "The Great Minnesota Get-Together." 1885: The first year on the permanent fairgrounds 130 Years. Fair food is one of the main attractions at the more-than-150-year-running Minnesota State Fair, and for good reason.This year, more than 150,000 people will filter through the event each day (it holds the record for daily attendance) as the Midwest shows off bold dishes like candied bacon donut sliders, cheesy french onion monkey bread, paneer on a spear, and 30 other wild creations. The Minnesota State Fair is a yearly celebration of agriculture, crafts, food, and community. Individual counties in Minnesota may select Dairy Princesses who meet the eligibility requirements listed below. It’s your two-mile guide to some of the State Fair’s most historically significant spots. • … • Minnesota Orchestra • Alicia Keys • Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood • Shaggy, Rayvon • Elvis, The Concert • Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band • Billy Ray Cyrus, The Bellamy Brothers • Newsboys, NewSong, Go Fish • REO Speedwagon, Styx • Poison, Slave Raider • … During the fair's early years, the site of the exposition changed annually with stops in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Red Wing, Winona and Owatonna. View Minnesota State Fair's concert history along with concert photos, videos, setlists, and more. The most terrible war in human history was over, and the United States had emerged from it … In the twenty-first century, nearly 1.8 million people attend the twelve-day event every year, making it the second-largest state fair in the nation. Of the nearly 100 princesses in the competition, 12 finalists are selected, and are then required to take on public relations roles at the Minnesota State Fair. This History Walking Tour was developed by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation and the Minnesota Historical Society. Anniversaries 160 Years. These Princesses may then advance to the Princess Kay of the Milky Way finalists competition held each spring. Organizers reframed the event as a “Food Training Camp” that showed Minnesotans how to produce and conserve resources vital to the Allied war effort. True fair-heads can point to the fair… Collections Item of the Day: Itasca! However, after the United States entered World War I in 1917, the fair took on an entirely new significance. Its 32,000 acres preserve more than 300 lakes as well as the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It's a 213 page-turner of great Heartland Americana. After four years of territorial fairs, the first Minnesota State Fair was held in 1859 near what became downtown Minneapolis, the year after Minnesota was granted statehood. State fair buffs, cultural historians, sociologists, book designers, fun lovers, gift givers: Don't miss this Amazon-priced opportunity to buy MINNESOTA STATE FAIR, AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY. Complete eight stops and earn a prize! The Minnesota State Fairgrounds are bursting with fried foods, farm animals, novelty T-shirts — and more history than you know. It's packed with thousands of dynamic, annotated pics. 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