A new exhibit about the legacy of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival is named, appropriately, “Parades, Palaces and People: St. Paul Celebrates Winter.”
The Saint Paul Winter Carnival has been taking place now for more than 130 years, which makes it the oldest winter festival in the entire United States. And, in case you didn’t know, the carnival was started by local business leaders after several East Coast newspapers in the 1880’s compared our beloved state to “…another Siberia?” Those fed-up business leaders wanted to prove those high-falutin East Coasters wrong, so, in 1886, they created the Saint Paul Winter Carnival to celebrate all things frigid and frozen and winter in Minnesota.
Which is a suitably passive-aggressive response.
Visitors that find their way from the Winter Carnival itself up to this new exhibit will learn about that and plenty of other fascinating facts, stats, and information.
The exhaustive exhibit also features winter carnival artifacts from days gone by, everything from photographs to clothing, artwork, and more.
Warm up after visiting the Ice Palace (and sculptures) downtown with a trip to the James J. Hill House just up the hill (Cathedral Hill, in the shadow of the St. Paul Cathedral) to immerse yourself fully in everything Winter Carnival.
What you need to know:
Exhibit: “Parades, Palaces and People: St. Paul Celebrates Winter”
On Display Until: April 2, 2018
Place: James J. Hill House art gallery, 240 Summit Avenue, St. Paul
Art Gallery Hours: Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun 1-4 p.m.
Cost: Free with tour, or $2 art gallery-only admission. Tours are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and college students, $6 for ages 5-17 and free for age 4 and under and MNHS members.
