Parades, Palaces, and People: St. Paul Celebrates Winter

Examine Winter Carnival traditions over the years, from ice palaces to parades, through photographs, posters, clothing, and works of art from MNHS' collections.

In 1885, disparaging comments about St. Paul’s weather by a New York journalist prompted a group of local business leaders to establish an outdoor festival in the depths of Minnesota winter. Kicking off in 1886, the St. Paul Winter Carnival was modeled after a similar festival in Montreal and borrowed many features that make up the rich tradition we know today. Today the Winter Carnival is the oldest winter festival in the United States.

Credit: Exhibition description from museum website.