Top Class Posters

The Golden Years of Minnesota Tourism

From the 1860′s through the 1930′s, Minnesota was a travel Mecca for sportsmen and woodswomen from the east coast and the deep south. It was touted as “America’s Favorite Fun-spot,” “The Ideal Destination for Out-of-door Vacations,” and America’s Vacation Wonderland,” among other fanciful titles. People from New York to Alabama climbed aboard James J. Hill’s Great Northern Railway to get a glimpse of the new frontier, rumored to have more than 10,000 lakes.

In the early days, the rustic areas surrounding Minneapolis and St. Paul were teeming with visitors searching for pristine, natural settings. The Twin City Trolley Line ran tracks from the cities to rural communities, such as Stillwater, the birthplace of Minnesota, and Lake Minnetonka, a sprawling irregular body of water with many islands and over 100 miles of shoreline.

Steamboat companies sprang up to accommodate the many travelers hoping for tours of the breathtaking St. Croix River Valley and the many bays of Lake Minnetonka. The tour boats were followed by grand Victorian hotels with expansive views, electric lights and running water. The trolley car company built three spectacular amusement parks within 15 miles of Minneapolis and St. Paul – the most scenic of which was Big Island Park, built on an island in the middle of Lake Minnetonka. This park featured a dance hall, a network of charming promenades and a towering electric light house that was visible from all points of the lake. Massive steamships, including the “City of St. Louis” which could carry 1,000 passengers, ferried visitors to and from the island.

As the railroads pushed further north, tourists ventured into the central regions of Minnesota, including Alexandria, the Chain of Lakes north of Brainerd, and Lake of the Woods at Warroad on the Canadian border. Rustic log resorts sprang up on popular lakes, offering hunting, fishing, sailing, hiking, golf and tennis, among other outdoor pass-times.

One of the most enduring resorts is the Naniboujou Lodge, which is still located on the shores of Lake Superior. This fabulous get-away was built in the 1920′s. It’s cavernous great room was decorated from floor to ceiling with magnificent Cree Indian hieroglyphs. A huge river rock fireplace anchors one end of the room, which is filled with rustic, but cozy furniture. Regular visitors included Babe Ruth and Ring Lardner, the New York newspaperman.

Another famous get-away, still in-tact, is Breezy Point Resort, a wonderful assortment of cabins surrounding a classic log lodge on a point in Pelican Lake. This was the quintessential 1920′s rustic Minnesota vacation spot, with a fleet of boats for rent, fishing guides and long, sandy beaches surrounded by tall pine and birch trees. It was built by “Captain” Billy Fawcett, publisher of the popular “Whiz Bang” magazine. Captain Billy was well-known in Hollywood and Breezy Point soon became a favorite fun-spot for the likes of Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, western star Tom Mix and boxer Jack Dempsey.

As Minnesota’s travel industry grew, the newly founded Minnesota Department of Tourism began publishing promotional posters and travel guides. Minnesota had already become a favorite destination for graphic artists, and the quality of these promotional materials was among the best in the nation. Pamphlets and prints featured marvelous pastoral scenes of bathing beauties, rugged sportsmen and unspoiled vacation spots, accompanied by charmingly romantic advertising text.

Many examples of these promotional materials, representing the golden years of Minnesota tourism, can be seen at www.MinnesotaPosters.com.

About the Author

Chris Foote is a resident of Deephaven, a sleepy village on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. He is a painter and graphic artist who restores vintage travel materials in his spare time, reproducing them as fine art prints. To see examples of vintage Minnesota travel posters, please visit: www.MinnesotaPosters.com.

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