I promised a photo compilation of the walking tour that you can take part in as you make your way around the circumference of the grounds.

On Day One this year, Andrea & Shannon wanted to know what you could do at 6 am on the grounds. There’s not much, but there is this.

Dad & my best time was 37 minutes. I’m sure people could go faster alone.

To set any time records, you need to start early in the morning, before the people get in your way!

There used to be signs near Ye Old Mill and the DNR which added to the walking, but they have been replaced. I wish I had done this photo tour years ago…. or at least made an effort to read them, like Shannon did! There’s a bit of history that I know, that is not reflected on these signs!

I always start at the end, because I come in Gate 5, which will always be known to me as “The Main Gate” on Snelling.

But for this post, we’ll begin with #1:

The Streetcar Arch used to be where the DNR is now and welcomed people into the gates at the end of the Grandstand ramp. When cleaning out some property the fair owned behind the Channel 23 building on Como, they uncovered this sign. Cleaned & restored, it will be enjoyed for years to come!

Stop #2: Grandstand

Who remembers the stock car races every day at 1:00. You couldn’t hear yourself think. The old Grandstand “Annex”? Not sure when it was added on, but it was over the tunnel into the stands. It was removed years ago to create the “plaza” we now have adorned with family memorial bricks that you can’t read anymore!

Stop #3 Swine Barn

I think this year is first time in forever that the Swine Barn has received any attention! New stalls, and updates. I only went in to check out the big boar on day one, and never went back.

Stop #4 Coliseum

I love admiring the stone cutting on the exterior of the buildings over the doors.

Stop #5: Miracle of Birth

This used to be housed in what now is the Kare11 Barn. It outgrew that space and needed upgrades! This space is pretty incredible with the addition of the new hen house & baby goats!

Stop #6 International Bazaar

Long gone are the days of Mexican Village and the dilapidated stands of sombreros and maracas. Some of the food vendors however have been here since I was a kid! Like the Chinese food booth with really deliciously bad chicken fried rice!

Stop #7 Bailey House

It was known as the Greenhouse (the glass greenhouses are behind it) but it was really painted green. When we were kids we had a paper route and had to deliver to the “publicity building” the brick one now called “Admin Too”, the Admin building and the green house. It was a long trip in the winter and we had to deadhead back in the wind & snow.

Now it’s the home of the Foundation Offices and if you’re a “Friend of the Fair”, there’s water, coffee and A/C!

Stop #8 Fairchild

He was born the same year I was! It’s always a good meeting place, using the Space Tower as a guidepost!

Stop #9 Kidway

Kiddieland was always a part of the Midway! The Kidway was born in 1993, making a space for family friendly fun geographically removed from the seedier Midway!

Stop #10 Machinery Hill

Gone are the days of acres of combines, seed spreaders and tractors with tires taller than your dad! The farmers used to sleep with their equipment and come knocking on the partially opened garage doors at 5:15 am, when the Gloria Dei booth was housed inside the 4H building exterior. Dad & I would start the water for open pot boil Scandinavian egg coffee around 5am, so we’d have enough when we opened the booth at 6am. That was getting a bit late for these farm implement guys! I learned to drink coffee at the ripe old age of 9, best coffee ever. I only know how to make it 5 gallons at a time!

Stop #11 Progress Center

I don’t even remember what was in this building. If you know, let me know!

Stop #12 4H

The 4H building is where I started working, loving the day to day insider part of State Fair life. Mom was a 4H kid, I always wished I could have lived up in those bunk rooms! This is the new first stop (after they took out the one by Creative Activities.

When you finish, you will fabulous prizes! I actually used the pouch style water bottle… for a day, until I saw pictures and it looked like I was wearing a colostomy bag…and the lid broke off.

There’s a pennant and post cards too.

It’ll be interesting if these change next year. It’s fun to read the history and remember my own.