Minnesota Territorial Agricultural Society was founded; later becomes Minnesota State Agricultural Society, which governs the Minnesota State Fair (Minnesota became a state in 1858).
165 years: 1859
First Minnesota State Fair, held in Minneapolis
140 years: 1884
State Fair held in Owatonna, the last year before finding a permanent home in its current location
125 years: 1899
First year of electricity on the fairgrounds, allowing the fair to stay open to the public in the evening
First evening grandstand show was horse races followed by a fireworks presentation
120 years: 1904
First enclosed carnival midway, called “The Mighty Pike”
115 years: 1909
Third (current) Grandstand constructed
First automobile show at the fairgrounds, held in the new Grandstand
110 years: 1914
Permanent rollercoaster east of the Grandstand built (was razed in 1935); carousel constructed (removed in 1989 and now resides in Como Park)
105 years: 1919
Rabbit breed classes added to the poultry department
100 years: 1924
Skywriting added as a daily feature
90 years: 1934
Conservation (DNR) Building constructed
Streetcar Arch constructed
85 years: 1939
State Fair extended from eight days to 10 days
Newly constructed 4-H Building dedicated on Aug. 31 (completed in 1940)
75 years: 1949
Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall debuted
Food Show and Beer Garden (Food Building and The Garden) completed
Last year of horse racing at the Grandstand
70 years: 1954
Fine arts exhibit moves to third floor of Grandstand; loaned works from the Minneapolis Institute of Art include paintings by Matisse and Renoir
First year of using only buses for public transportation (streetcars removed in 1953)
60 years: 1964
Skyride constructed
Teen-Age Fair opened on west end of fairgrounds (later the site of Heritage Square and now West End Market)
55 years: 1969
Giant Slide constructed
40 years: 1984
Glass-enclosed Milking Parlor added to Cattle Barn
30 years: 1994
Adventure Park opened east of the carnival midway (In 2021 Adventure Park moved to its current location on Judson Avenue between the Dairy Building and Gate #9
Ben C. Hallberg Rural Youth Scholarship established (now known as Minnesota State Fair Scholarship)
25 years: 1999
The University of Minnesota Bee Lab debuted the bee beard demonstration – placing 10,000 honey bees on the faces of multiple brave volunteers located in Agriculture Horticulture Building.
The Garden featuring Tejas, Rajin Cajun, Ball Park Cafe and Chicago Dogs debuted
20 years: 2004
Nigerian dwarf goats breed added to open class dairy goats competition
15 years: 2009
Moo Booth renovated
FAN Central featuring Minnesota’s professional sports teams opened
10 years: 2014
West End Market debuted, replacing Heritage Square; includes History & Heritage Center, Schell’s Stage at Hugh & Margaret Schilling Amphitheater, The Blue Barn, LuLu’s Public House and more
Transit Hub constructed on west end of fairgrounds
Streetcar Arch originally built in 1934 restored and moved to new West End Gate entrance
University of Minnesota Driven to Discover exhibit debuted
5 years: 2019
North End Neighborhood redeveloped; includes North End Event Center, Minnesota Corn Fairstalk, Minnesota Marquees and new food and merchandise concessions
Chef Sean Sherman presented Indigenous Food Lab at Dan Patch Park
