Not a fish story: the DNR’s Minnesota State Fair cabin turns 90
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An important part of a Minnesota State Fair oasis turns 90 this year. The Department of Natural Resources has long maintained a large exhibit, including a 1934 Civilian Conservation Corps-constructed log cabin and popular fish pond near Nelson Street, and Carnes and Judson Avenues.
There are also large shade trees and a small walking trail. But the cabin with its machined logs “kind of looks like a Lincoln Log structure, if you’ve ever played with those as a kid,” said Amelia English, the DNR’s State Fair event coordinator.
“When we stand inside the great hall, it is 50 feet to the ceiling, so we’ve got beautiful gables above us,” English said.
The DNR exhibit and the people who design it and work there aim to educate Minnesotans about the natural history at a place that evokes a state park managed by the agency.
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“You do feel like you’re having a little step into a state park or a state forest while you’re here,” English said, adding the old cabin “has a different feel than some of the other interesting buildings on the fairgrounds.”
The way they do this has evolved over the decades. Gone are the raccoons and mammals in one wing of the DNR building. So too are the crowds enjoying nature films.
“We do have films showing in there, but most people don’t want to sit and watch a movie when they’re at the fair, now they want to touch stuff and move through stuff and eat their snacks,” English said.
To satisfy the desire for more hands-on learning, there is an interactive sand box that teaches people about topography — like the hills and valleys that can be found throughout the state.
Some things have changed for safety reasons; there used to be a shooting range for guns and archery, English said.
One of the most popular destinations within the DNR’s exhibit are the fish displays, a feature from the beginning. English said the tanks inside were redone 25 years ago to make them easier for children and others to see in.
Lindsay Thompson and her son Asher are yearly visitors to the DNR building at the fair.
“We like to go to our lake and fish, so we like to look for fish we see at the lake when we’re in the DNR building,” Thompson said as Asher named them — bass, walleye and bluegill.
The 50,000-gallon fish pond outside dates back to 1971, and holds three dozen species of fish, at least temporarily. English said they are only in the pond during the 12 days of the State Fair.
“The fish have an off-season retreat that’s top secret.”
