From the 1860s through the 1930s, Minnesota was a travel mecca for jocks and loggers from the East Coast and the Deep South. It was touted as “America’s Favorite Fun Spot,” “The Ideal Destination for Outdoor Vacations,” and America’s Vacation Wonderland, “among other great titles. People from New York to Alabama They boarded the James J. Hill Railroad Great Northern to glimpse the new frontier, rumored to have over 10,000 lakes.
In the early days, the rustic areas surrounding Minneapolis and St. Paul were teeming with visitors seeking natural and pristine settings. The Twin City Trolley Line ran routes from cities to rural communities, such as Stillwater, Minnesota’s birthplace, and Lake Minnetonka, a vast irregular body of water with many islands and more than 100 miles of shoreline.
Steamboat companies sprang up to accommodate the many travelers looking forward to tours of the stunning St. Croix River Valley and the many bays of Lake Minnetonka. Tour boats were followed by large Victorian hotels with expansive views, electric lights, and running water. The trolley company built three spectacular amusement parks 15 miles from 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 had a ballroom, a network of enchanting walkways, and an electric light tower that was visible from all points of the lake. Huge steamboats, including the “City of St. Louis,” which could carry 1,000 passengers, transported visitors to and from the island.
As the railroads moved north, tourists ventured into central Minnesota regions, including Alexandria, the Chain of Lakes north of Brainerd, and Lake of the Woods in Warroad on the Canadian border. Rustic log resorts sprang up on popular lakes, offering hunting, fishing, sailing, hiking, golf, and tennis, among other outdoor pastimes.
One of the most enduring resorts is the Naniboujou Lodge, which still sits on the shores of Lake Superior. This fabulous getaway was built in the 1920s. Its large cavernous room was decorated from floor to ceiling with magnificent hieroglyphs of the Cree Indians. A huge river stone fireplace anchors one end of the room, which is filled with rustic yet cozy furniture. Regular visitors included Babe Ruth and Ring Lardner, the New York journalist.
Another famous getaway, still intact, is Breezy Point Resort, a wonderful array of cabins that surround a classic log cabin at a point on Pelican Lake. This was the quintessential Minnesota rustic vacation spot in 1920, with a fleet of charter boats, fishing guides, and long sandy beaches surrounded by tall pine and birch trees. It was built by “Captain” Billy Fawcett, editor of the popular “Whiz Bang” magazine. Captain Billy was well known in Hollywood and Breezy Point soon became a favorite hangout for the likes of Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, western star Tom Mix, and boxer Jack Dempsey.
As the Minnesota 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 country. Booklets and prints featured marvelous pastoral scenes of bathing beauties, tough jocks, and unspoiled vacation spots, accompanied by charming and romantic advertising copy.
Many examples of these promotional materials, depicting Minnesota’s golden years of tourism, can be viewed at http://www.MinnesotaPosters.com.
