The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-06-16
One OF THE finest EXHIBITS
AT CENTURY OF PROGRESS
"The Show Window of Minnesota" Exhibit Styled
is the Center of Attraction For Thousands Daily the
Exposition at Chicago.
The show window of Minnesota

The show window Of Minnesota!
That in brief is an apt description
of the exhibit the Gopher state is show
ing until November 1st at the Century
of Progress Exposition in Chicago. For
just as surely as products of the store
are shown in front of the shop along
the main street, so are MinneSota'S
attributes being displayed to the world
before throng, which it is estimated,
will reach 100000 ere the gates are
swung shut.
Winning widespread praise through
the sheer novelty of it's presentation,
the exhibit is given Approximately IS
per cent to advertising Minnesota's out
door paradise for the hunter, fisherman
and other sportsmen, for the 10000 lakes
and the millions of acres of forest pro-
vide by far the most attractive natural
endowment the state can boast.
Entering the exhibit the visitor will
come through the portals of a typical
Minnesota resort hotel, whose walls are
replete with the usual accuotrements
of the numbers of outdoor hostelries,
including skins of various animals,
mounted fish, deer and moose heads.
Entrances are on two levels. Coming
down from the balcony doors, the
spacious stairway encircles a sparkling
waterfall and inviting pool, wherein
rainbow trout disport themselves.
Coming into gallery 60 feet long and
40 feet wide, visitors are confronted
tSryifh t,rr0 iy,orr OF
moving canvaSSes which flash in color
full painting the complete story of the
state. On one of these canvaSses is
depicted the entire history Of the state
from the time of the redman up until
modern day of civilization. On the
second, opposing canvas is shown pic
ture Of the state as it would be soon
from low-flying airplane winging its
way from the southern border to the
Canadian boundary line with all of the
highlights of Minnesota, including re-
creational, agricultural and industrial
activities shown in their respective
localities.
Thanking the cycloramas on both sides
are dioramas, form of picture pre-
sentation giving depth to the scenes,
outlining Minnesota's varied industries.
The cycloramas are each 103 feet long
and Is feet high, set in frame re-
sembling, both from the standpoint of
construction and lighting, a theatre
stage. Comfortable chairs and divans
whence the visitor may view these slow
moving canvasses are placed in the
center of the hall
Leaving the roomy gallery the visitor
passes into a moving picture theatre
whose walls are painted in exact re-
plica of scenes in the Chippewa Ma
tional Forest. At the front of the
auditorium, containing rs seats, the
forest is shown at night with the
purple hues predominating in the color
ing. Proceeding back around the walls
the shades tighten successfully until at
the rear the forest is depicted as dawn
is breaking. A model log cabin serves
as the projection room while mounted
specimens of game are displayed about
the cozy interior.
Eight reels of talking pictures show
ing every phase of life in Minnesota
from the hum of the busy cities and
the quietude of the agricultural areas
to the thrills of an anglers fight with
a muskie and the pleasures of wilder
ness trip are flashed onto the screen.
The two-hour show is run through six
times daily with standing room only"
signs out most of the time.
-l,,
pictures of the state, the commission
which planned the exhibit transplanted
an entire segment of the state bodily
to plat of ground in the rear of the
Court of States building. In rectangle
80 by so feet is shown a miniature re-
plica of Ttasca state park, designed and
executed by the forestry division of the
state conservation department under
supervision of Grover NJ Comet, direc-
tor.
Lake Itasca with real miniature
Mississippi River flowing from 1t drive
home to onlookers the fact that in
Minnesota is the headwaters of the
Father of Waters. The trees, planted
in soil from the Minnesota northwoods
country are in miniature also, as are
Douglas Lodge and its surrounding
cabins. The display is the mecca for
continuous throngs and carries an
added zest by reason of the fact that
| it is situated in a bit of ground
thanked on three sides by the rolling
waters of Lake Michigan over which
comes an incessant cooling breeze.
David S. Owen, former Minneapolis
newspaperman and now director of the
Century of Progress Exposition, is In
charge of the display, assisted by a
staff of six. In the resort hotel por-
ton the tourist bureau has a registra-
ton headquarters and information
booth, where resort literature is given
out to interested spectators.
Frank w. Murphy, Wheaton, is chair
man of the commission, which worked
for more than two years to perfect the
exhibit. Other members who assisted
in the work are Thomas NJ Madden,
Virginia; Fred P. Fellows, st. Paul;
Perry s. Williams, Minneapolis, and
s. Valentine Saxby, Duluth.
| A total of 900 was expended on
the exhibit, $4,000 of that sum being
/ ~