Dance contest, Minneapolis Aquatennial, 1947

Aquatennial dance, Minneapolis, 1947

Dance contests were a perennial feature in early Aquatennials. Used with the permission of the Hennepin County History Museum.

Parade floats passing down a Minneapolis Street for Aquatennial's Grande Day Parade, 1960.

Aquatennial Parade, 1960.

Parade floats passing down a Minneapolis Street for Aquatennial's Grande Day Parade, 1960.

Aquatennial Queen Connie Haenny, 1963

Aquatennial Queen Connie Haenny, 1963

While winning the Queen of the Lakes pageant came with impressive perks for candidates in the early decades of the Aquatennial such as new cars and international trips, schedules proved grueling at times. 1962’s Queen of the Lakes, Pamela Jo Albinson, recalled the work which went into being featured in the parades: “Connie and I had to stand because of the float design. We were strapped into a metal waist--harness attached to a sturdy pole. Then our dresses were placed over the contraption. When the float jounced or jostled, it was quite a task to remain poised and posed.” Pamela Albinson, Seventy Five Years of the Minneapolis Aquatennial (Minneapolis: Nodin Press, 2014). Used with permission of the Hennepin County History Museum.

Queen of the Lakes Joyce Moen in Hollywood studios of CBS radio with Gene Autry.

Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes Joyce Moen in Hollywood studios of CBS radio with Gene Autry.

: Inaugural Queen of the Lakes Joyce Moen meets with movie and radio star Gene Autry, the world famous “singing cowboy” in CBS Radio’s Hollywood studio. Variety shows featuring celebrities like Bob Hope, Joe Lewis, the Chordettes, Carol Richards, Natalie Wood, Jimmy Stewart, and Jerry Mathers were main attractions for years. Used with permission of the Hennepin County History Museum.

Black and white photograph of an archaeological crew and mechanical equipment near the Round Tower, 1958.

Archaeological crew and mechanical equipment near the Round Tower

Archaeological crew and mechanical equipment near the Round Tower, 1958.

Archaeologists at work at Snake River Fur Post

Archaeologists at work at Snake River Fur Post

Archaeologists uncover the foundations of the original Snake River Fur Post, 1963.

Archbishop Ireland at the ground breaking ceremony for the Basilica

Archbishop Ireland at the ground breaking ceremony for the Basilica

Archbishop John Ireland at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis, 1907.

Archbishop John Gregory Murray

Archbishop John Gregory Murray

John Gregory Murray (center), Archbishop of St. Paul, at the cornerstone dedication of the Church of St. Columba (St. Paul), February 1949. From New Church Dedication Book: A Retrospect of Thirty-Six Years, 1914–1950 (St. Paul: Church of St. Columba, [1950]), page 24.

Black and white photograph of Archbishop John Ireland, c.1900.

Archbishop John Ireland

Archbishop John Ireland, c.1900.

Archbishop John Ireland

Archbishop John Ireland

John Ireland, 1862. Photograph by A. Larson.

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