East Minnesota Weekly News

A Visit To St Paul’s History Center

Posted on 06. Nov, 2010 by Lenore Bleifuss, Local Artist in Entertainment, Family, Local Business, Popular Stories

Last Friday, my daughter and I  visited the History Center in St. Paul.   It was a spur of the moment decision to go there but we found it to well worthwhile. It is closed on Mondays, except on holidays. The hours are 10-8 Tues, 10-5 Wed. through Sat. and 12-5 on Sundays.

The center itself is a beautiful building that offers a spacious view of all exhibits, as well as a panoramic view through the large windows overlooking the city.  It is located off of John Ireland Blvd. , at 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., near the Cathedral.  It is easy to get to and has a parking area with a $5 charge.  Cost to enter the History Center is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors. Free passes can be picked up at city libraries, if you have a current library card.

The display of the Greatest Generation was still on display and will continue for some time yet because it covers so much of our lifetime.  There were displays of the  fashions, home decor and kitchen aides, which were so much larger than ours of today,  the old time soda fountains and juke boxes that were favorites for the younger crowd.  There was a nice replica of the tallest ice palace that was built for the winter carnival  in 1986.  My family saw the original and it was spectacular. Also, there were some replicas of unusual lawn ornaments that were popular back in the 60′s and 70′s which were colorful and detailed. It was like taking a step back in time to my years of being a young homemaker, which seemed like just yesterday.

We enjoyed going into the tornado room along with several others, where we were seated in a small  storm cellar like room as we experienced a recreation of the strong tornadoes that ripped through the Fridley and Shakopee areas, as well as surrounding areas, back in the late 60′s, I believe. I remember them well, but do not recall the exact date.  The storm shelter had a radio which was broadcasting the weather reports and sightings, while the sky became green and darker.  Sirens were screaming in the background and all at once, we experienced the loud sound of a tornado upon us.  A small window gave us a view of the outside and made it all quite realistic.

The main feature at the History Center which is on  now from October 2 to January 2, 2011, is Chocolate.  No cameras are allowed in there and it is an education in the  evolution of chocolate, which goes back to the Mayans, Incas and 17th century Europeans.  We learned about the cocoa trees which grow only in tropical rain  forests under the shelter of the forest canopy, and how the large pods are knocked down from the trees with paddles and whacked open with a machete-like tool.  The cocoa beans are inside and it is a very lengthy process of harvesting and drying the seeds before export to areas that want to use them for chocolate making or trade.   The first chocolate bar was made in 1819 in Switzerland and in 1875  milk chocolate was invented. We do not realize when enjoying a piece of delicious chocolate, how many hours of work has gone into the creation of such a fine delicacy. There was some chocolate being sold in the Center’s gift shops, though not a large choice.

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Tags: exhibits, family fun, History Center, history of chocolate, St Paul