歪歪漫画

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 鈥渒ind of looks like a Lincoln Log structure, if you鈥檝e ever played with those as a kid,鈥� said Amelia English, the DNR鈥檚 State Fair event coordinator.

鈥淲hen we stand inside the great hall, it is 50 feet to the ceiling, so we鈥檝e got beautiful gables above us,鈥� 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.

鈥淵ou do feel like you鈥檙e having a little step into a state park or a state forest while you鈥檙e here,鈥� English said, adding the old cabin 鈥渉as a different feel than some of the other interesting buildings on the fairgrounds.鈥�

Ben Hovland / MPR News

The way that the department does 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.

鈥淲e do have films showing in there, but most people don鈥檛 want to sit and watch a movie when they鈥檙e at the fair, now they want to touch stuff and move through stuff and eat their snacks,鈥� English said.

To satisfy the desire for more hands-on learning, there is an interactive sand box that teaches people about topography 鈥� 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.

1/5: A woman looks at the fish tanks at the DNR Cabin in 1953. They were remodeled later to be accessible to people of all heights. Contributed / Minnesota State Fair Archives

2/5: People in 1947 look at the DNR Cabin fish tanks at the Minnesota State Fair. Contributed / Minnesota State Fair Archives

3/5: The exhibits at the DNR building have changed through the years. They used to have live animals throughout the fair, seen here in 1970. Contributed / Minnesota State Fair Archives

4/5: The outdoor fish pond was built in 1971 Contributed / Minnesota State Fair Archives

5/5: The Department of Natural Resources building was originally called the Department of Conservation. Federal and state funding went into building the log cabin structure at the Minnesota State Fair, seen here in 1934, the year it was built. Contributed / Minnesota State Fair Archives

One of the most popular destinations within the DNR鈥檚 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.

鈥淲e like to go to our lake and fish, so we like to look for fish we see at the lake when we鈥檙e in the DNR building,鈥� Thompson said as Asher named them 鈥� bass, walleye and bluegill.

Lisa Ryan / MPR News

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.

鈥淭he fish have an off-season retreat that鈥檚 top secret.鈥�