The flour mills
Minneapolis grew around the Falls of St. Anthony on the Mississippi, where great flour mills such as Washburn-Crosby and Pillsbury made it the milling capital of the world. Postcards of the mills, the falls, the Stone Arch Bridge and the milling district are collected. Printed views are common; real photos of mill workers and the riverfront are more interesting.
The Iron Range
The Mesabi, Vermilion and Cuyuna ranges produced much of the nation's iron ore. Open-pit mines such as the Hull-Rust at Hibbing, underground mines, ore trains and mining towns such as Hibbing, Virginia, Eveleth, Ely and Chisholm appear on cards. The town of Hibbing was famously moved to make way for the expanding mine. Real photos of mines, miners and the range towns, built by immigrants from Finland, Italy, Slovenia and elsewhere, are collected.
Duluth and the harbor
Duluth's harbor, ore docks, grain elevators, aerial bridge and lake freighters made it a busy port. Postcards of ships, docks and the aerial lift bridge are popular with maritime collectors, and real photos of the harbor are more interesting than common printed views.
Lumber
Northern Minnesota's pine forests supported large lumber camps and sawmills at Cloquet, Bemidji, International Falls and elsewhere. Real photos of camps, crews and log drives are among the most sought-after Minnesota cards. The Cloquet fire of 1918 burned Cloquet and nearby towns, and cards of the destruction are historically significant.
Lakes and resorts
Minnesota's lakes drew summer visitors, and resort towns such as Alexandria, Detroit Lakes, Brainerd and the Lake Minnetonka area appear on cards, along with steamers, cottages and fishing camps. Real photos of resorts with names and fishing scenes are collected.
Farms and prairie towns
Southern and western Minnesota's farm towns had main streets, depots, grain elevators, creameries and churches built by Scandinavian and German settlers. Real photos of these towns, threshing crews and creameries are what most Minnesota town collectors seek.
Places and subjects to look for
- Minneapolis: the milling district, the falls and city streets.
- St. Paul: the capitol, the riverfront and the Winter Carnival.
- The Iron Range: Hibbing, Virginia, Eveleth, Ely and the open pits.
- Duluth and the North Shore: the harbor, ore docks and lake towns.
- The north woods: lumber camps, Bemidji and International Falls.
- Lake country: Brainerd, Alexandria, Detroit Lakes and resorts.
- Prairie towns: main streets, elevators and creameries in the south and west.
The Winter Carnival
St. Paul's Winter Carnival, with its ice palaces, parades and sports, produced memorable cards, especially of the ice palaces built in certain years. Early carnival cards are collected.
Real photos versus printed views
The Twin Cities and Duluth were printed heavily. Real photos of small towns, mines, lumber camps, resorts and farm work carry most of the value in a Minnesota collection.
What is common
Printed views of the capitol, Minnehaha Falls, Twin Cities buildings and later chrome lake and fishing cards are plentiful.
Why Minnesota town cards are so collected
Minnesota has many small towns with strong local-history societies, and families of Scandinavian, German and Finnish descent often collect cards of the towns their grandparents settled. Real photo cards of main streets, churches, creameries and schools in small towns were made in short runs by local photographers, and collectors keep careful track of them. A view that has not been recorded before can draw real interest.
Steamboats and the river
Steamboats worked the upper Mississippi and the St. Croix, and river towns such as Stillwater, Red Wing, Winona and Wabasha had busy levees, sawmills and button factories. Real photos of steamers and river towns are collected.
Questions about Minnesota postcards
Are Iron Range postcards valuable? Real photos of mines, miners and range towns are among the more collectible Minnesota cards.
Are Minnesota lumber camp postcards collectible? Yes, especially real photos of camps and crews.
Are Cloquet fire postcards worth anything? Real photos of the 1918 destruction are historically significant and collected.
Do you buy Minnesota collections? Yes, complete collections from anywhere in the state, by mail.