Historical Exhibit for Olmsted County Fair

The project will develop and install an educational exhibit on the history and significance of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Olmsted County and throughout MN. As the regional headquarters of both of these depression-era economic programs, the Olmsted County Fairgrounds was integral to their local activities and played a role in the development of agricultural and civic infrastructure that continued to serve southeastern MN for decades. The fairgrounds, itself, still bears the imprint of these agencies through the presence of several structures built and used by their workers-though their work largely has been forgotten.

The exhibit will be installed on the mezzanine of a fairgrounds building originally constructed by the WPA as an art and agricultural exhibit facility dedicated to 4-H youth. Though the display of historic photographs, artifacts related to the regional CCC and WPA projects and workers, and interpretive text, it will explain the social and economic context that gave birth to these programs and show examples of their lasting influence.