The Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota

Spam Museum, Austin, Minnesota

(They even have a Spam gift shop... haha!) 

This postcard was postmarked in 2026.

Showy Lady Slippers, Minnesota State Flower

Minnesota
Official State Flower
Showy Lady Slippers
In Habitat

The Showy Lady Slipper (Cypripedium reginae) is known as the "Orchid of the North".  It is found in cool and dense forests and swamps.  although becoming quite rare, it is found in secured places in Northern Minnesota.

Photo by John Pennoyer

The sender writes:  I found this postcard inside of a used book that I recently purchased.

This postcard is postmarked in 2017.

USA stamp 2016

Songbirds in the Snow

Regulus satraps

(Golden-crowned kinglet)

Forever a first class stamp

Red Wing's World's Largest Boot Located in Minnesota

The Largest Workboot ever witnessed by the civilized public!

The World's Largest Boot

Redwing Shoes
A Fantastic Modern Engineering Wonder of Human Invention!

A bewildering 2,300 pounds of sheer gargantuan bulk!
At 20 feet long and 16 feet tall it's a colossal curiosity
Fit for a 12 Story Human Giant!

In 2005, as part of Red Wing Shoe Company's Centennial.
The World's Largest Boot was created to celebrate generations of shoe-making craftsmen whose labor and dedication built the company and its world-wide reputation for quality.

This postcard is postmarked in 2015.

The sender writes:
I am in Minnesota today and stopped to see the giant red wing boot AGAIN.  Because, once is never enough. :D

USA stamp 2015

Coastal Birds

Spoonbill

Postcard Rate

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Here is another postcard from 2024...

The World's Largest Walleye in Ray, Minnesota

The World's Largest Walleye at the Entrance to Lake Kabetogama, Ray, Minnesota 

Photo-Chrome by W.A. Fisher Co., Virginia, Minnesota

This is an unused real photo postcard of a woman riding a walleye fish statue like a horse.  She even has her cowboy hat up in the air!

I have seen other images of people riding this statue, but none with floral reins. 

50 Years of Minnesota Twins Baseball

50 Years of Minnesota Baseball
With the arrival of the Minnesota Twins in 1961, the area achieved Major League status.  The club played at Metropolitan Stadium through 1981.  They moved inside the confines of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in 1982 and stayed through 2009.  Target Field represents a move back to the outdoor elements.

Photos:
Met: NMN
Dome: R.A. Young
Target Field: D.J. Nordgren

This postcard is unused. 

University of Minnesota

Williams Arena - Home of the Golden Gopher Men's Basketball
Mariucci Arena - Home of the Golden Gopher Men's Hockey

Photos by David J. Nordgren

This is postmarked in 2007 with a 26 cent Panther stamp.

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The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (Minnesota, U of M) is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States, with the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses being approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) apart.

The university is broadly organized into 19 colleges and schools, and it has sister campuses in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, and Rochester.

Minnesota's athletic teams are known collectively as the Minnesota Golden Gophers and compete in the NCAA's Division I as members of the Big Ten Conference.

Bigfoot with a Can of Spam from the Spam Museum in Minnesota

 Hunters claim to have spoken to Bigfoot "over 40 times." And that he stole their SPAM.
Amazing but True!

Get ready for this and more SPAMTASTIC exhibits at the amazing SPAM Museum.

This fantastic postcard is postmarked in 2014 with a USA 34 cent hummingbird stamp.

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From their website:

Few experiences in life are as meaningful and meaty-filled as those you'll have at the magnificent SPAM Museum. Referred to by some meat historians as The Guggenham, Porkopolis or M.O.M.A. (Museum Of Meat-Themed Awesomeness), the SPAM Museum is home to the world's most comprehensive collection of spiced pork artifacts.

The family-fun packed museum features 16,500 square feet of tastefully presented SPAM-filled history. You won't have to fight for tickets because admission is free. Visit and you'll be tickled pink by the SPAM trivia and vintage SPAM brand advertising. Plus numerous SPAM displays including the World War II exhibit, SPAM Game Show quiz, Monty Python tribute and more. There's even a SPAM store so you can stock up on priceless SPAM collectibles on your way out.

But you can't truly ever know how great the SPAM Museum is just by reading about how great it is. You have to come here to experience this life-altering pure pork bliss for yourself. So pack the family car for a meat-packed day of fun at the Eighth Wonder Of The World: The SPAM Museum.

1101 N Main St
Austin, Minnesota 55912
USA

Axel's Tackle Box in Waterville, Minnesota

Visitors to Axel's Tackle Box of Waterville, Minnesota are greeting by Tonkah, the sunfish.
photo: Dan Hoehn

postmarked in 2013 with a 33 cent stamp

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Waterville is a city in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,868 at the 2010 census.

Map Postcards of Minnesota

Minnesota

Land of 10,000 Lakes

Founded in 1858

bought in 2013

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Minnesota

Land of 10,000 Lakes

The Gopher State

State Flower: Ladyslipper

State Bird: Loon

2012

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Explore Minnesota 

Founded 1858 

Photos by L.E. Erickson, Dennis O'Hara, G. Alan Nelson, Stephen B. Antus Jr. 

from 2007

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Minnesota is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858. 

Known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", the state's name comes from a Dakota word for "sky-tinted water". Those waters, together with forests, parks, and wilderness areas, offer residents and tourists a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.

Minnesota Mosquito: State Bird Fun Facts

Minnesota State Bird
The Mosquito

5 "Fun" Facts

1. There are more than 3,000 species of mosquitoes.
2. Only female mosquitoes bite humans and animals; males feed on flower nectar.
3. The average mosquito lifespan is less than two months.
4. Mosquitoes can detect carbon dioxide form 75 feet away.
5. A mosquito can only fly up to 1.5 miles per hour.

unused, bought in 2013

A Few Smiley Postcards

This is a 3-D postcard featuring the words Love and Peace.  

When you see the word Love, it shows the Smiley face, with the word Peace you see a peace sign.

postmarked in 2013 with a USA Love stamp

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Smiles postmarked in 2010 from Australia

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Year 2000 - Have a nice Millennium! 

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Minnesota Happy Face

postmarked in 1991

Today's Weather - Cold

"Today's Weather: Looks like it's gonna be cold.
Now for the news..."

postmarked from Northern Wisconsin in1995 with a 20 cent Blue Jay stamp

Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota

Welcome to Blue Earth Minnesota

"The land of the Jolly Green Giant"
60 ft., 8000 Lb. Green Giant
welcomes you to Blue Earth

postmarked in 2008 with 26 cent panther stamp

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Green Giant and Le Sueur are brands of frozen and canned vegetables owned by General Mills. The mascot of Green Giant is the Jolly Green Giant.

In the City of Blue Earth, Minnesota, a statue of the Jolly Green Giant is open to public view. In 1978, the town of Blue Earth, Minnesota paid $43,000 to erect a 55-foot (17 m) fiberglass statue of the Jolly Green Giant to commemorate the linking of the east and west sections of Interstate 90. It was permanently erected on July 6, 1979. The statue attracts over 10,000 visitors a year.

The 55 foot statue of the Green Giant in Blue Earth was the idea of Paul Hedberg who owned local radio station KBEW. During the summer Hedberg interviewed travellers going through Blue Earth on U.S. Highway 16 for his radio program "Welcome Travellers". At the end of each interview, Hedberg presented guests with a sample of Green Giant corn and peas which had been canned in the local Green Giant plant. A common theme arising in interviews was a desire to "see the Green Giant."

In 1977 Hedberg contacted Thomas H. Wyman, President of Green Giant, to see if the company would allow a statue of their corporate symbol to be erected along the new Interstate 90 in Blue Earth. Wyman granted permission under the condition that funds for the project were raised locally. Hedberg approached ten local businessmen with the idea and asked for $5,000 each; within a week the $50,000 had been donated.

It is mounted on a pedestal and has steps (you can see them by the giants feet on the postcard) so visitors may take a picture standing directly under the Green Giant. Blue Earth still has a canning plant formerly owned by Green Giant that continues to can corn and peas each summer.

Waterville, Minnesota: Bullhead Fishing Capital of the World

Waterville, Minnesota, U.S.A.
Bullhead Fishing Capital of the World

Official Waterville Bullhead Portrait

Waterville, in LeSueur County, Minnesota, U.S.A., is recognized as the Bullhead Fishing Capital of the World.  Faithful scores perennially trek to Waterville, home of Bullhead Days festivities in the Heart of the Southern Minnesota Lakes region.  Here the Royal Bullhead, a friendly fellow fit for Kings, for barefoot boys, for the countless young in heart of all ages, is always ready to provide fishing action and pleasure in the pan.  The authentic Bullhead scene, featuring a Lake Sakatah specimen, is from the famous Bullhead painting which hangs in the Municipal Building.  The portrait is by Waterville's native-son artist, Roger Preuss, F.I.A., who is recognized and respected world-wide as the master American painter of our-door subjects.

vintage postcard, postmarked in 2012 with a 32 cent Aloha stamp that has fish on it.

On a side note: the back of this postcard was written in morse code!

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The population of Waterville was 1,868 at the 2010 census. It is close to Sakatah Lake State Park on the Cannon River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2).

Bullhead Days are still held ever year, here is a list of some of the activities you can enjoy:
Queen pageant, Softball Tourney, Street Dance, Fireworks, Flea Market, Kids Fishing Contest, Canoe Races, Demolition Derby, Pedal Tractor Pull, Grand Street Parade, Kids Bingo, 5K walk & run, 10K run, 11 mile bike race, bean bag tourney and much more.

Minnesota State Capitol

State Capitol
Minnesota

One of the most magnificent state capitols in the country. Designed by Cass Gilbert, it houses the offices of the Governor and other state officials.

Photo by Bruce Sherve

This postcard was postmarked in 1990 with 15 cent 'Buffalo Bill Cody' stamp.

If you look at the center of the building, the gold statue you see is this ........


The Quadric
Minnesota State Capitol
The sculpture, "Progress of the State", created by Daniel Chester French and Edward Potter represents the successful cooperation of people and nature. The horses represent earth, wind, fire and water. The female figures represent industry and agriculture. The dramatic appearance of the sculpture is enhanced by gold leaf.

Photo Bob Firth/Firth Photo Bank

This one was postmarked in 1992 with 19 cent balloon stamp.

Facts about St. Paul, Minnesota

St. Paul Minnesota

...did you know?

The original name of the settlement that became St. Paul was Pig's Eye. Named for the French-Canadian whiskey trader, Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant.

During the winter of 1888, residents of St. Paul built an ice palace 14 stories high covering more than an acre of land.

From a small sandpaper making factor (factory) on the east side, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, 3M, has grown to be one (of) the most respected companies in the world.

From prohibition era "gangster" tours to narrative Mississippi riverboat cruises, St. Paul offers a variety of sightseeing excursions that are sure to entertain and inform.

Author F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul in 1896. The city features prominently in many of his stories.

XCEL Energy Center will be home to the Republican National Convention in 2008

According to Sports Illustrated, St. Paul is the NEW HOCKYTOWN, U.S.A.

postmarked in 2009 with a 28 cent stamp

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The card looks like it is scanned crocked, but that is the way the card was made. Also, the two words in parentheses above are errors! I love it when I get a card with those.

Minnesota Bridge Wrecked in 1906

Draw-Span of the Interstate Bridge between Duluth, Minn. and Superior, Wisconsin, wrecked by the Steamer "Troy" of the Western Transit Line, at 1 o'clock a.m., August 11, 1906. This was one of the longest draw-spans in the country. Length, 485 feet.

postmarked with one cent Franklin stamp