Primary Source Set
by Simon Deutsch, Guest Author
Arts and Literature Sports and Recreation
The late 1800s are often characterized as a period of rapid social change in the United States. New work opportunities that emerged in cities (primarily factory work) encouraged a period of urbanization: people from rural areas flocked to the cities and began building new lives. Additionally, the turn of the century saw an influx of immigrants arriving in cities, further contributing to urbanization. With these changes, more people - young and old - had the time and inclination to enjoy entertaining cultural activities.
Urbanization brought with it new opportunities for socialization and recreation, even in Minnesota. By the turn of the 20th Century, the Twin Cities were home to a wide array of leisure activities. From outdoor recreation to vaudeville shows, this primary source set includes examples of both recreation and culture, which flourished in the metropolitan region and beyond.
For example, the Twin Cities had a vibrant theater scene at this time. One of the best known venues, the Bijou Opera House in Minneapolis, originally opened as "The People's Theater" in 1887. The theater was purchased by Jacob Litt, a well-respected entrepreneur both locally and in Milwaukee. Aside from the many performances hosted there, the Bijou Opera House was also one of the first places in the Twin Cities to show motion pictures. The Bijou was in operation until late 1959.
The Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra was another popular entertainment option. The orchestra was founded in 1903 by Emil Oberhoffer and Elbert L. Carpenter. It did not take long for the group to expand its horizons; they were touring regionally by 1907. The group continues to perform today as the Minnesota Orchestra.
In addition to live performances, Twin Cities residents enjoyed attending art exhibitions at museums and fairs, amateur and professional sports, and participating in other indoor and outdoor recreation activities. The popularity of different types of art, music, theater, fashion, and cuisine reflects the taste and values of society at the time.
The culture of a place is created by its people. Though some sights or activities in this set (like the portable band stand wagon in a Minneapolis park, or the dining car of a Burlington Route train) may be unfamiliar to our contemporary sensibilities, some of these cultural activities remain widely popular today.
Discussion Questions & Activities
- The Bijou Opera House collection contains hundreds of theater programs. Browse through the collection and find one program to compare with the program for "A Brass Monkey" that is in this set. What might the advertisements printed in the programs tell you about who was attending these theatrical performances?
- Compare the image of the Armour Golf Course with the image of Logan Park boy's night boxing. Is there anything in these images that would tell you if these were high or low culture activities (refer to the encyclopedia entry on high and low culture for more)?
- Think about the last cultural activity you participated in. How is it similar to the cultural activities in the resources above? How is it different?
- Look at the image of the Band Wagon Erected in a Minneapolis Park. What type of music do you think they would play on a stage like this? Why? Who would listen? How would this leisure activity be similar to or different from the Minneapolis Symphony concert?
- Look at the image of the Farview Park football game. If that game were taking place today, how might it be different? What might be the same?
- Flip through the Catalogue of the third annual art exhibition at the Minneapolis Public Library. Below each name is a numbered list indicating the title of the works in the show by each respective artist. Have your students select the title of a work of art by any artist, and create their own version of the art based on the title alone.
- The popular cultural activities of today are very different from the ones depicted above. On a smaller scale, have you noticed cultural changes in your lifetime? What are the factors effecting that change?
eLibrary Minnesota Resources (for Minnesota residents)
"The 1900s Arts and Entertainment: Overview." UXL American Decades, edited by Julie L. Carnagie, et al., vol. 1: 1900-1909, UXL, 2003, pp. 4-5. Gale In Context: High School. Accessed 23 July 2025.
Auerbach, Michael P. “American Football.” Salem Press Encyclopedia, July 2024. EBSCOhost. Accessed 9 July 2025.
"Culture, Low and High." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, edited by William A. Darity, Jr., 2nd ed., vol. 2, Macmillan Reference USA, 2008, pp. 204-205. Gale In Context: High School. Accessed 9 July 2025.
"Leisure." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, edited by William A. Darity, Jr., 2nd ed., vol. 4, Macmillan Reference USA, 2008, pp. 408-409. Gale In Context: High School. Accessed 23 July 2025.
"modern art." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 11 Jun. 2025. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
"Overview." American Eras: Primary Sources, edited by Rebecca Parks, vol. 1: Development of the Industrial United States, 1878-1899, Gale, 2013, pp. 173-174. Gale In Context: High School. Accessed 23 July 2025.
Paradowski, Robert J. “American Industrial Revolution.” Salem Press Encyclopedia, Jan. 2023. EBSCOhost. Accessed 9 July 2025.
"Urbanization." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History, edited by Thomas Carson and Mary Bonk, Gale, 1999. Gale In Context: High School. Accessed 23 July 2025.
Additional Resources for Research
"America at the Turn of the Century: A Look at the Historical Context." Library of Congress. Accessed 23 July 2025.
Gehl, Robin. "Lake Harriet Bandshell Park." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. Accessed 9 July 2025.
Meyer, Janet. "Minnesota Orchestra." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. Accessed 23 July 2025.
Nelson, J. G. The Book of Minnesota: Development, Resources, Enterprise and Beauty of the North Star State. 1903. Stillwater Public Library collection in the Minnesota Digital Library. Accessed 16 July 2025.
Scholten, Alexandra. "Drag Performance in Minnesota, 1880–1950." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. Accessed 23 July 2025.
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