Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights in Ramsey County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Fine Arts Center

Photographed by McGhiever, July 22, 2026

1. Fine Arts Center Marker

Inscription.

Architecture and History The Fine Arts Center, constructed as the Dairy Building in 1907, was initially used to showcase prize-winning dairy products. The building and its sister structure the Poultry Building (now the Progress Center, also built in 1907) were adorned with sculptures that reflected their uses: a dairy cow and milk pail, and a rooster, respectively. With Roman arches and keystone windows, the architecture of the Dairy Building was the more ornate of the two buildings.

In 1923, the dairy exhibit moved to the mezzanine level of the Cattle Barn but returned to the Dairy Building in 1933 and remained through 1967. The building was then repurposed for machinery, displayed through the 1970s. Over the years, the main doors we now use on the west side of the building replaced the original arched windows, closely approximating the north doors with only hardware differences.

In 1980, the building became the Fine Arts Center. Before fine arts found its permanent home in the former Dairy Building, the exhibition took place in several locations throughout the fairgrounds including a dedicated art hall built

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in 1885, the Main Building (which burned down in 1944), and the Grandstand, to name a few. Today, the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition hosted in the Fine Arts Center is Minnesota's largest juried art show, showcasing more than 300 of the finest pieces of artwork selected from thousands entered by artists throughout the state.

Restoration Project In late 2023, the Minnesota State Fair Foundation received a contribution dedicated to preserving and restoring the stately windows and doors of the Fine Arts Center, which were deteriorating and not adequately protecting the structure and exhibit from the environment. This includes fourteen 8-foot-tall arched windows located at each corner and the center of the east side of the building, twenty-eight 8-foot-tall rectangular windows throughout, and six fixed windows located over each double-door. It also includes twelve 11-foot custom doors at the north and west entrances.

Further financial support from donors helped make possible additional projects for the building including cleaning and sealing of exterior brick, painting of exterior moldings and cornices, enhanced landscaping,

The Fine Arts Center and marker on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, July 22, 2026

2. The Fine Arts Center and marker on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds

painting of gallery walls, exhaust fan replacement for improved building ventilation, and a new welcome desk.

How You Can Help The Minnesota State Fair Foundation invites you to join us in supporting projects like this with a donation to State Fair Arts & Culture programming. Visit msffoundation.org/donate

Erected by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.

Location. 44° 59.048′ N, 93° 10.072′ W. Marker is in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, in Ramsey County. It is in Minnesota State Fairgrounds. It is at the intersection of Cosgrove Street and Randall Avenue on Cosgrove Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1442 Cosgrove Street, Saint Paul MN 55108, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

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the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Minnesota Marquees (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Minnesota Marquees (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Minnesota Marquees (approx. ¼ mile away); Curtiss Northwest Airport and its Fliers (approx. 0.4 miles away); A Century in the Sky (approx. 0.4 miles away); Curtiss Northwest Airport – Serving the Area (approx. 0.4 miles away); Extending the U (approx. 0.7 miles away); Old Anatomy Building (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Falcon Heights.

More about this marker. The fairgrounds are free to visit when there are no events scheduled.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 19, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.