How Sports and Recreation Have Shaped the State

Gophers, Vikings, and Saints: Highlights from the History of Minnesota Sports

In an eleven-month span between May 1991 and April 1992, the Twin Cities metropolitan area played host to five major national sports championships: the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Golf’s US Open, the World Series, the Super Bowl, and the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four. This series of events put Minnesota in the national sports spotlight.

A Hamm’s poster celebrating the Minnesota Twins’ 1965 season. Hamm’s Brewing Company collaborated with professional sports teams in Minnesota and the Midwest as an advertising partner.

Twins/Hamm’s poster

A Hamm’s poster celebrating the Minnesota Twins’ 1965 season. Hamm’s Brewing Company collaborated with professional sports teams in Minnesota and the Midwest as an advertising partner.

Polaris 500 Indy Classic snowmobile at Jay Cooke State Park, Minnesota. Photograph by Flickr user Tony Webster. CC BY 2.0.

Polaris 500 Indy Classic

Polaris 500 Indy Classic snowmobile at Jay Cooke State Park, Minnesota. Photograph by Flickr user Tony Webster. CC BY 2.0.

Polaris RMK series snowmobile. Introduced in 1996, the RMK series of snowmobiles Polaris’s entry into the deep snow mountain sled market. Photograph taken in Island Park, Idaho, by Flickr user MotoWebMistress. CC BY 2.0.

Polaris RMK Series

Polaris RMK series snowmobile. Introduced in 1996, the RMK series of snowmobiles Polaris’s entry into the deep snow mountain sled market. Photograph taken in Island Park, Idaho, by Flickr user MotoWebMistress. CC BY 2.0.

1996 Polaris sales catalog. From Polaris 1996 Snowmobiles (Minneapolis: Polaris, 1995). Available at the Minnesota Historical Society library as TL234.2 P64 1995.

1996 Polaris catalog

1996 Polaris sales catalog. From Polaris 1996 Snowmobiles (Minneapolis: Polaris, 1995). Available at the Minnesota Historical Society library as TL234.2 P64 1995.

The cover of this 1970 sales brochure featured Polaris’s full snowmobile line. From “Pamphlets relating to snowmobiles and snow cruisers, 1939–.” Pamphlets collection (TL234), Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul.

1970 Polaris brochure

The cover of this 1970 sales brochure featured Polaris’s full snowmobile line. From “Pamphlets relating to snowmobiles and snow cruisers, 1939–.” Pamphlets collection (TL234), Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul.

Promotional photo of the 1969 Polaris Playmate, including wheel kit.

1969 Polaris Playmate

Promotional photo of the 1969 Polaris Playmate, including wheel kit.

Photograph Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul Description: Publicity photo of the 1969 Polaris Colt.

1969 Polaris Colt

Photograph Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul
Description: Publicity photo of the 1969 Polaris Colt.

Publicity photo of the 1969 Polaris Charger.

1969 Polaris Charger

Publicity photo of the 1969 Polaris Charger.

Publicity photo of the 1969 Polaris Voyager.

1969 Polaris Voyager

Publicity photo of the 1969 Polaris Voyager.

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