The history behind the Minnesota State Fair's Lee and Rose Warner Coliseum
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. — Llamas, hockey teams and even a president have made their presence felt at the Lee and Rose Warner Coliseum.
"I find that the fair reminds me of a giant that's sleeping, but it's starting to wake up and that kind of rumble is happening," said Keri Huber.
Even though she looks forward to all 12 days of the "Great Minnesota Get-Together," Huber's job is year-round. She's the state fair archivist and that keeps her plenty busy.
"The amazing things that happen at the state fair. All these connections that are made," said Huber.
Many of those connections happen at the Lee and Rose Warner Coliseum — but it wasn't originally called that.
"(The Hippodrome) was a wooden and brick structure and prior to that, it would have been large circus tents where these people would show their animals," Huber said.
After that circus tent era, the Hippodrome was built in 1906. It had an ice rink inside and even hosted boxing matches, but its main purpose was to show animals during the fair. Then World War II happened, and the entire building was taken over to build airplane propellers.
"1943 and 1944, the whole livestock area was not available to fairgoers. There was no livestock to be had which is just a shame," said Huber.
But something good did come out of it — the realization that a new arena was badly needed. So, in 1951, the Hippodrome was torn down and the coliseum was built. Almost from the beginning, it was attracting all kinds of different visitors.
On Oct. 6, 1962, President John F. Kennedy gave a speech inside the coliseum. He was in town to campaign for Democratic candidates in Minnesota.
"He gave a speech and then went over to the cattle barn and gave a smaller, quicker speech for the overflow crowd," said Huber.
It may have been hot when Kennedy campaigned because air conditioning wasn't added until 1975. That also allowed for a new sheet of ice so college and semi-pro hockey teams could play here in the winter. Nowadays, the arena belongs to cows, horses, dogs and even llamas in costumes.
"Our 4-H llama costume contest was so popular that it ended up moving to the coliseum," Huber said.
When this year's fair is over, the coliseum will get a new roof along with better airflow and lighting.
So, if you think the llamas look good now, just wait until next year's fair.
"It's multi-purpose but for fair time it's definitely all about the animals," said Huber. "It's just really fascinating. Again, all this history that happens at the state fair and I love that."
Ten years ago, the state fair made all animal shows free at the coliseum. The building is named after Lee Warner, who was a big proponent of agriculture during the Hippodrome era. While they don't have hockey anymore during the winter, the coliseum is still home to roller derby.
