On this Date in Minnesota history: July 20

July 20, 1940 – With temperatures in the low 90s for most of the day, opening day for the first Minneapolis Aquatennial celebration was hot and crowded. Approximately 200,000 spectators watched the Aquatennial Parade’s five-mile march down the parade route. The streets were lined two hours before the 4:30 p.m. start time.

“In the line of march were a national record number of 86 floats, in addition to 50 bands and drum and bugle corps and scores of uniformed marching units.”

In other events, 5,500 spectators listened to western movie star and radio performer Gene Autry sing and watched rodeo stars perform bulldogging, bronco-riding and other hazardous tricks.

Minneapolis Tribune; July 21, 1940
“Giant Parade Launches Aquatennial To the Cheers of 200,000 Spectators”; pp. 1 and 2.
“5,500 Watch Gene Autry and Rodeo Stars in Opener”; p. 11

Gene Autry
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