The Parade of Homes is 75 this year! In honor of our big milestone anniversary, we’re taking a walk down memory lane to see how far we’ve come and how things have changed.
In July, we kicked off a social media campaign to highlight each year of the tour, since it’s conception in 1948. You can follow along on Instagram and Facebook as we post daily to the Parade of Homes accounts. As the campaign recently reached our 25th anniversary in 1973, we will take a moment to reflect on those first 25 years.
The Beginning
The Parade of Homes began in 1948 with the original Trend Home in Edina. Six builders collaborated to build a house that was the epitome of industry and design. Thousands of people turned out that year to wander through the house, exploring all the nooks and crannies filled with beautiful details and illustrative designs.
The More, The Merrier
In 1950, the Minneapolis Builders Association got the idea to begin a scattered site tour. Instead of confining the Parade of Homes to one neighborhood, they built new homes all across the Twin Cities, providing easy access to everyone no matter where you live. This was the first scattered site home tour in the history of the United States and continues to be the most successful model today.
Royal Celebrations
Throughout the 1950s, the Parade of Homes continued to grow, and celebrations abounded. One of the most special celebrations was the Queen of Homes. Each year during the ‘50s, one woman would be crowned the new Queen of Homes. She would then visit each of the homes and participate in a city parade. She was even interviewed on the radio!
Logos and Laughs
In 1966, the Parade of Homes had grown enough that the Builder Associations realized it needed its own logo. On many articles and advertisements of the time, you will find a beautiful logo featuring a carnival tent across the bright, bold words “Parade of Homes by Registered Builders.”
Styles You’ll Love
The homes of these first 25 years consisted of every style and design, both interior and architectural. Mid-century Modern was very popular during these first few years, and bright colors and rich furniture adorned every room. Each home featured the newest technology, from color TVs to home security systems. Tourgoers continue to turn up by the thousands to look for new homes for themselves and to draw inspiration for their current homes.
The Parade of Homes has always been about community and inspiration, from the very beginning. As we continue to move forward into the future, we hope to inspire hope and fulfill dreams for every Minnesota family.
Continue to follow our journey through history on social!
It’s almost time for the final weekend of the Spring Parade of Homes…and you know what that means! The Remodelers Showcase will be open this weekend (April 5-7) only. Tour 40 newly remodeled homes scattered all across the Twin Cities. Plus, meet the talented teams behind the wow-worthy transformations. Remodeled homes are open this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12-6pm. From main level makeovers to stunning kitchen and bath transformations, the Remodelers Showcase can help you get inspired for your next home project.
Today, we’re diving into the heart of the home: the kitchen. On the Spring Remodelers Showcase, homeowners were embracing color to infuse personality and style into their culinary spaces. Take a closer look at some inspiring kitchen remodels that beautifully incorporate color.
There’s no shortage of incredible residences on the Parade of Homes, but these four amazing homes have been selected by our BATC-Housing First Minnesota Foundation as this fall’s Dream Homes. These four beauties from Homes By Tradition, Highmark Builders, Carl M. Hansen Companies and Trestle Homes will leave you in awe. Plus, a $5 tax-deductible entry fee to each of these four homes will go to the BATC-Housing First Minnesota Foundation to support their mission of building and remodeling homes and facilities for veterans and the homeless.
And stay tuned for more details on our two Dream Remodeled Homes, open the final weekend of the tour during the Remodelers Showcase!
