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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!
Every time you purchase a ticket to tour a Dream Home on the Parade of Homes, you’re helping fund the work of the Housing First Minnesota Foundation. This fall, five Dream Homes were hand-selected for their design, craftsmanship, and inspirational interiors.
These Dream Homes do more than showcase what’s possible in home design — they help make housing possible for our neighbors who need it most. Your $7 admission supports the Foundation’s work toward building safe housing for Minnesotans in need. Each visitor through the door helps a fellow Minnesotan finally have a place to call home.
