Even before the election of Governor Jesse Ventura, Minnesota garnered national attention. Minnesotans are proud of a long tradition of good government and strong support for the arts. As you plan your Twin Cities visit, we offer you a glimpse of our government and our vibrant, exciting arts scene.

The state of Minnesota is widely known for the national leaders that it has produced, from Harold Stassen -- the "boy wonder" governor and perennial presidential candidate --to three outstanding Minnesotans who also ran for president, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Senator Eugene McCarthy and Vice President Walter Mondale.

Minnesota government had a largely liberal beginning. The first Minnesota Legislature authorized the sale of $5 million in railroad bonds to promote the growth of businesses after the economic Panic of 1857. The Populist Movement and a tradition of government regulation of business spirited the merger of the Minnesota Democratic and Farmer-Labor Parties in 1944. The Republican Party also has strong roots in the state.

Minnesota’s political climate is as diverse as its weather. In 1998, Minnesota citizenry found former mayor, film star and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura a popular choice for Minnesota’s governor. Representing the Independence Party, Governor Ventura defeated the more established Democratic Farmer Labor and the Republican parties to assume leadership of the state. Ventura is also the first Minnesota governor to hire a former librarian as his staff information specialist. Her refers to her as the "answerist".

Minnesota’s beautiful State Capitol is a splendid edifice built in 1905 as designed by noted architect Cass Gilbert. You will see similarities to the U.S. Supreme Court building which was also designed by Gilbert. In both buildings, he astonished the public with self supporting circular stairways. Gilbert chose a sculpture of four golden horses, know as Quadriga, and two golden women to top the Capitol. Guided tours of the Capitol are offered.

The stunning Minnesota Judicial Center is located just east of the State Capital. The Center incorporates the refurbished former quarters of the Historical Society with new construction completed in 1990. It houses the Minnesota Appellate Courts and the Minnesota State Law Library with more than 200,000 volumes and a fascinating, climate controlled Special Collections Room. The Minnesota Supreme Court was the first state court to have a female majority and the current court enjoys the leadership of Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz. Three distinguished jurists from Minnesota served on the United States Supreme Court: Chief Justice Warren Burger (1969-1986), Justice Pierce Butler (1923-1939) and Justice Harry A. Blackmun (1970-1994).

Downtown St. Paul hosts city and county politics in the St. Paul City Hall and Ramsey County Courthouse, one of the most unique examples of public architecture from the Depression era. The building blends the art deco styles of American Perpendicular and Zigzag Moderne. A highlight of the building is Memorial Hall with its Vision of Peace statue, the largest carved onyx figure in the world at a height of thirty-six feet. It was dedicated in 1936 to the war veterans of Ramsey County as a tribute to everlasting peace. The Ramsey County Law Library is located on the top floor of the Courthouse with lovely views of the Mississippi River, the Cathedral of St. Paul, and the State Capitol.

Minneapolis has its own collection of striking government buildings grouped within a block of each other. The Hennepin County Government Center occupies a modern two towered office complex with court and administrative facilities, a law center that assists pro se patrons, and the Hennepin County Law Library. Minneapolis City Hall is a gothic architectural treasure that was completed in 1906. The U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis opened in 1997 and was the first Federal court facility designed with state-of-the-market technology. The building’s distinctive architecture and curious street-level sculptures deserve a visit.

The University of Minnesota is an example of liberal government at work. The third largest university in America, the U of M is both a state land-grant university, with a strong tradition of education and public service, and a major research institution. The Mississippi River divides the sprawling campus; the campus east of the river is called the East Bank, and the campus west of the Mississippi (and the area closest to downtown Minneapolis) is called the West Bank. The law school and law library are located on the West Bank.

Minnesotans care as deeply about the arts as they do about their government. The educated and benevolent culture of the area has given great support to the arts. You will have many opportunities to sample the fine arts of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Orchestra, ranked among the top ten orchestras in the country, will stage a 24-hour music marathon beginning at noon on July 13. The Orchestra’s summer MusicFest will be in full swing during the convention week, with concerts by French and Spanish composers and food outdoors on Peavey Plaza. The event will take place two 2 blocks from the Minneapolis Convention Center.

For a casual outdoor concert, the Minnesota Summer Pops Orchestra will perform a concert version of "The Pirates of Penzance" in the beautiful Lake Harriet Band Shell on Saturday and Sunday evenings, July 14 and 15. This fun family outing often features a march by children attending the concert, just about the time they’re apt to get restless.

The downtown Minneapolis music scene includes the Fine Line Music Cafe, a showcase for rock and pop artists. First Avenue/7th Street Entry features local and national entertainers performing everything from rock 'n' roll, pop and progressive to funk, reggae and R&B. The Quest is a multilevel club offering a music mix of old-school funk, cutting-edge electronica, alt-rock and R&B. The Loring Cafe & Bar offers jazz and ethnic music. Near downtown on the West Bank, consider the Cedar Cultural Centre which brings multi-cultural music to the Twin Cities.

The best nightlife in St. Paul can be found at the Dakota Bar and Grill, which has live jazz every night, featuring nationally known musicians. The deft blends of traditional and the irreverent make this club one of the best jazz venues in town. Another exceptional locale for music is the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, home of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and traveling Broadway shows.

The local theater scene has been called one of the best for an area of this size. The Guthrie Theater is world famous. Founded 40 years ago by Sir Tyrone Guthrie, it has been the place where many Minnesotans were first exposed to live theater with professional actors. An exciting new facility on the riverfront is planned for the Guthrie.
The Guthrie Theater is only one of many theaters in the Twin Cities. The Children's Theatre Company, the Mixed Blood Theater, the Park Square Theatre, and the Penumbra Theatre are all flourishing. The Hey City Theater (Smokey Joe's Café), and the Illusion Theatre (Fresh Ink) have plays scheduled in July in the downtown area. If you're willing to drive, other theaters with plays running during the convention are the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre (My Fair Lady and Forever Plaid), the Old Log Theater (Caught in the Net), and the Plymouth Playhouse (How to Talk Minnesotan) will have. The Brave New Workshop is the longest running comedy theater in the United State and is just a few miles from downtown in the lively uptown area.

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts will be featuring "Degas and America" this summer. The Walker Art Center and Sculpture Gardens focuses on contemporary art. There are also many other galleries with more specialized collections. The Weisman Art Museum houses a fine collection of early 20th century American Art and ancient Native American Mimbres pottery.