1986 Ice Palace Photo: Humble blogger took this photo at dust (5:55 pm) Monday, February 10, 1986 using a Nikon "EM" SLR, 35 mm camera on a tripod. I used a standard 50 mm lens having a lens opening of f 1.8 and a shutter speed of 1/4 sec. I used a Kodachrome ASA 64 slide film. Outside temperature was 3 degrees F (-16 C). A "Vulcan" (One of Vulcan Krewe menacing characters of the Winter Carnival) can be seen at the foot of the castle near the middle of the photo. The public was not allowed near the palace except for a wedding or two. 17 year old son Joseph was often at my side during Ice Palace visits and photo sessions. This photo is Copyright © 1986 DO Kubiatowicz. Please do not use without permission. Click on photo to enlarge.
Winter Carnival History:
The St. Paul, Minnesota Winter Carnival has been celebrated in late January to early February ever since a New York reporter wrote in 1885 that St. Paul in winter was "...another Siberia, unfit for human habitation." The St. Paul chamber of commerce decided to prove that St. Paul was not only habitable but that its citizens were very much alive. Some Winter Carnival years were missed because of warm weather and WWII. In addition to numerous outdoor events, ice castles (palaces) were sometimes built. Most notable for Humble Blogger were the Centennial Palace built at Lake Phalen in 1986 and the other on Harriet Island in St. Paul in 1992. The most recent ice castle was erected in downtown St. Paul in 2004. Who knows if another will ever be built considering the high cost and liability of such an undertaking today. The Winter Carnival this year runs from January 24 through February 3. 2013.
1986 Palace Facts*
Occasion: 100th Anniversary of the St. Paul Winter Carnival
Site:A small island on the west side of Lake Phalen adjacent to Phalen Drive in St. Paul, MN.
Dimensions: Footprint: 150 ft. by 150 ft. (44.7 m by 45.7 m) including the "keep". Height: 128.8 ft. (39.3 m) (The tallest verifiable structure build from ice up to 1986)
Financing: 18,900 ice blocks were sold to the public at $10.00 each. WUSA TV (Local Ch 11) Donated $50,000 to cover one of the liability insurance premiums. Other donations were also received. Humble Blogger bought a block of ice and was mailed a certificate of proof of purchase.
Construction: Began Monday January 6, 1986 and the last block of ice was in place on Tuesday, February 4, 1986. Architect was Ellerbe Assc. Inc. The contractor was Austin P. Keller. Workforce consisted entirely of volunteer laborers from 11 trades which were organized from their unions. Over 750 individuals donated their time. Two shifts worked 6 days a week from 7 am till 4 pm and from 4 pm till 11 pm. Many of these men (and perhaps some women but I'm not sure) worked their other jobs and came to work on the palace after their shifts were over.
Foundation: 400 wooden pilings were driven into the ground before pouring a concrete foundation to support the palace.
Ice blocks: 9,000 ice blocks were used to build the palace. Each block measured 21 in. deep by 24 in. wide by 42 in. long (0.5 by 0.6 m by 1 m) having a volume of 12.25 cu ft (0.35 cubic meters). Each weighed 700 lb. (317.5 kg). Total weight was 6.3 million pounds of ice (2.86 million kg of ice).
Lights: 4.5 miles of wiring illuminated 12,000 lights consuming 45,000 watts of power. Lights were red (350), green (400) and blue (450). A computer system orchestrated the lights; a 48 channel dimming system specially designed for this project cost $20,000.
*Fact sheet from a publication by St. Paul Winter Carnival, North Central Tower, Suite 600, 445 Minnesota Street, St. Paul MN 55101)
