The Palace 1886

Curator: What a striking image—an almost ethereal landscape dominated by an imposing, fortress-like structure. We’re looking at an 1886 photograph titled “The Palace,” taken by Henry Hamilton Bennett. It’s part of the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s collection. Editor: My immediate thought is "winter wonderland, but make it authoritarian." It has the chilling majesty of a fairytale kingdom ruled by an ice queen. Curator: Interesting interpretation. For me, it’s deeply rooted in the specific social moment. This photograph depicts the Ice Palace built for the St. Paul Winter Carnival in 1886. The Carnival was conceived to demonstrate that Saint Paul, Minnesota was not only habitable but vibrant even in the harsh winter months. A defiant act against perceptions shaped during a time when many considered the northern states too inhospitable. Editor: Ah, a visual statement of civic pride, very much on the nose with the castle motif! But look at the medium itself; photography can freeze a moment and imbue it with symbolic meaning beyond its literal representation. It makes me think about ephemeral power, too—something constructed meticulously yet ultimately fleeting, vulnerable to thaw and change. Curator: Indeed. The ice palace became a symbol of ambition and communal effort—turning perceived weakness into strength. Consider the layers here. The symbolism behind the deliberate architecture versus its impermanence, which became a sort of poignant statement about society’s ambitions over time. And of course, this scene plays into the myth-making about America at that time as well. The picture freezes not just ice but a moment in societal confidence-building and boosterism. Editor: So it becomes a multi-layered icon, not just of a place but of an ambition? Even the photograph as a document elevates something transient into enduring visual culture. Makes one ponder which ice palaces we are busy erecting today. Curator: Exactly. It allows us to appreciate that the grandest symbols can be ephemeral while still encapsulating lasting human endeavors. Editor: It truly encourages a thoughtful reflection on resilience and perhaps, even defiance, embedded within an otherwise seemingly simple image.