In 1939, the depression was ending, Europe was rife with conflict, and Minnesota was slowly changing into the state we all know today. Industry was booming and Minneapolis was the center of it all. Let’s glimpse into the past and see what life was like in 1939 through these photos.

1. Minnesota's small towns were bustling and recovering from the Great Depression.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
This is main street in Rice, MN.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
And this is highway 10 near Wadena.
2. Minneapolis was the center of industry.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
Photogrammar/John Vachon
The flour mill district was the epicenter of all the action.
3. The railroads were growing in MN as well.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
A freight car.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
From the Iron Range to the Twin Cities, the MN railroads were a crucial part of Minnesota's industrial success.
4. Another form of transportation keeping people busy was trucking.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
Here the family of a trucker is waiting for him to load the truck.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
Here a truck is unloading sacks of wheat at a grain elevator.
5. Speaking of grain, the Minneapolis Grain Exchange was the business center of the city.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
The pit is on the right and the telegraph office is on the left.
6. Along with working hard, here's what lunch hours looked like in the city.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
This a tractor factory in Minneapolis.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
These are the flour mill employees at noon.

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7. The Gateway District in Minneapolis was named in a strategic move to revitalize the area as the commercial and governmental hub of the city.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
Photogrammar/John Vachon
Here, people are relaxing in the park in the Gateway District.
8. People were also busy looking for jobs, and getting back on their feet as the depression wound down.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
9. The Farm Security Administration is helping out locals. This is a cooperative creamery where they are busy unloading milk cans.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
10. Mrs. Howard in Aitkin Country makes her living selling the milk from her small farm.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
11. For fun, some residents would attend auctions. This one is in Tenstrike.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
Photogrammar/John Vachon
This farmer is examining a phonograph at the auction.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
These ladies are serving lunch up to the auction attendees.
12. Families in the city would often enjoy the bountiful parks and lakes throughout the area.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
13. There were also motion picture theaters for entertainment. This one is in Farmington.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
14. Prohibition was clearly over and Minnesota's liquor industry was booming.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
Photogrammar/John Vachon
This Minneapolis beer wagon represents the start of the era of good Minnesota brews - an era that has yet to come to an end!

Which one of these photos was most interesting to you? Tell us why in the comments.

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