Generations of Minnesotans have grown up looking forward to their annual pilgrimage to the State Fair.

Every year, about 2 million fairgoers revel in its sights, sounds and smells, eating deep-fried food on a stick and wandering from exhibit hall to exhibit hall until their feet are sore.

The Great Minnesota Get-Together has changed much since it was first held in 1859. What began primarily as a chance for the state’s farmers to show off prized crops and livestock has evolved into a sprawling carnival that offers something for nearly everyone — while still retaining its agricultural roots.

Pioneer Press photographers have been documenting these changes for more than a century. This collection of images is just a sampling of their work over the years.

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