As we prepare for Winter Carnival, we’re excited to share a preview of the upcoming University Archives display that will be featured during the Alumni Social + Winter Carnival Exhibit on Saturday, February 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event, hosted by Michigan Tech’s Office of Alumni Engagement, with staff from the University Archives and current student members of the Blue Key Honor Society, will feature a special limited-time exhibit.
Titled Memories Aglow in Ice and Snow, this special exhibit will showcase vintage photos, yearbooks, memorabilia, and pictorials—especially those keepsakes that celebrate the iconic snow statues and outdoor fun from Winter Carnivals gone by.
The image below comes from the Michigan Tech Centennial book—a sneak peek of the upcoming exhibit and a wonderful example of snowy craftsmanship that we think Goldilocks would agree is just right. Do you recognize the year this statue was created, or have a favorite Winter Carnival memory to share? Let us know in the comments!
About the Archives
The Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections houses a wide variety of print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the history and culture the Copper Country and Michigan Technological University. If you would like to research in the archives, appointments are available from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Appointments may be requested by calling (906) 487-2505 or by filling out the request form on the archives website. If you have any questions regarding archives services, collections, or remote research help, please reach out to (906) 487-2505 or e-mail us at copper@mtu.edu. The Michigan Tech Archives can also be found on Facebook (Michigan Tech Archives), Instagram (@michigantecharchives), and X (@mtuarchives).
Absolutely! Winter Carnival 1973, statue created by the residents of the great dorm of DHH! We had some amazing upper classmates who engineered the super structure which enabled us freshmen and other DHH residents to build the Class A Winning Snow Statue! Thanks for picking this classic statue to feature in the Carnival History section of this Alumni Newsletter. Great memories!
1973 – DHH took First Place with this statue
Looks like the work of Douglas Houghton Hall (DHH), perhaps in 1973.
Sometime between 1966-1969
I was honored to be president of Blue Key for the 1976 Winter Carnival. After spending the entire night and morning actively participating in the All-Nigher activities I found myself facing a TV camera holding a microphone in front of the Delt Sig’s statue at 7AM Friday morning. Suddenly I heard the voices of Tom Brokaw and Barbara Walters who were the co-hosts of the NBC Today Show in my ear. I must admit I had been over-indulging in adult beverages initially intended to ward off the cold and I was NOT at the top of my game at that moment. We toured the detailed statue, and I did my best to describe the Winter Carnival process and why MTU students loved to work with ice and snow when we were not in class. After my 5 minutes of fame on national TV I returned to my fraternity house where the pay phone in the hall was ringing. I answered and my mother asked if I was OK. I said sure, why? She said, “Well, you looked like hell on TV and people in town are calling asking if you are OK.” She then said to go to bed and sober up!
I think 1973, built by folks in DHH. Not involved in that one myself but I knew the folks. That ‘spoon’ the bear is perched on I think had a steel plate inserted for support.
SARGE! (JH) you da man!
My first Carnival, and wow! was this statue ever impressive!! I still miss those winter environs.