In 1886, Saint Paul was America's fastest growing city. It had also become America's third largest rail center. To celebrate their civic success, the business leaders inaugurated the carnival which was held during the first two weeks of February 1886. Part of their motivation was to disprove a New York newspaper reporter who had described the city as "Another Siberia, Unfit For Human Habitation In The Winter." Patterning the event after Montreal's Winter Carnival, the first event included parades, all sorts of snow and ice related events and the most successful attractions an ice castle and six large toboggan slides. This 1.25" silvered brass medallion holed as made has one side picturing the ice castle with text "Winter Carnival/St. Paul." Opposite side reads "Souvenir/1886/St. Paul Winter Carnival & Ice Palace." NM. The second item in this group is from the following year and is a pressed wooden rectangle 3.25x4.5x.25" thick. Front has raised image of "St. Paul Ice Palace-1887." The front of this piece has had gold color added to the bkg. and silver color added to the castle. Color extends on to the side edges of the piece but only a trace of gold on the reverse margin of the piece in its unpainted wood original finish which shows a giant building above text "Compliments Of Mannheimer Bros. Importers And Retailers Of Dry Goods St. Paul. Minn." A pair of rare items from the event's two earliest years. See following two related groups of items.