Last updated: August 16, 2021
Place
Museum - Potato Festival Exhibit
NPS Photo, Danny Ortiz
Quick Facts
Location:
800 Main St, Tulelake, Ca 96134
MANAGED BY:
Amenities
2 listed
Audio Description, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits
In the fall of 1934 the Merrill Service Club set up some small displays and a fenced area on Merrell's front street, charging 25 cents admission. Klamath Basin grown potatoes were the focal point of the event. A modest barbecue was offered in the basement of the Merrill Community Hall. I
n 1936. The tradition of crowning a queen began. And soon, the event included a barbecue, parade, displays, football game and a dance. During the World War two years, the event was scaled back to only include a late harvest dance.
Those humble beginnings fostered the growth of the yearly celebration known as the Klamath Basin Potato Festival.
Celebrations remain a part of the community of Malin.
We had the national so-called celebration and then went into the elementary school in the football field that we have out there now.
In nineteen twenty eight, we had a West Coast conference to select conference here, and they had people come all the way from Chicago. They had to make your own entertainment. They had dances, special events, special occasion, anything that can be celebrated. My dad used to tell me they used to have this the spring festival when the ice would break on the lake, they'd have a celebration for that. They would have all kinds of celebrations. They had the pioneer days, which started in the 30s. Pretty soon, the city started having regular celebrations there, 40 or 50 or 60, a diamond jubilee. And we have a car cruise that has been going for several years to celebrate the Fourth of July. And different groups have put different affairs on, and they're always tied into the park.
Turn to see the Buffalo head.
The Tulelake Butte Valley Fair is an event that symbolizes the pride of the region, where families and friends join together to celebrate, to socialize and to remember.
I have never known better, sharper, more dedicated group of people in my life and that there more have been for the Rotary Club, have you ever had to write. It's always here. And I did listen to her kids in family.
The wind blew and they had an electric cord or something that went into this cover that they had , and it started a fire. So they had to help those poor ladies there. They had their beautiful cakes of white icing and the dust then covered everything. Oh, it was that way. But, you know, we made it. We made it through the fair.
Now, enter the first maze behind you to visit Merrill, Oregon, 10 miles north of here.
n 1936. The tradition of crowning a queen began. And soon, the event included a barbecue, parade, displays, football game and a dance. During the World War two years, the event was scaled back to only include a late harvest dance.
Those humble beginnings fostered the growth of the yearly celebration known as the Klamath Basin Potato Festival.
Celebrations remain a part of the community of Malin.
We had the national so-called celebration and then went into the elementary school in the football field that we have out there now.
In nineteen twenty eight, we had a West Coast conference to select conference here, and they had people come all the way from Chicago. They had to make your own entertainment. They had dances, special events, special occasion, anything that can be celebrated. My dad used to tell me they used to have this the spring festival when the ice would break on the lake, they'd have a celebration for that. They would have all kinds of celebrations. They had the pioneer days, which started in the 30s. Pretty soon, the city started having regular celebrations there, 40 or 50 or 60, a diamond jubilee. And we have a car cruise that has been going for several years to celebrate the Fourth of July. And different groups have put different affairs on, and they're always tied into the park.
Turn to see the Buffalo head.
The Tulelake Butte Valley Fair is an event that symbolizes the pride of the region, where families and friends join together to celebrate, to socialize and to remember.
I have never known better, sharper, more dedicated group of people in my life and that there more have been for the Rotary Club, have you ever had to write. It's always here. And I did listen to her kids in family.
The wind blew and they had an electric cord or something that went into this cover that they had , and it started a fire. So they had to help those poor ladies there. They had their beautiful cakes of white icing and the dust then covered everything. Oh, it was that way. But, you know, we made it. We made it through the fair.
Now, enter the first maze behind you to visit Merrill, Oregon, 10 miles north of here.