Welcome to See Der Rabbits

My co-worker Diane Langton, as skilled an archives-digger as I've ever known, points out that the search for a welcome sign design I wrote of yesterday is only the latest attempt in the city's proud history to cleverly catch the eye of outsiders.

She points to front page of The Evening Gazette of Saturday, Sept. 24, 1898, which urged one and all to come and enjoy the "SEE DER RABBITS Carnival Oct. 3-7." (The full, zoom-able front page is also below)

See Der Rabbits. Cedar Rapids. Get it? Snort.

And if you think modern day boosters can get a tad braggy, check out the carnival pitch:

Cedar Rapids Extends a Most Cordial Invitation to One and All to Come and Witness the Greatest and Grandest Carnival ever Given in the West - Unbounded Hospitality and Unlimited Pleasure - Program of Surpassing Excellence - Wonderful and Thrilling Pyrotechnics Reproducing Dewey's Capture of Manila and Destruction of the Spanish Elect, a Scene Never to be Forgotten - Magnificent Fireworks - Great Bicycle Races - Trotting and Running - Balloon Races, a New and Startling Innovation - Trapeze Performances Never Equalled - Do not Fail to Join in the Glorious Fall Festivities - Take a Few Days off from Business and Toil and Join in Having a Good Time, a Season of Pleasure, Profit and Joy - Remember the Place and Date and Accept this Genuine Welcome and Invitation

Grandest in all the west? Dewey destroys the Spanish fleet? Balloons, so new and startling? A Season of pleasure? Yeah, I'm there. Somebody fire up the Wayback Machine.

I can see the welcome sign now. "Welcome to See Der Rabbits. We're Very Hoppy to See You." It's got potential.

See Der Rabbits