The Carnival, though originating in 1911, saw its first official theme and snow sculpture in 1925, when Dartmouth students honored the Scandinavian carnivals that inspired their winter celebration, choosing the theme "Jutenheim Iskarneval," which means "winter carnival" in German.
That year, a large medieval castle sculpture was erected out of snow on the Green.
For a few years, beginning in 1927, the gargantuan sculptures fell in importance as fraternities started competing over who could create the most impressive ice sculpture outside their houses.
This tradition of small sculptures later dwindled, however, and attention returned to the central sculpture.
Many of Carnival's first sculptures drew inspiration from mythical stories, or even Dartmouth's now-controversial former mascot.
Starshooter, a record-setting 40-foot tall Native American shooting an arrow at the sky, was constructed in 1940.
In 1955, the sculpture depicted a gigantic Eskimo riding a whale. As a result of the particularly cold temperatures which Hanover saw that winter, the Eskimo had to be destroyed with dynamite in the spring.
Some of Carnival's first sculptures drew inspiration from ancient European myths. The mythical Norse skiing god Hyderdahl, constructed in 1941, rose 45-feet tall over the Green.
Fifteen years later, students constructed a towering replica of Ullr, the Norse god of skiing.
Several more recent snow sculptures have also been ambitious endeavors. Highlights include a fire-breathing dragon that was constructed in1969, which contained a butane tank in the dragon's throat.
In 1987, students created a 47.5-foot snowman that won the Guinness record for the world's tallest snowman, though the feat has since been surpassed.
Recent sculpture-builders have sometimes been hindered by unseasonable temperatures. The Carnival's 1997 sculpture, which was intended to depict a knight riding a horse, collapsed following warm weather. The sculpture was instead converted into a scene from a knight's funeral. Two years prior, a sculpture of a wolf balancing on its hind legs completely melted, leaving a disappointing pile of snow in the center of the Green.
Despite these setbacks, other recent sculptures may herald a return to the larger undertakings of Carnivals past. In 2004, a 30-foot Cat in the Hat sculpture was constructed to commemorate Dartmouth graduate Dr. Seuss and his 100th birthday. The following year, a 50-foot long pirate ship was completed to highlight that year's "Peter Pan" theme.
An often-cited favorite recent sculpture among students is the 2006 sculpture, which depicted Calvin and Hobbes sitting inside of a giant D.
The sculpture, however, prompted copyright issues with the creator and publisher of the popular comic.
Although the sculpture was still allowed to be constructed because of its status as a temporary work of art, the College could not officially use the Calvin and Hobbes trademark name or characters as a theme.
The construction of the annual Winter Carnival snow sculpture has always been organized by students.
After choosing a theme for that year's Carnival, a group of students from the Winter Carnival Council brainstorms ideas and possible designs for the sculpture, and then completes a preliminary plan.
After receiving approval from the College for the design, a sculpture team begins planning and construction.
Work on the sculpture often continues throughout the night immediately preceding the Carnival's opening ceremonies.
