Minneapolis Jewel

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Minneapolis Jewel (Julianna Porrazzo-Ray) is a pillar of the hobo community. In 1979 she rode her first freight train to attend the National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa. Elected Queen of the Hobos five times, she has served as an important community member for over 40 years. Her book, Wisdom and Nonsense: My Adventures as a Train Rider and Hobo Queen, is a retelling of her experiences with various hobos, her life's journey, and a love letter to the hobo lifestyle. She has advocated for the preservation of hobo culture and its continuation within the new generation.

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Collection of stories of Minneapolis Jewel's travels and her experiences attending the Hobo Convention since the 1990s.
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This is a chapter from Bruce Todd's "BGT" Encyclopedia of American Hobos: Knights of the Road, Profiles and Their History. Chapter title: Five Hobo Queen Julianna Porrazzo-Ray and Two-Time Hobo King Darrel “Tuck” Ray, Husband and Wife. 

Written by Bruce Todd "BGT"

Minneapolis Jewel