The Metropolitan Building: Destroyed by Jazz
A 10-minute short film about the destruction of The Met produced by University of Minnesota graduate students in 1961. Courtesy of The University of Minnesota. Beautiful Jazz soundtrack! Read More
Bring The Met Back to Minneapolis!
A civic effort to raise $100,000 by Sept 1, 2010 to bring the majestic entry arch of The Metropolitan Building back to a downtown Minneapolis park. Contributions can be made to The Minneapolis Parks Foundation at www.mplsparksfoundation.org. You join the efforts Facebook page: Bring The Met Back to Minneapolis! Read More
Nicollet Mall Then and Now
Then The short bus on Nicollet Mall in 1975 Several efforts were undertaken in order to help downtown compete for retail after most of it was razed in the mid 60′s. One was the construction of the skyway system; another was the creation of Nicollet Mall. In 1968, a dozen blocks of Nicollet Avenue were converted into a curving, tree-lined mall closed to automobile traffic. This was the first transit mall in the United States, and it inspired... Read More
The Conservatory Then and Never Again
1997 I distinctly remember an upscale mall being built on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis the year after I graduated from high school. The Conservatory was one of the most famous failures in the entire history of urban revitalization. The place was incredibly modern and ornate with marble floors, live plants, a huge wall of water in the main entry, and the most exclusive boutique shops available at the time. I remember spending hours in the... Read More
Continental Hotel Then and Now
2010 1950 The Continental Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the last remaining single room occupancy residential hotel of its type in Minneapolis. 1930's Post Card Read More
The Leamington Hotel
The Leamington in 1915 Dear Greejeans, Hope all’s well out there on the North Dakota prairie. I wish you had left Bob the cat here to keep me company. Things have been pretty quiet around the Blackstone. Going to school, going to work. Gary’s had a pretty big boner lately. Prissy came back to work. We’ve been hanging out at Williams eating peanuts, drinking Leinenkugel’s and wishing you were here. J. F. Skinner stopped by with... Read More
Block E Then and Now
Then Block E in the middle of the last century and Now In its early days, Block E contained mansions and row houses. The mansions on Hennepin between 6th and 7th were gone at least by 1908 when the block acquired its row of small commercial buildings that remained largely unchanged into the 1980s. In the mid to late 19th century, the commercial and political hub of Minneapolis was Bridge Square, at the convergence of Hennepin and Nicollet Avenues.... Read More
Timber!