The triangular space bounded by Nicollet, Hennepin and Washington Avenues forming a vista from the Great Northern passenger station, where a majority of the visitors in the city arrive. A portion of the ground is parked, and fronting on Washington Av. is the Gateway Building for the convenience of the public, erected at a cost of about $90,000. The main building is flanked by colonnades between which will be placed a beautiful fountain, the gift of Mr. E. J. Phelps. At the ends of the colonnades are drinking fountains presented by the Daughters of Veterans. It is hoped that The Gateway will be surrounded in time by buildings of character and dignity and become in fact a civic center.
Hudson’s Dictionary of Minneapolis and Vicinity-1918
