Laughter, Falling Water and Time
Built along Washington between 2nd and 3rd Avenue South, the new Minneapolis Post Office, designed by James Knox Taylor, was completed in 1915. Construction involved clearing an acre of land and took almost two years. The “Temple of Mail” was used as a United States Post Office until 1936 when it was converted into a … Read more
Completed in October of 1887, the Swedish Tabernacle still stands on the northeast corner of 7th and Chicago Avenue. Way back when, the building’s 2,500 seat assembly hall was the biggest meeting place in Minneapolis. During the 1890’s, the Swedish Tabernacle hosted tremendous gatherings of city-wide interest. Explorers, scientists, statesmen, and preachers spoke here on … Read more
The Gopher Cafe’s 9th and Hennepin location put the eatery in the heart of the Minneapolis theater district. The restaurant had a informal modern atmosphere featuring cozy booths, a swivel chair lunch counter and a swanky cocktail bar with an entrance on 9th Street. The Gopher’s digs are probably better remembered as Duff’s Bar. Originally … Read more
The Rev. Benjamin Close organized the Market Street church on December 31, 1848. The modest house of worship, built for less than $3000 was the first Protestant church in the territory and the first brick building in St. Paul. In 1855 a new church building was built at 9th and Jackson. The congregation had agreed … Read more
In 1879 James J. Hill bought the bankrupt St. Paul and Pacific Railway Company and renamed it the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railroad. A couple months later, railroads in Saint Paul banded together to build a union station and Minneapolis leaders asked Hill to build a union station on their side of the river. … Read more
One of the largest and most striking down town office buildings in the very heart of the business district. It is located on the corner of Fourth and Minnesota streets, opposite the First National Bank and the State Savings Bank, one block south from the Merchants National Bank and the Bank of Commerce, two blocks … Read more
The seven-story Empire Building at 360 North Robert Street was completed in 1891. Designed by St. Paul architect Clarence H. Johnston, the Jacobsville Sandstone, red brick office and banking building was formerly known as the Manhattan Building and the Capital National Bank Building. At the turn of the century, the famous stenographer, Miss Ruth M. Hillman … Read more
Joseph Friedman already owned several small St. Paul movie houses when he opened the Tower Theatre 1921. The building designed by architectural firm of Toltz, King and Day, is remembered for an elegant facade and patterned brickwork. Inside a small marble lobby gave way to an enormous 1,100 seat auditorium containing a balcony, orchestra pit, … Read more
At the intersection of 4th and Jackson, the old Davidson Block stood where the Great Northern Railway Building is today. Built four stories high in 1876, the building held the local offices of Wells Fargo & Co. Express, Gasser Wetcalf and Mack Real Estate and the Davidson Investment firm. The building was demolished in 1914.