The Lumber Exchange Building

The new Lumber Exchange building costing  $8150,000, built by S. G. Cook. at the corner at  Heunepln Avenue and Fifth Street, is an imposing structure whose lofty height seems to dwarf Its surroundings, with the exception of the West hotel. It is built of pink Kasota stone, and is relieved by tasteful carving, a tower, … Read more

Picture Book Minneapolis

Proud of her astounding growth and great progress, proud of her vast industries and commerce, proud of her rare civic beauty but proudest in the fact that the Census Bureau of 1910 officially designated Minneapolis is the healthiest city in the United States of America. Built on the foundations of strategic location, unexcelled climate, cleanliness, … Read more

Meet Me at the Pillsbury Gates

The Pillsbury Gates at  the near end of Fourteenth Avenue  SE have always been the University of Minnesota’s front door. Decades before Stadium Village, Washington Avenue,  and the West Bank were born,  professors, students, staff and guests arrived in Dinkytown  on horse-drawn street cars, bicycles and trains. They walked through these gates and took up … Read more

The Butler Brothers Warehouse

In 1900, Thomas Barlow Walker purchased the 1.4 acre “baseball block” to use as a site for a nine story warehouse building. The property formerly housed a 1,800-seat ballpark that hosted the Minneapolis Millers and the St. Paul Saints. Walker hired master architect, Harry Wild Jones to design a 500,000 sq. ft. warehouse for the … Read more

Stone Arches

Another notable railroad bridge constructed during the years 1881 to 1893, is one over the Mississippi river at Minneapolis, Minn., carrying two tracks of the union rail-roads into that,city. Col. Charles C. Smith directed the work. There are four spans of 100 feet, one each of 71 feet, 43 feet and 40 feet, and fifteen … Read more

Minnehaha Park

The Falls of Minnehaha are perhaps the most widely celebrated of the natural curiosities of the Northwest. Since Longfellow sung of the deeds of Hiawatha, Minnehaha has been an object of the curiosity and admiration of travelers. The Falls are formed by Minnehaha creek (the outlet of Lake Minnetonka) which after a devious course of … Read more

Where America Shopped

Business was booming along Lake’s streetcar commercial strip when Sears, Roebuck and Company decided to build in South Minneapolis.After the ideal site was selected,  Architect George Nimmons was commissioned to design a mail order and retail store. The building’s focal point, a 16 story tower facing Elliot Avenue was lit up with enormous neon letters … Read more

The Isles of the Lake

In 1888, all the lands necessary to complete the improvements in the Lake of the Isles area had been acquired, with the purchase of the two islands and a piece of land formerly an island,the entire acquisition amounting to nine acres. The Lake of the Isles thus became the nucleus of the charming western system … Read more

The Star and Tribune Building

After the big newspapers of Minneapolis were consolidated during the Depression, many of their offices were moved to the Daily Star building on Portland Avenue. Extensive renovations on the original 1919 structure were completed in 1940, and after World War II the facility was expanded. In 1949, the building housed the presses and offices of … Read more