Hello Hiawatha Towers

The Minneapolis Housing Authority built these three slightly hexagonal, twelve story towers for a little over two and a half million dollars. The project contains 285 low-rent housing units for the elderly. The buildings, located on 22nd street, between 16th and 18th Avenues South were completed in 1963. The Hiawatha Towers were the final buildings … Read more

The Queen of Commission Row

In the late 1800s and the early decades of the last century, produce passed through a corner of the old Minneapolis Warehouse District called Commission Row. The heart of the bustling business of farmers and grocers,  the Central Market was just behind the Butker Brothers Warehouse, where 2nd Avenue North crossed 6th Street. There was … Read more

The Witch’s Hat

The good old the Prospect Park Water Tower, better known as the “Witch’s Hat” has been a Minneapolis landmark for over 100 years. The dedication was held back in July of 1914. The park was strung with electric lights for the event. Mayor Nye, members of the city council and other officials were the guests … Read more

The Venerable Vendome

Hotel Vendome Nos. 17, 19 and 21 South Fourth street, for ten years one of the principal hostelries in Minneapolis which was partially destroyed by fire February 7, 1902 has been reconstructed and is again contacting it thriving business. The building now Hotel Vendome was first designed for offices and has been considered the handsomest … Read more

The Marshall Avenue Bridge

The current Marshall Avenue Bridge replaced an old wrought-iron span erected for horse and buggy traffic in 1889. The previous bridge was designed by J.S. Sewall of St. Paul. Built on three stone piers the old bridge had hinges at each end and in the crown of each arch to allow for expansion and contraction … Read more

The Chalet Then and Now

Nine years after the Minneapolis Park Board first considered the idea in their annual report, Glenwood Park’s first golf course was constructed in 1916. The nine holes featured sand greens and clay tees. Play was free and an instructor was on hand to teach people the game. By the end of the season, 12,000 rounds … Read more

At the Hotel Waverly

Born in Belleville, Illinois, William A. Fisher came to Minnesota in 1860. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted with the F company of the Minnesota Volunteers. After the war ended he settled on a farm in Brooklyn Center. A few years later he came to Minneapolis and went to work commanding a … Read more

Rice Park

The scene of circuses, celebrations and concerts and seven years older than New York’s famous Central Park, this land was designated you Public Square in 1849 by John R. Irvine, a territorial pioneer. and Henry M. Rice territorial delegate in United States Senator after statehood. Rice for whom the park was named was native of … Read more

At the Minneapolis Armory

When it was completed in 1936, the Minneapolis Armory was the most expensive Public Works Administration building in Minnesota. What an edifice! This stalwart fortress, built of reinforced concrete, brick, tile and steel is still one of the most impressive buildings in the city. The barrel roof, supported by three-hinged arch trusses has a pinpoint … Read more