CENTENNIAL PLAZA, commemorating Minneapolis’ 100th birthday (1856-1956), occupies part of the site on which First National Bank of Minneapolis will erect its new multi-million dollar building. In the far corner of the Plaza is a replica of historic Minnehaha Falls. At the right is a restoration of Minneapolis’ original (1849) post office.
This short lived open space sprang to life with a 40-piece police band and “Aquatennial Royalty” presiding over an elaborate, ceremonial “christening” of the waterfall replica. President Eisenhower packed the plaza for a campaign speech on Oct. 16, 1956. The plaza was just a memory a couple years later after the 28-story First National Bank Building was completed.