Laughter, Falling Water and Time
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
The Ryan Hotel in St. Paul in was the finest luxury hotel Minnesota had to offer in the late 19th century. Designed by architect James J. Egan, construction of the hotel was funded by a millionaire gold and silver miner named Dennis Ryan. Rising from the Northeast corner of 6th and Robert, this Gothic creation … Read more
Construction on the National Bank of Commerce Building at 4th and Marquette began in 1887. Designed by Minneapolis architect, Harry W. Jones the building, was completed in 1889. Inspired by Henry H. Richardson’s Field Building in Chicago. The National Bank of Commerce was featured in a 1889 issue of Northwestern Architect. Jones may have worked … Read more
Designed by the Minneapolis firm, Long F.B. & Co, construction on the seven story Kasota Building began in 1884. In August of that year, the Minneapolis Tribune reported that the building, on the corner of 4th and Hennepin had reached the sixth story. There were rumors that the remaining vacant space east of the part … Read more
Built in 1890 by the 10-story New York Life Insurance Co. this building stood at the corner of Fifth Street and Second Avenue South with a frontage of 165 feet on the former and 121 feet on the latter thoroughfare. In exterior appearance it was massive and substantial. The lower stories were of St. Cloud … Read more
The 157 foot Globe Building at 4th Street South was the tallest building in the city from 1882–1886. Fire Insurance maps indicate this building was 124 feet to the top of a rear penthouse, but the turret at the southeast corner rose higher than this.Originally built as an office building it had become a parking … Read more
“Within the four walls of this new building, business will be transacted which will affect the breadstuffs of the world.” —George A. Pillsbury President, Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce Founded as the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce in 1881, The Minneapolis Grain Exchange was at one time the country’s biggest wheat, barley, rye, and flax market. Designed … Read more
The use of trading stamps followed the spread of service stations and grocery stores chains across America in the early decades of the last century. After the Second World War supermarkets began issuing trading stamps as a customer incentives and before 1960 at least 250,000 retailer issued trading stamps. Trading stamp companies had over a … Read more
SHAPELESS masses of stone and iron ore, sleeping beneath the soil of Minnesota, have been raised from their age-old beds to answer the call of engineer, architect and builder .. . men who vision great buildings and make their visions real. Today such a vision is taking form before our eyes, cleancut and symmetrical, as … Read more