Chanhassen, Minnesota

Ever wondered who sculpted Minneapolis’s stunning park system? You’re driving past the very home and office of the man who did: Theodore Wirth. This unassuming house was both his residence and the nerve center for…

Ever wondered what it was like when early missionaries met the Dakota people here in Minnesota? You're driving right into that history! This spot, the Gideon H. Pond House, marks a fascinating and complex chapter in our…

Ever wondered what it was like to live in a house designed by an architectural visionary? You're approaching the former home of architect William Purcell, a truly groundbreaking example of Prairie School design. In…

Right here, in this unassuming house, lived a woman who shattered barriers and fought for justice: Lena O. Smith. Born in Lawrence, Kansas in 1885, Lena moved to Minneapolis in 1906. She enrolled in law school and,…

The largest mall in the United States, built on the former site of Metropolitan Stadium where the Twins and Vikings played.

Crystal, Minnesota, sounds like it ought to sit on a vein of quartz, all sparkling mineral and geode. It doesn't. The name has nothing to do with crystals you'd dig out of the ground. The town grew out of Crystal Lake…

Pull over, because you're about to witness a building that literally changed the face of American Catholicism! This isn't just a church; it's a monument to ambition and faith. Back in the early 1900s, Minneapolis was…

Ever wonder what a Gilded Age grain baron’s mansion looked like? You’re about to see the magnificent Van Dusen House, a testament to Minneapolis’s booming late 19th-century industries. George Washington Van Dusen, an…

Pull over, music lover! You're about to discover the beautiful lakeside home of the founder and first conductor of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. Emil Oberhoffer, a visionary German immigrant, established the…

Ever wondered how Swedish culture became so deeply woven into the fabric of America? You're about to find out! This beautiful mansion ahead, the American Swedish Institute, is a testament to that incredible journey.…

This opulent theater hosted vaudeville legends and continues to showcase world-class performances. Get ready to step back in time! The Orpheum Theatre, right here in downtown Minneapolis, is a true gem. Opened in 1921,…

First Avenue, at 701 First Avenue North in downtown Minneapolis, is the star-spangled black nightclub at the heart of Prince's 1984 film 'Purple Rain.' The building opened in 1937 as the city's Art Deco Greyhound bus…

Iconic Minneapolis nightclub featured in Prince's Purple Rain and launchpad for the city's music scene.

Before he was Prince, he was just another Minneapolis kid with a dream, and this unassuming building, Sound 80, is where he started to make it real. In 1977, a young Prince recorded demo tapes here, showcasing the raw…

Check out that tower! The Foshay Tower, now the W Minneapolis – The Foshay hotel, is a monument to ambition, built right before the Great Depression hit. Completed in 1929, it was commissioned by Wilbur Foshay, an art…

For twenty-eight years, the Minnesota Twins played baseball indoors under a white fabric roof in the Metrodome, a building so ugly and soulless that even the team's own fans called it a garbage bag. When Target Field…

Look up! You're about to see the first skyscraper ever built in Minneapolis, dating all the way back to 1885. This isn't just any old building; the Lumber Exchange Building was a marvel in its time. Designed by the…

Ever wonder how Minneapolis became a bustling city? You're driving right through the heart of its transformation! Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, this area, then known as the Warehouse District, was the engine…

Look up! This soaring Art Deco skyscraper, the Rand Tower Hotel, briefly held the title of Minneapolis's tallest building. It was the vision of Rufus Rand, Jr., a World War I aviator, who wanted a grand headquarters for…

This peaceful cemetery holds the stories of generations who served our country. Originally established to bury soldiers who died at Fort Snelling, the cemetery's first interments were in 1846, during the…

This art deco armory, built in 1936, has hosted everything from concerts to sporting events. Look closely at this massive stone structure. It was built during the Great Depression by the Public Works Administration, a…

This unassuming spot holds the stories of Minneapolis' earliest residents, a silent city within the city. Established in 1858, the Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery was initially known as Layman's…

The story of Minneapolis's founding is deeply intertwined with the power of water. Before European settlement, the Dakota people lived in this area. Early growth was spurred by the presence of Fort Snelling and,…

That was The Andrews Sisters — Patty, Maxene, and LaVerne — three sisters out of Minneapolis, Minnesota who basically wrote the blueprint for the girl group. Think of them as the Destiny's Child of the forties: tight…

Minneapolis, a city whose name itself whispers of water, has nurtured more than just flour and industry. The flow of the Mississippi, once powering mills that defined the city, seems to have also fueled a current of…

Once a bustling hub, this historic train depot now known as The Depot, witnessed the rise and fall of rail travel in Minneapolis. Imagine the steam, the whistles, the crowds! This very spot was once the heart of…

Museum built into the ruins of the Washburn A Mill, once the largest flour mill in the world.

Look to your right! You’re about to pass a true titan of industry: the Ceresota Building, once known as the 'Million Bushel Elevator.' This wasn’t just any grain silo; it was a symbol of Minneapolis’s reign as the flour…

Look up! That glowing bottle cap isn't just a sign; it's a beacon to Minneapolis's frothy past. Originally built in 1941 for the Marigold Ballroom, this massive neon spectacle once announced Grain Belt Beer. Believe it…

Before dams tamed its power, this was the only major waterfall on the Mississippi River, and a sacred place for the Dakota people. For centuries, the Falls of Saint Anthony, or Owámniyomni in Dakota, roared here, a…

Stand here and you're standing on the bones of Minneapolis' flour milling empire. This wasn't just any industry; it powered the city's growth. Back in the 1800s, the falls of St. Anthony were harnessed to power the…

Get ready to see the birthplace of Minneapolis! This spot, Saint Anthony Falls, was the engine that powered a city. In the mid-1800s, this was the highest waterfall on the Mississippi River. Its power was quickly…

Love it or hate it, this brutalist apartment complex is a striking example of 1970s urban design. It's impossible to miss, towering over the Minneapolis skyline with its distinctive colorful panels. This is Riverside…

Look over there, at that vacant lot. It’s hard to imagine now, but this spot was once a magnificent cultural hub, a cornerstone of Minneapolis’s Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, until it was tragically destroyed by fire in…

Imagine trains thundering across this unique stone arch bridge, the only one of its kind on the entire Mississippi River. Built in 1883, the Stone Arch Bridge was a vital link connecting the railway system to the new…

Look out your window at Saint Anthony Main, where history literally flows! This spot, right across from the powerful Saint Anthony Falls, was once the heart of a whole other town. Before Minneapolis swallowed it whole,…

Look left! You're approaching the iconic Grain Belt Brewery, a cornerstone of Minneapolis's industrial past and a testament to its brewing legacy. Originally the headquarters of the Minneapolis Brewing Company, this…

Look out your window! See that powerful rush of water? You're approaching the Hennepin Island Hydroelectric Plant, a place that literally lit up Minneapolis and powered its incredible growth. Before hydroelectricity,…

For 40 years, this was the world's largest flour mill, a testament to Minneapolis's milling history. Built in 1881 by the Pillsbury Company, the A-Mill harnessed the power of the Mississippi River with two massive…

Fifty-three-foot waterfall in Minneapolis made famous by Longfellow's poem The Song of Hiawatha.

Ever wondered about that quirky, conical tower peeking over the treetops? You're approaching Minneapolis's famous 'Witch's Hat' water tower, a true neighborhood icon! Perched on Tower Hill Park, this distinctive water…

Military fort at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, sacred Dakota land, and site of internment during the US-Dakota War.

Step back in time at this historic theater, a dazzling reminder of the golden age of cinema. This isn't just any old building, it's a testament to a time when going to the movies was a grand event. The Hollywood Theater…