Minneapolis, Minnesota

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…

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…

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…

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 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,…

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

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…

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…

Open-air home of the Minnesota Twins, built to bring outdoor baseball back to Minneapolis after nearly three decades in the Metrodome.

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 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…

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…

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…

Pull over for a second – this unassuming house right here is a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece! Designed in 1934 for Malcolm and Nancy Willey, this is one of Wright's Usonian homes, meant to be affordable and practical.…

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…

Look out your window, because you're driving past the ghost of a giant! This spot marks the very first lock and dam ever built on the Upper Mississippi River. Originally known as Lock and Dam No. 2, this ambitious…

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,…

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 to get around Minneapolis over a century ago? Today, you can hop on a piece of living history and ride the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, these…

The fifth bandshell on this site since 1888, hosting free concerts on the shores of Lake Harriet in the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes.

Ever wondered what it's like to live in a piece of architectural history? You're about to drive past one of Saint Paul's most stunning examples of Prairie School design. This three-story stucco beauty, known as the Dr.…

Did you know this unassuming building was the nation's *first* social club designed solely for the Deaf community? It's the Charles Thompson Memorial Hall, built way back in 1916. Deaf clubs like this one were vital.…

This unassuming concrete tower revolutionized grain storage! Before 1900, grain elevators were primarily built of wood, making them vulnerable to fire and even explosions. Fearing the loss of valuable grain, the Peavey…

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

Prepare to be enchanted by Minnehaha Falls, a natural wonder that has captivated hearts for centuries. This park, officially named Minnehaha Regional Park, is more than just a pretty place; it's a journey back in time.…

This unassuming house you're approaching, the John Harrington Stevens House, is where Minneapolis truly began. It was the first authorized home on the west bank of the Mississippi River, a true ground zero for the city…

Ever wondered how Saint Paul got its wild side? You're about to discover the unexpected origins of Como Park Zoo, a place that started with a simple, yet ambitious, idea. Back in 1897, the city of Saint Paul decided to…

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 for a moment to discover the legacy of S. Edward Hall, a pioneering African American businessman and founder of the Saint Paul NAACP chapter, right here at his former home. This unassuming house was once the…

Cretin-Derham Hall (550 South Albert Street, St. Paul, MN) produced one of the most absurd three-sport careers in prep history. As quarterback, Joe Mauer threw for more than 5,500 yards and 73 touchdowns and led the…

Pull over, because you’re about to discover the inspiring story of Saint Paul’s very first predominantly Black congregation, a true cornerstone of the community. Imagine this: Reverend Robert Thomas Hickman and a group…

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

Stand on this bluff and you're standing at a crossroads of history, where the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers meet, overlooked by Fort Snelling. Built in 1825, Fort Snelling was strategically placed to control the fur…

Just a few blocks from here sits the house of a man who dedicated his life to peace. Frank B. Kellogg, a lawyer and statesman, lived in this house on Fairmount Avenue while he served as U.S. Secretary of State.…

F. Scott Fitzgerald came home to St. Paul as a failure in the summer of 1919. He was twenty-two, his first novel had been rejected, his fiancee Zelda had broken off their engagement, and he had quit his advertising job…

Pull over here, because this old building, the Banfill Tavern, has seen more history than most of us can imagine. Built in 1847 on the banks of the Mississippi, this tavern has served as a gathering place and witnessed…

Driving across the Mendota Bridge isn't just a commute; it's a journey over a historic crossroads, linking vital military posts and ancient meeting grounds. Before this magnificent structure, crossing the Minnesota…

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…

The Cathedral of Saint Paul sits on the highest point in downtown St. Paul, visible for miles in every direction, which was exactly the point. Archbishop John Ireland commissioned the building in 1906 as a statement…

Look up! You're approaching a cathedral that's not just a building, but a monumental statement of faith and resilience, a true landmark of Minnesota. Before this magnificent structure, three other cathedrals stood, each…

Ever wonder what Minnesota was like before it was even a state? This spot was at the heart of it all. Here, Henry Hastings Sibley, a key figure in the fur trade and later Minnesota's first governor, made his home.…

Ever wonder what it was like to be a millionaire in the Gilded Age? Step back in time and tour the opulent mansion of railroad tycoon James J. Hill, a glimpse into that incredible era. This colossal home, completed in…

Ever wondered what life was like for Minnesota's very first governor? You're approaching the stunning Alexander Ramsey House, a perfectly preserved window into Victorian elegance. Alexander Ramsey, a Pennsylvania…

Imagine standing here centuries ago, the confluence of two great rivers spread before you – a place of power, of life, and of deep spiritual significance. This is Oheyawahi-Pilot Knob, a sacred site to the Dakota…

This classic diner, built in 1937 to resemble a railroad dining car, isn't just a building – it's a prefabricated piece of Americana. Mickey's Dining Car, a beloved Saint Paul institution, was designed by the Jerry…

Pull over, because this stunning building you're approaching, the Landmark Center, is rumored to be haunted by former inmates. Once a bustling federal courthouse and post office, its walls hold many secrets from a…

Saint Paul's story is deeply entwined with the Mississippi River. Its location as the uppermost point for large steamboats shaped its destiny. While today finance, healthcare, and technology play significant roles, the…

The largest mall in the United States sits on top of a ghost. Metropolitan Stadium stood on this spot in Bloomington from 1956 to 1981. The Minnesota Twins and Vikings played here. Harmon Killebrew hit tape-measure home…

Dating back to 1856, this house is one of the oldest remaining in St. Paul, once surrounded by railroad tracks. Pretty wild, right? This is the Benjamin Brunson House, built around 1856. It stood in an area known as…

Look left! You're passing the former headquarters of 3M, a landmark representing Minnesota's innovative spirit and industrial history. This isn't just a building; it's where a global powerhouse truly took off. From 1940…

Imagine a sacred place, overlooking the Mississippi River, where generations of Indigenous people honored their dead. These are the Indian Mounds, now called Wicaḣapi, a place of ancient burial mounds right here in…

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 be a child with tuberculosis in the early 20th century? You're driving past a place that offered hope, a place called Glen Lake Children's Camp. This isn't just a patch of land; it's a…

Ever wonder where your steak really comes from? Right here, at the Stockyards Exchange, you're standing near the birthplace of a massive industry that fed a nation! This impressive building, built in 1887 by the Union…

Ever heard of a steamboat coming back from the dead? Well, get ready, because you're about to pass by the watery grave – and eventual rebirth – of the Minnehaha. This isn't just any old boat; it's a testament to a…

Ever wonder where communities gathered for grand outdoor entertainment over a century ago? Right here, on the banks of the Rum River, lies a testament to Anoka’s vibrant past and the nationwide City Beautiful movement.…

Pull over here and imagine a story stretching back thousands of years. This isn't just a scenic spot along the Minnesota River; it's a crossroads of ancient life and early American settlement. Long before European…

Prince could have built his studio anywhere on earth. He chose a suburb of Minneapolis surrounded by strip malls and cornfields. Paisley Park opened in 1987 in Chanhassen, a sixty-five-thousand-square-foot complex that…

Ever bitten into a crisp, juicy apple in Minnesota and wondered how it got there? Well, you're driving past the very spot where one tenacious farmer, Peter Gideon, made it possible! He moved here in 1853, near Lake…

Behind plain white walls at 7801 Audubon Road in suburban Chanhassen sits Paisley Park, Prince's 65,000-square-foot home, studio and creative sanctuary for nearly three decades. He recorded much of his later work here,…

Ever wondered what Minnesota was built on? This very spot holds the answer! You're approaching the Grey Cloud Lime Kiln, a silent witness to our state's earliest industries and a crucial piece of its foundation. Around…

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…