Join the Linden Hills History Study Group to hear Richard Kronick tell the story of George Elmslie, chief draftsman from 1895 to 1909 for Louis Sullivan, Chicago's leading architect. Sullivan was dubbed "Prophet of Modernism," but Richard will show that, for eight well-known buildings that came out of Sullivan’s office, most of the credit belongs […]
Approximately 25,000 residents were displaced by the construction of I-35W that went between Crosstown, 2nd Ave and Stevens Ave in South Minneapolis. The public works construction project began in 1956 and was completed in 1967. Greg Donofrio, director of the U of MN Heritage Studies and Public History Program, and U of MN public historian […]
Dr. William Green, professor of history at Augsburg University, will present the story of Nellie Francis, a black woman who helped lead the women's suffrage campaign in 1919 and successfully lobbied the legislature of 1920 to enact Minnesota's anti-lynching law. Dr. Green’s book on Nellie Francis will be published by the University of Minnesota Press […]
In 1905, Wonderland Park on East Lake Street was a popular amusement park where the people of Minneapolis could ride one of the world’s finest carousels, witness amazing, death- defying acts, and even tour a display of local premature infants being treated in the new scientific marvel, an electric incubator. Susan Hunter Weir, Director of […]
In 1936, the Park Board designated 31 acres of the land along the north shore of Lake Harriet as a bird sanctuary that was later named for Thomas Sadler Roberts, considered the father of Minnesota ornithology. Constance Pepin and Stephen Greenfield, co-founders of the Friends of Roberts Bird Sanctuary, will share history and images of […]
John Scott Bradstreet, leading interior designer of the early 20 th century in the Twin Cities, traveled extensively to Europe and Asia on buying trips to furnish his retail shops and clients homes. Early on, he became enamored with the simple but elegant gardens of the Japanese artisans. Over the course of three decades, he […]
Imagine displays of a bear, carousel, ostriches, and Shetland pony rides at Lake Harriet to entertain visitors who came down to picnic, boat, or enjoy a concert. Concessionaires J. Palmer, A.O. Hoyt, H.M. Barnet, and J.H. Eschman welcomed visitors and helped shape their experiences in a picturesque setting once described as the "Coney Island of […]
The Linden Hills History Study Group is excited to offer historic walking tours of Linden Hills during the upcoming Linden Hills Fall Festival on September 18, 2021. The group will offer two tours, beginning at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., leaving from their festival booth. Space will be limited to 12 participants per tour. To […]
From 1890 to 1953, the Lyn-Lake and East Harriet neighborhoods were served by the Bryant Avenue streetcar line that traveled from Lyndale Avenue to Lake Street, then east and south of Lake Harriet and crossing Minnehaha Creek. Historian Aaron Isaacs will take us on a then-and- now photo tour of the line from downtown to […]
In 1876, the Corps of Engineers finished a massive concrete wall under the Mississippi River at St. Anthony Falls. It stands three stories tall and spans the river. It is an essential piece of Twin Cities infrastructure that no one can see and few know exists. It safeguards Minneapolis' water supply and helps ensure the river doesn't undermine bridges […]