In anticipation of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference, to be held in the Twin Cities Oct. 2–6, Minneapolis Riverfront District has adopted the theme “Building on the Past: Architecture & the Minneapolis Riverfront.” To celebrate the theme, the public and private organizations that comprise the Minneapolis Riverfront District are hosting a long list of special events and tours related to architectural heritage and preservation on the riverfront.

Starting in June, The City of Minneapolis is offering free tours of historical sites and areas, including three in the Bridge’s coverage area. In July, the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS), follows with “Architecture Expeditions,” its own series of guided walking tours, for a moderate fee.

What follows is a list of events hosted by the city, MHS and a host of other organizations throughout the summer.

Free tours by the City of Minneapolis

The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) and Department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) present tours of historic sites in the city, including three in Bridgeland. The full list of tours can also be found on the city’s website at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/hpc/landmarks. Bridgeland tours include:

Milwaukee Avenue Historic District
Saturday, June 9, 1-2:30 p.m.
Begins at the intersection of East Franklin and Milwaukee avenues.

Learn how a neighborhood effort saved this charming two-block cluster of late 19th Century Victorian cottages from demolition in the 1970s.

Nicollet Island
Sunday, June 24, 1-3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 27, 7-9:00 p.m.
Begins at the information kiosk by Nicollet Island Inn
95 Merriam Street

Discover the island at the heart of the city, just above Saint Anthony Falls. Learn how the idyllic spot almost became a park before the industrial development that nearly destroyed the falls. Tour led by former Bridge editor and Nicollet Island resident Chris Steller.

University of Minnesota Old Campus
Saturday, Sept. 15, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Begins at the John Pillsbury Statue, intersection of Pillsbury Drive and Southeast Pleasant Street

New this summer to the schedule, this tour will explore the Old Campus of the University of Minnesota’s east bank, with its architecturally diverse collection of late 19th and early 20th century buildings, structures and grounds designed by leading Minnesota architects and landscape architects of the day.

The Minnesota Historical Society’s “Architecture Expeditions” series

Each tour costs $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $8 for children ages 6–17 and Minnesota Historical Society members (price includes museum admission).
Reservations are required. call 612-341-7555 or visit www.millcitymuseum.org for more information.

Mill District with historian Larry Millett
Saturday, July 7, 11 a.m.
Mill City Museum

Join local author and historian Larry Millett for a walking tour of the Minneapolis Mill District and a signing of his new book, AIA Guide to the Twin Cities: The Essential Source on the Architecture of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Millett will showcase the architecture of the Minneapolis riverfront and significant examples of historic preservation.

Pillsbury “A” Mill
Saturday, July 14, 11:00 a.m.
East Bank Mills Sales and Design Center
333 SE Main Street

Visit the National Historic Landmark Pillsbury “A” Mill and learn about the latest plans for its redevelopment. The Pillsbury “A” Mill was the largest flour mill in the world when it was completed in 1881. It operated until 2003. The tour will be lead by Tod Elkins of UrbanWorks Architecture, Chris Wegscheid of Cermak Rhoades and representatives from of Schafer Richardson, which is handling the 11-building redevelopment of the “A” Mill complex.

Pracna and St. Anthony Main
Saturday, July 21, 1 p.m.
Pracna Restaurant
117 SE Main Street

Tour Pracna Restaurant and St. Anthony Main with architect and historic preservationist Peter Nelson Hall, who started the historic preservation movement on the Minneapolis riverfront with the renovation of the Pracna Building in 1973.

Hall will share stories, photographs, and architectural plans from the Minneapolis Riverfront in the 1960s & 1970s, when he pioneered the adaptive reuse of historic buildings in the city’s mill district.

Humboldt and Park Avenue Lofts
Saturday, Aug. 4, 11 a.m.
Mill City Museum
704 S 2nd Street

Join architect Julie Snow on a tour of her two recently built condominium projects on Washington Ave. S. Snow will lead visitors through two different approaches to new construction in a historical district, including the Park Avenue Lofts and Humboldt Lofts, which combines the renovation of an 1870s flour mill with new construction on an adjacent lot. The project received a 2004 Honor Award from the American Institutes of Architects Minnesota.

Gold Medal Park
Saturday, Aug. 11, 11:00 a.m.
Mill City Museum
704 S 2nd Street

Tour the new Gold Medal Park with landscape architect David Motzenbecker. Gold Medal Park is the new 7.5-acre park adjacent to the new Guthrie Theater. Learn about the design of this public space in a historic district, and discover the park’s features including a sculptural observation mound, custom bench seating and serpentine paths.

Mill City Museum
Saturday, Aug. 25, 11 a.m.
Mill City Museum
704 S 2nd Street

Tour the award-winning Mill City Museum with architect Tom Meyer of Meyer, Scherer and Rockcastle, Ltd. Learn about the architectural features of the National Historic Landmark Washburn “A” Mill and the design for the new museum and office building constructed within its ruins.

Open Book
Saturday, Sep. 8 or Sep. 22*, 11 a.m.
Open Book lobby
1011 Washington Ave. S *Date uncertain

Tour Open Book with Kate Bergquist, project manager from Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd. Open Book, which began in May 2000, is home to the Loft Literary Center, Milkweed Editions and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. Open Book has won an AIA Honor Award (2002), a Preservation Alliance of Minnesota Award (2001), and a Minnesota Heritage Preservation Award (2001).

Other events and tours in the Minneapolis Riverfront District include:

Soap Factory tours
Every other Thursday, May 3–Oct. 18 (except Aug. 9), 7 p.m.
Soap Factory
518 S 2nd Street
612-623-1696
www.thesoapfactory.org

Built in 1892, The Soap Factory is the oldest warehouse space in the district. Since 1895, the former home of the National Purity Soap and Chemical Co. has been a nonprofit art gallery catering to younger emerging contemporary artists. Take a half-hour tour of the historic 19th century building.

Guthrie Theater Design tours
Guthrie Theater
818 S 2nd Street
612-377-2224

Learn about the unique building highlights and key architectural elements of the Guthrie’s new, state-of-the-art complex designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. (This tour is not free. See www.guthrietheater.org for dates and times.)

Rangers on the River
Saturdays, June and July, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Stone Arch Bridge or Water Power Park (call for details)
612-293-0200
www.nps.gov/miss

Join national park rangers to discover the architectural of the St. Anthony Falls Historic District. Children can earn a Mississippi National River and Recreational Area (MNRRA) Junior Ranger badge by completing free activity books available at Mill City Museum or Mill Ruins Park.

Mill Ruins Park Digs
Sunday, June 17, and Saturdays, June 23–Aug. 11
Mill Ruins Park
Portland Ave. and West River Pkwy.
612-313-7793
www.minneapolispark.org

Dig into archaeology and architecture underground. Learn more about historic flour mill construction and materials.

It’s an Art Affair at Mill City Farmers Market
Saturday, June 16, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
Mill City Farmers Market
Chicago Ave. at South Second Street
612-341-7580
www.millcityfarmersmarket.com

Watch local artists paint or sketch the riverfront’s signature structures at the Mill City Farmers Market. All selected entries will be for sale and exhibited every Saturday through July 21, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Mill City Museum Rail Corridor.

Stone Arch Festival of the Arts
Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
St. Anthony Main
612-378-1226
www.stonearchfestival.com

Explore the work of more than 250 artists and enjoy theatrical and musical performers, food and more. This year, local artist Adam Turman will create an original screen-print featuring the historic architecture of the Minneapolis Riverfront.

Solstice River
Thursday, June 21, 8 p.m.
651-523-2591
cgee.hamline.edu/solstice

Watch from the historic Stone Arch Bridge as dancers bring life to the riverfront’s architectural landscape.

Franklin Steele calls upon the Godfreys
Sunday, July 15, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Ard Godfrey House
Central and Unversity avenues
612-813-5319
www.ardgodfreyhouse.org

Learn about the architecture and restoration of Minneapolis’ oldest home and watch a costumed actor prtray Franklin Steele, who hired Ard Godfrey to build his sawmill in 1847.

The Mighty Mississippi
Wednesday, July 25, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
University of Minnesota
612-624-4000
www.cce.umn.edu/curiosity
Registration fee required

This University of Minnesota Continuing Education lecture and tour requires a registration fee.

Explore a Lock and Dam
Tuesday, Aug. 7, 9 a.m, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam
1 Portland Ave. S
Reservations required. Call 877-552-1416 or email dam.tours@usace.army.mil

Architecture of the Book
Saturday, Sept. 22, 1–3 p.m.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
1011 Washington Ave S
612-215-2520
www.mnbookarts.org

Explore the Minnesota Center for Book Arts’ building’s architectural details and translate them into a book to take home with you. Learn about the history of the building and traditional and contemporary book arts, create textural rubbings and learn how to incorporate elements into a book. (This tour is not free.)

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last revised: June 8, 2007

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