This site has been up for almost ten years, and to celebrate its anniversary everything is being rescanned and redesigned. I appreciate your patience while the site is retooled for its second decade.

--Lileks 04.15.08

 

 

 

 

 
   

Advance-Thresher

Late 19th century industrial warehouse & office block, rehabbed for office use; fine Sullivanesque details. (Updated 2008)

Masonic Temple

A big old pile of rock writhing with all sorts of peculiar Masonic carvings. Many details (Updated 2008)

Lumber Exchange

It's big, it's brown, it's full of . . . lawyers. Little or no lumber is actually exchanged nowadays. But it's worth a visit anyway. (Updated 2008)

Plymouth

Most people don't know what this beheamoth once looked like. Now you will. (Updated 2008)

Grain Exchange

The original Chamber of Commerce building. Interior and exterior shots of great Louis-Sullivan-style ornamentation. (Updated 2008)

Andrus Building

Somehow, this one survived. (Updated 2008)

Wesley Church & Skyscraper

Old lovely church, plus a gigantic office tower. Well, gigantic for those days.

Old Federal Office Building

The classical building everyone forgets.

Rand Tower

A classic late-20s skyscraper. Includes postcard views, contemporary & historical photos of details inside and out. (Updated 2008)

Foshay

The city's beloved old obelisk skyscraper. Many Art Deco details.

Baker Building

Just a modest 1920s commercial block, now overwhelmed by all its neighbors. (Updated 2008)

Pence

An utterly ignored 20s office block, the details on this building reveal a few strange motifs.

Club Row

The old men's clubs still stand, but they have new neighbors. Big neighbors. (Updated 2008)

The Federal Reserves

This site concerns all three buildings. All of which, miracle of miracles, are still standing, so this site is also listed in the 70s and 90s section.

Post Office

A severe WPA-era building with some incredible interior details. Contains postcard views, old photos of the original plan for the site.

The Bus Station

Another sleek Moderne building, also known as the nightclub from Prince's "Purple Rain." (UPDATED 2009)

NWest Bell

1930s skyscraper full of Moderne ornamentation. Site features telephoto shots of the lightning bolt details in the tower. (Updated 2008)

The Armory

WPA project full of decayed beauty. (Updated 2008)

City Hall

Gigantic Romanesque pile.

Medical Arts

Come for the terra-cotta, stay for the dentist's appointment! (New 2009)

First National / Soo Line

From the great age of Filedrawer Skyscrapers. (Updated 2008)

 

F & M

A forties building with a 50s annex.

Public Library

The new one, the old new one, and the old old one.

Midwest Federal

Also known as the Mary Tyler Moore Building. Has some shots from the early planning stages.

First National Bank

Every city has one. (Updated 08)

IDS

No longer the biggest, but we still love it. Coming in 09

 

Norwest / Wells Fargo

The best building of the 80s boom. Includes photos of the original design, as well as details of the upper floors.

US Bank

Also known as the Halo-topped building.

Dain Tower

A basic 80s glass slab, but I like it. Bizarre red interiors.

Accenture

Formerly the Lincoln. Half a twin

City Center

God help us.

Dorsey Tower

The other big convention hotel - just as bland but with much prettier postcards.

Ameriprise

A surprisingly good one. (Updated 2008)

USBancorp

White and grey and tall and lovely.

Dorsey Tower

Could be better. Could be worse.

Boring Hotel

(Coming 09)

Target Complex

Revitalizing the end of the mall. (Coming 09)

Ivy Hotel

This might make you weep. (Coming 09)

Conservatory

A gigantic downtown mall that died, and died hard.

Lutheran Brotherhood

The new one, the old new one, and the old old one. (Redone April 09)

Augsburg

Cool, in an old non-cool sort of way. Recently demolished, but there's a happy ending

Doctors and Professionals

Swank Perry-Mason cool.

Thorpe

Lost in the 90s.

Physicians & Surgeons.

Updated 2009.

 

Long Gone

U of M

Minneapolis Modern

Lileks.com

 

     
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