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2010 Summer Walking Tours
Celebrate summer this year by enjoying a walking tour of historic Minneapolis!
The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC), the Minneapolis Department of Planning and Economic Development (CPED),
and Preserve Minneapolis invite you to enjoy one (or more!) of our guided walking tours of historic places in Minneapolis. Tours
will explore areas that range from Minneapolis cultural gathering places and residential neighborhoods, to bustling commercial and
industrial area, to the theaters of Hennepin Avenue and the remnants of the city's once extensive streetcar system.
While most tours do not require reservations, some do - please check each description carefully for full details. All tours
require participants to sign a waiver form. These waiver forms are available from the tour guide starting 15 minutes prior to each tour. Tour sizes are limted, please
plan to arrive early to ensure your spot.
Please Note: Most tours will continue, regardless of inclement weather. Please dress accordingly. Comfortable shoes/sunscreen
are highly recommended. Several tours cover long distances and some traverse hilly terrain, so some degree of stamina is necessary.
Parts of some tours are not ADA accessible. Please consider these factors before signing up.
For more information, call: 612-673-2615. For accessibility quesitons, call: 612-673-2157 TTY.
Pioneers & Soldiers Memorial Cemetery
Monday, May 31, 2010
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Cemetery Office, 2925 Cedar Avenue South
Led by Sue Hunter-Weir. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Cemetery, this seated 45-minute talking tour is followed by an optional one-hour walking
tour. Pass through the gates and explore Minneapolis' oldest cemetery. Learn why this scenic cemetery - the final resting
place of territorial pioneers, Civil War veterans, and members of Minneapolis' early African-American community - is one of
the few cemeteries listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Click here for a map.
William Berry Park - NEW TOUR!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., William Berry Park, Queen Avenue and West Fortieth Street
Led by Peter Sussman. This tour is part of a series of tours of Interlachen: Between Lakes Calhoun and Harriet,
co-sponsored by the Linden Hills History Study Group. Dakota footpaths between Lakes Calhoun and Harriet were later
followed by a county road, a steam railway, park boulevards, and bicycle paths. Tour William Berry Park, containing the
remnants of natural landscape in Linden Hills, developed by and renamed in honor of the first Minneapolis Superintendent
of Parks. Follow Richfield Road and Learn of early residents along the edge of Interlachen Terrace and Cottage City.
Click here for a map.
From Queen Annes to Classical Revivals: Stories of Park Avenue and Its People
Saturday, June 12, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Southwest corner of Park Avenue adn East Thirty-first Street
Led by Ryan Knoke and Montana Scheff and co-sponsored by the Hennepin History Museum. Pre-registration is required, please
call 612-870-1329. From the late 1800s to the early 1900s the distinction of a Park Avenue address was actively sought by
some of the city's most successful business professionals. Step back in time as you take a stroll alongside ornate Queen
Annes and stately Classical Revivals to discover the differences between architectural styles, admire original photographs,
and hear stories of the first owners and prominent architects of these fine residences. Stay for a garden social featuring
refreshments and Q & A on how to get started researching the history of your own home.
Click here for a map.
Tangletown
Saturday, June 19, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Washburn Library, 5244 Lyndale Avenue South
Led by Tom Balcom. Explore the winding streets and impressive houses of the neighborhood originally known as Washburn
Park. Learn about such landmarks as the Washburn Water Tower, the Harry Wild Jones House, Minnehaha Creek and Parkway,
and the Washburn Memorial Orphan Asylum (now the site of Ramsey School).
Click here for a map.
Lake Harriet Traditions - NEW TOUR!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., William Berry Park, Queen Avenue and West Fortieth Street
Led by Peter Sussman. This tour is part of a series of tours of Interlachen: Between Lakes Calhoun and Harriet,
co-sponsored by the Linden Hills History Study Group. Lake Harriet at Linden Hills has evolved from a country resort to an
urban park shared by residents and visitors. View this setting unique in the historic continuity of activities from picnics
and concerts to the Como-Harriet Streetcar line. Trace the ongoing park and neighborhood transformation from natural
lakeshore and woodland.
Click here for a map.
Downtown Modern Tour - NEW TOUR!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall
Led by Todd Grover and Elizabeth Gales. The tour will start on the Nicollet Mall side of the Minneapolis Central Library.
Monuments to the urban renewal of the 1950s to 1970s, the Modern buildings and landscapes in downtown Minneapolis tell the
story of the city's struggle to reinvent itself. Tour stops include the Minneapolis Public Library, the IDS Center, Peavey
Plaza, and the Loring Greenway.
Click here for a map.
Hennepin Avenue Theaters
Saturday, June 26, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., State Theater, 805 Hennepin Avenue
Led by Christopher Yaeger and John Smoley. Visit the State, Pantages, and Orpheum Theaters. This walking tour includes a section of the Hennepin Theater District and
exclusive access to theater interiors. Experience a memorable moment on stage and go behind the scenes while exploring back
stage.
Click here for a map.
Park Avenue: As They Lived and Walked
Saturday, July 10, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Avenue
Led by Nina Clark and ASI docents. This tour is co-sponsored by the American Swedish Institute and the cost is $6,
which includes admission to the museum. Pre-registration is required, call 612-871-4907. This tour highlights Park Avenue
and its surrounding neighborhood with a focus on Swedish American social life during the early twentieth century. In
addition to showing off some treasures on Minneapolis' "Golden Mile," the tour references lesser known historical and
contemporary sites. Personal stories and international perspective make this neighborhood a unique place for immigrant and
community history.
Click here for a map.
Como-Harriet Streetcar Line
Sunday, July 11, 2010
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Intersection of West Thirty-fourth Street and Irving Avenue South
Led by Aaron Isaacs and co-sponsored by the Minnesota Streetcar Museum. The tour costs $5 and includes rides on a
vintage streetcar. Explore the abandoned and reconstructed streetcar line. Tour includes remnants of the original Twin
Cities Rapid Transit streetcar line, the former Lyndale Hotel site, the Museum's car barn, the Linden Hills business
district - and concludes with ice cream cones at Lake Harriet!
Click here for a map.
Grain Belt Brewery - TOUR FULL! - No Longer Accepting Reservations
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., 1220 Marshall Street NE
Led by Jeremy Mayberg. The tour is limited to the first 24 people - late arrivals
may lose their spot. Experience some of the most stunning vistas of the city while discovering the history of this
Northeast landmark, which produced its first beer in 1893. Hear the story behind the rise of this nineteenth-century
industrial complex, its slow decline, and its innovative and award-winning rehabilitation.
Click here for a map.
Minneapolis Warehouse District
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Butler Square lobby, 518 First Avenue North
Led by Rolf Anderson. Located just west of Hennepin Avenue in downtown, the Warehouse District is Minnesota's largest
commercial historic district. This area was the major jobbing center for the upper Midwest during the late-nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries. Experience the district's many renowned commercial buildings, designed by some of the city's
most distinguished architects.
Click here for a map.
Washburn-Fair Oaks Historic District
Thursday, July 15, 2010
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Hennepin History Museum, 2303 Third Avenue South
Led by Shari Albers. From 1870-1920, the Washburn-Fair Oaks District was home to some of Minneapolis' most prominent
families. Morrison, Washburn, Crosby, and Pillsbury mansions originally edged, and were eventually surround by, a growing
city. The tour's starting point, the Christian Mansion, is home to the Hennepin History Museum. HHM is open 1:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m. on Thursdays. The museum visit and tour are free. A tour brochure will be available for a $3 donation.
Click here for a map.
Milwaukee Avenue Historic District
Saturday, July 17, 2010
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Intersection of East Franklin and Milwaukee Avenues
Led by Robert Roscoe. Milwaukee Avenue is home to the most intact cluster of late-nineteenth century railroad worker
cottages in the city. Discover the picturesque Victorian homes that line the avenue and learn how a neighborhood group's
efforts saved this charming street from demolition.
Click here for a map.
North Side Synagogues and Neighborhood
Sunday, July 25, 2010
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mikro Kodesh Synagogue, 1000 Oliver Avenue North
Led by Robert Roscoe and Iric Nathanson. Co-sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, this walking
tour highlights some of the gathering places of North Minneapolis' Jewish community in the early and mid-twentieth century.
Visit a neighborhood with three synagogues, the Emmanuel Cohen Community Center, and the Jewish Shelter Home for Children.
Learn about the architectural history and the communities that have gathered here.
Click here for a map.
Park Avenue: As They Lived and Walked
Saturday, August 7, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Avenue
Led by Nina Clark and ASI docents. This tour is co-sponsored by the American Swedish Institute and the cost is $6,
which includes admission to the museum. Pre-registration is required, call 612-871-4907. This tour highlights Park Avenue
and its surrounding neighborhood with a focus on Swedish American social life during the early twentieth century. In
addition to showing off some treasures on Minneapolis' "Golden Mile," the tour references lesser known historical and
contemporary sites. Personal stories and international perspective make this neighborhood a unique place for immigrant and
community history.
Click here for a map.
The City Tree Canopy
Saturday, August 14, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Minnehaha Park, on the north side of Minnehaha Pavilion
Led by Ralph Sievert. This tour is limited to the first 24 people, call 612-673-2615 to reserve a spot. Trees are an
important part of our city's identity - learn about local tree history, the current state of our city's tree canopy,
identification tips, planting efforts, benefits, and care tips. Tour begins in the Minnehaha Falls and Wabun Picnic areas,
then proceeds along Minnehaha Parkway, Hiawatha Avenue, Lake Street, and Franklin Avenue. Passenger vans will provide
transportation from Minnehaha Park to other locations on the tour.
Click here for a map.
Elliot Park and the Ninth Street Historic District
Saturday, August 14, 2010
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Elliot Park Recreation Center, 1000 East Fourteenth Street
Led by David Fields. Elliot Park was one of the first residential neighborhoods in downtown Minneapolis. Visit the
landmarks that now make it a charming urban neighborhood. Visit the Band Box Diner, nineteenth-century brownstone row
houses, North Central University, and the hospital district, which has defined Elliot Park as a health sciences center.
Click here for a map.
West Forty-ninth Street
Saturday, August 14, 2010
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Intersection of West Forty-ninth Street and Knox Avenue South
Led by Robert Roscoe. Located between Knox and Queen Avenues just south of Lake Harriet, West Forty-ninth Street features
a handsome collection of bungalows, Prairie Style houses, and elegant Period Revival Style residences. Discover the
residential architecture that transformed Minneapolis in the early twentieth century.
Click here for a map.
Red Cedar Lane and the Purcell & Elmslie Homes
Saturday, August 28, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 2606 Cromwell Court (one block east of Fifty-fourth Street and Upton Avenue South)
Led by Richard Kronick. Red Cedar Lane, one of the most beautiful secrets in the Twin Cities, was laid out by architect
John Jager beginning in 1904. Jager planted red cedars along the street that now form a luxuriant and aromatic canopy that
makes the street seem like an outdoor room. The area has Jager's own house and several others designed by William Gray
Purcell and Frederick Strauel. Tour Begins with a short slide lecture to introduce these designers and their architecture.
Click here for a map.
TOUR CANCELLED
Lowry Hill
Saturday, September 18, 2010
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Thomas Lowry Park, intersection of Mount Curve Avenue and Colfax Avenue South
Led by Lowry Hill History Committee; D. Montgomery; and Bob Glancy. The Mount Curve and Groveland Terrace area in Lowry
Hill was one of the first upper-class subdivisions in Minneapolis. Learn about the homes built there by the city's rich
and famous including Lowry, Gluek, Donaldson, Partridge, and Nott. See how the neighborhood has changed since its inception
in 1874.
Click here for a map.
Minneapolis City Hall & Courthouse
Third Wednesday of every month, year round
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Father of Waters Atrium, City Hall, 351 South Fourth Street
Led by Municipal Building Staff and Volunteers. Co-sponsored by the Municipal Building Commission, enjoy a lunchtime tour
of one of the Twin Cities' greatest civic landmarks: the Minneapolis City Hall and Courthouse. Learn about local history
and discover the intricate detailing that make this building an architectural treasure. Visit the five-story atrium with
its stained-glass windows and grotesques, the Father of Waters statue, the Council Chambers, and see million-year-old
fossils. Groups wishing to schedule specific times or dates for tours, go to the Municipal Building Commission's website and complete an online form.
Click here for a map.
Christ Church Lutheran
First Sunday of every month, year round
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 3244 Thirty-fourth Avenue South
Led by Friends of Christ Church Lutheran. Christ Church Lutheran, designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen, is the only
National Historic Landmark church in Minnesota and a renowned high point of mid-century modern architecture. Known for its
subtle, serene spiritual atmosphere, it has inspired visitors from across the country and around the world since its
construction in 1949.
Click here for a map.
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