In the late 1950s and early 1960s urban renewal swept across the nation like a prairie fire. It was a solution advocated by almost every politician and decision-maker as a way to breath new life into cities. Future generations would see urban renewal as the beginning of trend to destroy early architecture. A little research reveals that this was not the first time such an idea ran wild in city halls across the country. Another version of urban renewal occurred in the late 1890s and again in the early twentieth century. The following buildings were some of the most treasured in Minneapolis.

Tyrone Guthrie Theater
A much more recent loss is the Tyrone Guthrie Theater, designed by local Modernist Ralph Rapson. The Guthrie's design arose out of Rapson's work with the Walker Art Center. The result was a theater that seated 1,441 people and featured an irregularly shaped thrust stage that physically brought the performers and audience closer to each other. The theater-going experience was revolutionized. In 1980, Artistic Director Liviu Ciulei had the stage redesigned. The size, shape and height of the stage became adjustable, and the back wall was opened to give more depth. With plans for the Walker Art Center to expand in the new millennium, the theater came under threat. In 2002, the National Trust for Historic Preservation put the Guthrie on its list of the most endangered historic properties in the United States. Despite local attempts to save the building, it was demolished in late 2006. The empty site will soon hold a park and sculpture garden.

Click for the archive.