Municipal Building Commission
Historic Photos
Construction of the City Hall and Courthouse building was a feat to say the least. Huge blocks of granite -- some weighing as much as 26 tons each -- were transported by horse and wagon from Ortonville, Minnesota. The downtown Minneapolis landscape also has changed significantly since the building's inception in the late 1800s. As time has passed and events have occurred, the building has endured as a lasting icon for Minneapolis and Hennepin County. Peruse the historic photo archive for a look into the founding and life of the City Hall and Courthouse as well as some close-ups of key building features.


Image Gallery: Historic Photo Archive
Hennepin Avenue Suspension Bridge
The predecessor to the present Hennepin Avenue bridge, the early suspension bridge connecting what is now downtown to St. Anthony. Aerial View of City Hall and Courthouse from the East
The clock tower of the City Hall and Courthouse can be seen against the background of the University of Minnesota campus in the foreground. Interior View of Clock Face
A view of a clock from inside the clock tower during the installation of a new clock face. Exterior View of Clock Face
The four clock faces of the clock tower are said to rival Big Ben's in size being, according to different sources, either a few inches larger or a few inches smaller. Note the repairman leaning out through one of the clock's access panels.
See all 24 images.