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
Artist's Sketch of the Crow's Nest This sketch shows the crow's nest that was open to the public until just after World War I. More than 100,000 citizens annually made the trek up the circular iron staircase that ascends the clock tower in its southwest corner. From the nest, people experienced a panoramic vista very few had ever seen in the days proceeding the advent of skyscrapers.  Residential View of City Hall and Courthouse Noted as its most prominent feature, the clock tower of the City Hall and Courthouse can be seen in the far distance from this view looking north up Park Avenue. Old City Hall The first Minneapolis City Hall was erected in the heart of the Gateway District where Hennepin and Nicollet Avenues converge. Built in the Empire style, it was designed by Long before his partnership with Kees. The flagpole that stood at its main entrance (not pictured) may still be seen today in nearly the same location from over a century ago. Grotesque Guarding Elevators 41 different grotesques are carved into the columns found around ground floor elevators in the rotunda. About four inches in height, they were mistakenly attributed to Henry Chalker, but later found to be the work of Guwond. Similar faces are found on the exterior of the Masonic Temple at the corner of Hennepin Avenue and Sixth Street.
See all 24 images.




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Last modified on 11/14/2007 4:20:35 PM