After my visit to St. Paul, my next venture was to Minneapolis. My intention was to visit the statue of Mary Tyler Moore throwing her hat into the air.
I did some research and found out where the statue was these day and set out to find it.
I figured I’d be able to find a spot, even if it meant paying (shudder) to park in a garage. I was kind of wrong.
Traffic was incredible the were in the midst of a lot of road construction. I know it’s summer and places in the north have to do it while they can, but it was too much for me. I did manage to find one garage that said they had a spot. I went all the way up and all the way down and never found an empty one. I came up with plan B.
I drove across the river and found a place to park and I called an Uber. The driver took me right to where I needed to be.
These days, the statue is back at its original location on the Nicollet Mall. When I visited, it was at the city’s visitor center.
One of the workers was very obliging, and he took a couple of shots of me. This one was my favorite. They even had a basket of hats for people to throw.
After I got done with the requisite photo shoot, I headed out to see what I could see in Minneapolis.
Did I mention that there was a lot of road construction going on?
Road were torn up and random pieces of debris where here and there. There was a certain sculptural quality to some of the junk.
Of course, there was also real art. The orange paint on this one makes me think Alexander Calder, but other than the color, it doesn’t look much like his work. I did a little research, but couldn’t find any information on this one.
But, really, a modern city on a sunny day – doesn’t everything look like art?
This repurposed train station, which was built in 1899. At its peak in 1920, 29 passenger trains a day used the depot. Through the years, passenger traffic decreased nationwide and freight facilities were moved to other places. The depot was closed in 1971 and it stood vacant for many years. In 2001, it opened as a hotel.
Train depots aren’t the only buildings being repurposed.
I rather fancy a condo in an old blanket factory. Doesn’t that sound cozy? Of course, I am sure I don’t have the funds for something in the cool and groovy part of town.
Speaking of cool and groovy, here is the Guthrie Theater.
The entrance rather reminds me of Darth Vader.
Or maybe I’m imagining things.
The theater is named after Sir Tyrone Guthrie, who was an Irish stage director.
And Sir Tyrone does remind me of my cousin, Bill.
Anyway, Sir Tyrone was influential in Canadian theater. He directed the first season at what its now the Stratford Festival, and his five years there proved to have lasting influence on Canadian theater. In the last 1950s, he and colleagues Oliver Rea and Peter Zeisler decided to create a resident theater away from New York. They opened the Guthrie Theater in 1963. Sir Tyrone remained artistic director until 1966. He returned to direct plays during the three seasons after that. He made his final curtain call in 1971.
I passed the large portrait of Sir Tyrone and through the entrance. This is quite the sculptural building – and so monochromatic.
I made my way up to the observation deck. It was a perfect place to take a self portrait.
There were some great views of the river. That’s the Mississippi down there!
Off in another direction, there was a view of the old Gold Medal grain elevators. Really, doesn’t everything look beautiful with blue skies and bright sunshine?
I figured I had seen what there was to see at the theater, so I headed out.
Here’s Gold Medal from the street level.
I decided to cross the river on that stone bridge I saw from the observation deck and I headed in that direction. Nothing like having a bird’s eye view to help you plan your route.
Hmm. Mill City Museum. I guess I’ll have to put it on my “Next Time” list.
This is the plaque that is above the archway. The Washburn Mill explosion was quite a disaster. 
I was getting closer to the bridge. There was really no need to warn me about staying away from a steep drop off. 
I guess if you went over the edge, this is what you might see on the way down.
The Mississippi didn’t look particularly navigable from the observation deck. As I got closer, I could see how they did it. There were locks built along side the river.
I set out across the bridge, and discovered that it was a repurposed railroad bridge. The people of Minneapolis are really into maintaining their heritage.
Milling in the area began in the 1820s with the construction of a gristmill and a saw mill that was operated by the soldiers from Fort Snelling. Milling continued and grew until the national flour market shifted to Buffalo, New York as well other cities that were not identified on the historical plaques on the bridge.
I got across the bridge and found that I was less than clear on where I had parked Bart. I had a general idea, so I set off in that direction.
Along the way, I encountered these sculptures honoring the buildings that had been in the area. This is the Van Cleve House that was built in 1858. Horatio Van Cleve was a Civil War general. HIs wife, Charlotte, was an agent of social change who spoke out against slavery, for women’s rights and was even elected to the school board.
Businessman John Dudley built this house in 1856.
These buildings were built along Main Street in 1855, 1858 and 1890. They housed a hardware business, a bookstore and pharmacy as well as a saloon. You know what they say – All work and no play…
The last sculpture I photographed was the Winthrop School/East High School. It was built in 1897 and 1900. The Winthrop School was in operation from 1867 until 1898, When it was replaced by East High School. Part of the school still stands, although I wasn’t sure which part it was.
By this time, I was getting tired, thirsty and a little anxious that I might not find Bart. I wish I had written down where I left him – or maybe taken a photo of the intersection or left a trail of bread crumbs. Something!
But, I took a deep breath and looked around.
And there he was! I had never been so happy to see that big red truck!
Time to go find something to drink and maybe some dinner.