Here is a list of the top Minneapolis landmarks. You can see many of these landmarks on a Minneapolis Trolley Tour. Following are all of the important landmarks in Minneapolis.
Stone Arch Bridge
Stone Arch Bridge then and now, is an engineering accomplishment and Minneapolis Landmark. It is the only curved masonry bridge across a river in the United States. It is also the only arched stone bridge on the Mississippi. At the time of its construction, James J Hill brought specialized Swedish stone masons into the United States because it was said that nobody could accomplish the feat. Hill was the owner and builder of the Northern Trans-Continental Railway, The Great Northern, from Minneapolis St Paul to Seattle, WA. See the Stone Arch Bridge on the Narrated Scenic Tour, click here.
Spoonbridge and Cherry
Spoonbridge and Cherry, also called the Minneapolis Spoon and Cherry is an iconic sculpture made by a Swedish couple in 1982. Originally their idea was a Viking warship rising up out of the water. It is important to remember this first concept in appreciating the juxtaposition and dichotomy with the famous sculpture that they ended up building. The Spoonbridge and cherry retains some of the beautiful uplifting symbolism rising up out of the water and uses innocuous and powerful everyday symbolism born of the Pop Art movement. This Minneapolis Landmark is found in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. To see the Spoonbridge and Cherry, take the Narrated Scenic Trolley Tour by clicking here.
300 Clifton Mansion, Minneapolis Landmark
This is a Minneapolis Landmark because the original owner, Eugene J Carpenter, was instrumental in establishing the Arts in Minneapolis. Eugene Carpenter started the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) while his brother in the mansion next door started the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (Now the Minnesota Orchestra). More than that, Carpenter inititated and canonized philanthropy that has allowed the arts in Minneapolis to flourish until today. You can see this Minneapolis Landmark on many of the Trolley Tours by clicking here.
Minnehaha Falls
This Minneapolis Landmark is both spectacularly beautiful, and historically important. The water flowing over the falls comes from Minnetonka, the largest lake in Minnesota, which is a big deal since Minnesota has 12,000 lakes.The waterway crosses the City of Minneapolis and is part of the Grand Rounds, over 100 miles of contiguous pathways around and across the City of Minneapolis, second longest in the World. Minnehaha Falls drops over 50 feet and then flow into the Mississippi River. Take that walk!
Minnehaha is likely more significant from a societal point of view. The beautiful falls were inspiration for Longfellow’s 1855 epic poem,”The Song of Hiawatha.” Hiawatha’s love interest is named Minnehaha in the classic poem. More importantly, it is the first time in writing that Native Americans were portrayed positively. Longfellow paid homage to Native Americans, and the famous poem put Minneapolis on the national stage. For the first time national and international tourists traveled to Minneapolis, and their destination was Minnehaha Falls. That makes Minnehaha Falls the first Minneapolis Landmark, popular before Minnesota was even a State.
Foshay Tower
Wilbur Foshay built the tallest building west of the Missisippi as a tribute to himself, and George Washington. The Washington Monument styled building held the western United States height record for over 30 years. But Wilbur Foshay was never allowed to live in his gorgeous lofty penthouse, because he was indicted on securities fraud and the Foshay Tower was taken from him to pay his debts. You can use his Penthouse,though. It is now Prohibition bar, and a Foshay Tower museum, still with a great view, and still a Minneapolis Landmark. To see the Foshay Tower book the Ghost Tour, or the Narrated Scenic Tour click here.
Hennepin Avenue Bridge
This Minneapolis Landmark is a replica and tribute to the first ever bridge across the Mississippi River, which was at that location. Beneath the bridge are memorialized the huge metal counterweights which supported the original suspension bridge. The Hennepin Avenue Bridge bridge gave birth to the so named Gateway District and later Gateway Park, because it was the first bridge crossing the mighty Mississippi from East to West. To see and learn more about this importan Minneapols Landmark, book the Narrated Scenic tour click here.
First Avenue
Chain of Lakes Park
Basilica of St. Mary