History of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

1854 - Minneapolis
Minneapolis, a small post-village, capital of Hennepin county, Minnesota, on the right bank of the Mississippi, a little above the falls of St. Anthony.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

1855 - January 23 - The first bridge over the Mississippi River opens in what is now Minneapolis, Minnesota,

wikipedia.org
January 23, 1855

1866 - Large Fire in Minneapolis.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Friday, March 17.

A fire here last night destroyed twenty buildings from First to Davis street. Loss $100,000.
The New York Times
New York, New York
March 18, 1866

1867 - Fire at Minneapolis, Minn.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Saturday, June 29.
A fire this morning burned the St. Paul House, WARNER'S furniture and coffin warehouse, LUCAS BROTHERS' tinware and other frame buildings on Hennippen-avenue, next to the river. The loss is about $15,000, which is insured for $6,000 on all. The buildings were all old.
The New York Times
New York, New York
July 1, 1867

1870 - Minneapolis and Saint Paul became major cities partly thanks to French immigrant engineer Edmund La Croix, a resident of the area who perfected a device to purify white flour in the early 1870s.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ minnesota.html

1873 - Minneapolis
"The city of Minneapolis, with its wide streets and avenues, magnificent business structures, beautiful private residences and numerous mills, is situated on both sides of the Mississippi River, at the Falls of St. Anthony. It is the new city of the Upper Mississippi Valley, and its population and manufacturing interests have increased with surprising and almost unprecedented rapidity. The earliest settlement was on the east side of the river and known as St. Anthony. Franklin Steele, Esq., a gentleman of intelligence and foresight, being at Fort Snelling (a few miles below Minneapolis) as early as 1838, had faith that the footprints of civilization would be deeply impressed on this locality, and in the fall of 1847 the St. Anthony Mill Company, of which he was a member, commenced the improvement of water power, and in August 1848, the first saw began to cut the logs which had been floated down the river from the extensive pine forests, to the north and west of the city. The first... Read MORE...

1882 - FIRE IN MINNEAPOLIS. BURNING OF THE BARTON BLOCK - LOSS NEARLY $100,000.
ST. PAUL, Dec. 18. - The Barton Block, in Washington avenue, Minneapolis, was burned this morning, making the third disastrous fire there within a few weeks. The fire originated in the printing-office of Dimond & Ross, on the third floor, but in just what manner cannot be definitely determined. The Fire Department succeeded in confining the fire to the building in which it originated, besides preventing the entire demolition of the structure. The entire stock carried by Dimond & Ross was consumed, and was valued at $23,000; insurance $18,000. On the same floor was the lithographing establishment of J. Monash, who estimates his loss at $7,000, and his insurance at $4,000. The losses on the second and first floors of the building are principally by water. "Oscar, the Tailor," had a stock of goods valued at from $18,000 to $20,000. They are thoroughly soaked, but what the damage is can only be roughly estimated until they are taken out. Mr. Rose, manager of the store, places the loss at... Read MORE...

1883 - September 29 – A consortium of flour mill operators in Minneapolis, Minnesota forms the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic Railway as a means to get their product to the Great Lakes ports but avoid the high tariffs of Chicago.

wikipedia.org
September 29, 1883

1884 - ACADEMY OF MUSIC DESTROYED.
Minneapolis, Minn., Dec. 26. - The old Academy of Music building in Minneapolis was destroyed by fire Christmas afternoon. The building contained the Minneapolis law library which was lost.

The loss to building and contents, including merchants occupying ground floors, is about $200,000.
Oshkosh Daily Northwestern
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
December 26, 1884

1889 - First library to have a Children's department was the Minneapolis Public Library.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ minnesota.html

1893 - August 13 - A fire in Minneapolis cause $2,000,000 damage; 1,500 persons made homeless.

The World Almanac and Book of Facts, Volume 1894 Press Publishing Company. 1894

1895 - Minneapolis
Minneapolis, the first city of Minnesota in population and importance, and in population the eighteenth of the United States, the capital of Hennepin co., is situated on both banks of the Mississippi River, at the Falls of St. Anthony, 10 miles W. by N. of St. Paul. It is near lat. 44° 58' N. and lon. 93° 18' W. Its invigorating climate has given it great repute as a health resort. The winter in this region is cold, but clear, the average summer temperature is below 70° F., and the autumn is long. Built upon a high and picturesque table-land, Minneapolis, with an area of 54 square miles, is laid out with regularity, and many of its intersecting streets are from 80 to 100 feet in width. The river is spanned by 9 highway and 6 railroad bridges, most of them built of iron, and several of them great works of engineering. The city has a park area of 1500 acres (valued at more than $4,000,000), including 22 parks, 8 parkways and boulevards, 4 large lakes, and the Falls of Minnehaha. Natural ... Read MORE...

1897 - A $200,000 Fire In Minneapolis.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Jan. 10. - Fire this morning destroyed the packing house of the Anchor Flour Mill, owned by the Pillsbury-Washburn Milling Company. The loss is $200,000, fully insured.
The New York Times
New York, New York
January 11, 1897

1902 - BIG FIRE IN MINNEAPOLIS.
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 30. - Fire to-night destroyed the six-story building occupied by the Minneapolis Paper Company and owned by J. C. Oswald & Co. The stock of the paper company, known also as Wright, Barrows & Stillwell, was consumed. The value of the contents is said to have exceeded $200,000. The total loss is $250,000.

Capt. George Smith of Engine Company No. 16 was leading a squad of men up a ladder on an adjoining structure in First Avenue, when the ladder broke, precipitating six men to the ground. Smith suffered internal injuries that may prove fatal. Firemen George Cheney and Frank Hessick were also badly hurt. The other three firemen were able to reach the City Hospital without assistance.

Several adjoining buildings were ignited, but the efforts of the entire Fire Department of Minneapolis succeeded in confining practically all of the damage to the J. C. Oswald & Co. building.
The New York Times
New York, New York
October 31, 1902

1904 - FIRE IN MINNEAPOLIS. BIG STORES ARE BURNED AND TWO FIREMEN LOSE THEIR LIVES. LOSS, $830,000.
Minneapolis, Minn., Dec. 15. - In one of the fiercest fires in the history of Minneapolis Tuesday night three firemen lost their lives and property valued at $830,000 was destroyed. The entire retail business district was for a time threatened with a similar fate, and its escape was due as much to the absence of much wind as to indefatigable efforts of the fire department.

The dead are:
JACOB F. MILLER, insurance patrolman;
JOHN FELLOWS, pipeman.
FELLOWS and his mates had climbed to the fifth story of the Boutell Store and were pouring water into the Peck Building from the open windows. The situation becoming dangerous, the men sought to reach the ground. Three went down the fire escape, but FELLOWS made the fatal error of running to the elevator shaft and sliding down the cable in the belief that the lower part of the building had not yet begun to burn. He slid into a cauldron of flame and was seen no more. MILLER stumbled into the elevator shaft and fell to the... Read MORE...

1906
Minneapolis, the first city of Minnesota in popula tion and importance and the capital of Hennepin oo., is situated on both banks of the Mississippi River, at the Falls of St. Anthony, just above St. Paul, the wide-spread ing suburbs of the two cities being contiguous. Lat. 44° 58' N. ; Ion. 93° 18' W. Elevation above the sea, 700-800 feet. The number of railroads entering or oentring here is about 20. Its invigorating climate, marked by an extreme of dry winter cold, with the mercury at times descending to — 30°, and mild summer temperatures, has given Min neapolis great repute as a health-resort. It is laid out with regularity and many of its intersecting streets are from 80 to 100 feet or more (Kenwood Boulevard) in width and contain a number of imposing edifices. The most prom inent of these is the new court-house and city-hall, com pleted in 1898 at a cost of $4,000,000. Other publio build ings are the chamber of commerce, the Union depot, lumber exchange, masonio temple, public... Read MORE...

1911 - EXPLOSION TIES UP AND DARKENS A CITY. Power House of Electric Co. In Minneapolis Destroyed by Short Circuit of 13,000 Volts. ELEVEN MEN NEAR DEATH.
Blinding Flashes and Deafening Crashes Continuous - Streets Unlighted - Newspapers Use Hand Presses.

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 6. - An explosion and fire which destroyed the main plant of the General Electric Company early to-day, injured three men, caused a loss of $750,000, and seriously interfered with business throughout the city during the day, left the city to-night in almost total darkness. Several office buildings got power for light and elevators from the street railway company and flour mills until 11 o'clock, but after that time all power was turned off. No street lamps were lighted and all save the main section of the city was without electric light all right.

Fearing that the darkness of the city may induce lawlessness, the entire police and detective force is held in reserve with waiting automobiles.

The General Electric Company has 500 men making arrangements so that the power from the company's plants in Taylor's Falls can be used.

The escape of eleven men who were ... Read MORE...

1912 - The nation's first Better Business Bureau was founded in Minneapolis.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ minnesota.html

1912 - Three Dead in Storm
Minneapolis, Minn., July 13. - Three persons are dead and thirteen injured and a property loss of $100,000 was caused by one of the most severe storms in years which raged over Hennepin and Ramsey counties (Minneapolis and St. Paul) last night.

The dead are:
Ralph Gillette, aged 30, killed by lightning at the Inter lochen Golf links;

Mrs. Alma Frayer, and Mary Bergman, of Ellsworth, Wis., killed in the collapse of a barn

Scores were injured, several seriously.
Daily Commonwealth
Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
July 13, 1912

1913 - BLAZE COSTS TWO LIVES. FIRE DESTROYS NORTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL AT MINNEAPOLIS.
Minneapolis, June 19. - Captain JOHN GRAY died in a few hours from his injuries, Ladderman FRANK KANESKY was almost instantly killed and eight others were injured in a fire which gutted the North Side high school.

Fifty firemen were in imminent danger when a wall of the old main building fell. Fire Chief CHARLES W. RINGER, Assistant Chief SANDY HAMILTON, District Chief EDWARD THIELEN and twenty-five firemen escaped the falling wall by running from beneath it into the burning building. Twenty-five other firemen ran back from the wall, but ten of them were caught. Only the heroic work of rescuers, who dug with bare hands into the fiery bricks and concrete, prevented the death of the men who were buried beneath the tons of debris.
The Evening Tribune
Albert Lea, Minnesota
June 19, 1913

1917 - TWELVE MISSING IN FIRE. SCORE MAY HAVE DIED IN MINNEAPOLIS BLAZE. ONE WOMAN JUMPS TO DEATH - FIREMEN ARRIVING LATE ARE ATTACKED BY CROWD.
Minneapolis, Minn., Feb. 12. - Firemen are searching the smoking ruins of the Kenwood Hotel for the bodies of a dozen persons missing since the fire which started Sunday about midnight. MRS. LUCILLE SQUIRE, 30 years old, was killed when she jumped from a third-story window, missing the life-net and striking the pavement. Twelve guests were taken to the hospital suffering from burns. An explosion of gasoline in the basement of the wooden building is thought to have caused the blaze.

Five persons were seen to fall back into the flames when a ledge from which they were preparing to leap gave way.

Spectators who arrived before the fire department rescued many of the hotel residents by piling boxes against the outer walls, which served as fire escapes for the lower floors. It is estimated there were at least 76 persons in the building when the fire started. Many on lower floors saved themselves by jumping from windows.

When the first fire company arrived 20 minutes late and... Read MORE...

1919 - A Minneapolis factory turned out the nations first armored cars.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ minnesota.html

1926 - The first Automatic Pop-up toaster was marketed in June by McGraw Electric Co. in Minneapolis under the name Toastmaster. The retail price was $13.50.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ minnesota.html

1928 - October 10 - The temperature at Minneapolis, MN, reached 90 degrees, their latest such reading of record.

The Weather Channel
October 10, 1928

1956 - JET HITS HOMES; 6 DIE.
Minneapolis (INS) - Six persons, including four children, were killed Saturday when a Navy jet plane crashed in flames and ploughed through six homes near Minneapolis.

Eleven children were hospitalized with injuries.

A man and his wife and two of their three sons were among the dead. The other son was away on a fishing trip.

A girl in a neighboring home was killed as she lay on a couch. A section of the plane's landing gear speared through the house and was found beside the girl's body.

The pilot, Marine Maj. GEORGE E. ARMSTRONG, 33, of the Minneapolis suburb of Edina, died in the plane.

The crash occurred at Weld-Chamberlain Field where last Tuesday an Air Force jet smashed into an auto and killed a woman and her daughter.
Saturday's tragedy came after ARMSTRONG took off in a formation of three Navy F-95 jet fighters.

The control tower said ARMSTRONG immediately radioed for permission to land. There was no explanation.

The plane plunged to the ground near the... Read MORE...

1967 - MINNEAPOLIS HOTEL BLAZE FATAL TO FOUR.
Minneapolis, Minn. (AP) - Four persons died Monday night when fire raced through two upper floors of a four-story hotel on the south edge of the Minneapolis loop.

Identified by the medical examiner's office as two of the victims were ADOLPH GILBERTSON, 58, and THORNTON POPE, 57, both residents of the Kenesaw Hotel.

The other two victims were tentatively identified as CARL ECKLUND, about 50, and EVELYN NASH, about 54. Authorities said they presumed these two also were hotel residents, but had not been able to reach next of kin.

The fire apparently broke out shortly before 5:30 p.m. Fire Chief KENNETH HALL said it was controlled by 6 p.m.
No cause for the blaze had been established Monday night, and no estimate of damage was available. Some 15 rooms of the 40-room hotel were burned out.
The Post-Standard
Syracuse, New York
May 2, 1967

2023 - Minneapolis has a lot to offer! Whether you're into outdoor activities, cultural experiences, or just want to enjoy some good food and drinks, there's something for everyone. Here's a list to get you started:
Minnehaha Park: This beautiful urban park features the stunning Minnehaha Falls, miles of hiking and biking trails, and picnic areas. It's a perfect spot for a leisurely day outdoors.

Walker Art Center: A renowned contemporary art museum with an impressive collection and iconic sculptures in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

Minneapolis Institute of Art: This museum boasts an extensive collection of art from various cultures and time periods, with free admission.

Guthrie Theater: Catch a show at this world-class theater that offers both classic and contemporary productions. The Guthrie also has a stunning view of the Mississippi River from its endless bridge.

Lake Calhoun (Bde Maka Ska): A popular lake in the city, offering opportunities for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and biking on its scenic trails.

Mill City Museum: Located on the historic Mississippi Riverfront, this museum tells the story of the flour milling industry in Minneapolis and offers great views... Read MORE...