First Church of Christ, Scientist (Minneapolis, Minnesota) facts for kids
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First Church of Christ, Scientist
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The First Church of Christ, Scientist from the south
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 614-620 15th Street East, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1897 |
| Architect | Septimus J. Bowler |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts, Renaissance, Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001340 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 20, 1986 |
The First Church of Christ, Scientist building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was a special place. It was the very first church of its kind in the state. Built in 1897, it stood in the Elliott Park neighborhood. This area was once filled with beautiful old Victorian homes.
A Minneapolis architect named S. J. Bowler designed the church. He used a style called the Doric order. This meant the front of the building had a deep porch, known as a portico. Two tall, grooved columns held up a triangle-shaped roof section above the entrance. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This list helps protect important historical sites.
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Life of the Building
After being a church, the building found new uses. For several years, it became a special place for theater. A group called the Margolis Brown Adaptors Company used it as a 'Physical Theatre Lab'. They created and performed shows there.
However, the building became empty in 2001. Over time, it started to get damaged. The roof and the outside brickwork suffered. The building also started to have safety problems. In 2007, someone tried to sell the church. They hoped a new owner would fix it up.
Community and the Church
The building became known for different reasons in the neighborhood. Some people saw it as a problem. It attracted people who caused damage or left graffiti. But others saw it as a hidden treasure. They believed it could be restored to its former beauty. Minneapolis had torn down many historic buildings in the 1960s. So, some people wanted to save this one.
In 2012, a group briefly used the church. They called themselves 'Minneapolis Space Liberation'. About 50 people gathered there for a short time. They had a dance party and shared food. This event was meant to show how many buildings in the city were empty and neglected.
Why the Church Was Demolished
Eventually, a company bought the land where the church stood. They planned to build new apartments. The company argued that the old church was too damaged to fix. They also said it would harm the new apartments planned nearby. They asked for permission to tear it down.
The city of Minneapolis did not agree. They said no to the demolition. The company then took the issue to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. This court decided that the city was wrong to stop the demolition. So, in August 2022, the historic church building was torn down.
Later Church Buildings
The First Church of Christ, Scientist congregation built a second church in 1914. This new building was located at 24th and Nicollet. A famous Minneapolis architect, Harry Wild Jones, designed it. Today, this second building is home to the Minneapolis First Seventh-day Adventist Church.
See also
- List of former Christian Science churches, societies and buildings
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Hennepin County, Minnesota
