John Dwan Office Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John Dwan Office Building
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The John Dwan Office Building from the southeast
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | Two Harbors, Minnesota |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1898 |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000700 |
| Added to NRHP | June 11, 1992 |
The John Dwan Office Building is a historic place in Two Harbors, Minnesota. You can find it at 201 Waterfront Drive. This building is very special because it's where the famous company 3M first began! Today, it's a museum where you can learn all about 3M's amazing journey.
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The Start of 3M
In 1902, a lawyer named John Dwan worked in this very building. He wrote the official papers to start a new company. This company was first called the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. Today, we know it as 3M!
The people who started 3M had a big idea. They wanted to dig up a mineral called corundum near Lake Superior. They thought there was a lot of it there. Corundum is a very hard mineral, useful for making things like sandpaper.
Early Challenges
Starting 3M was not easy. The company almost went out of business! The mineral they found was not good for making abrasives. Also, the air near Lake Superior was very humid. This caused problems with their special glue.
But 3M didn't give up! They got help from a person named Lucius Pond Ordway. The company then moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota. They also changed their focus. Instead of mining, they started making abrasives. They used materials brought in from other places. This helped 3M become the big company it is today.
3M Birthplace Museum
The 3M Birthplace Museum is also known as the 3M Museum. The Lake County Historical Society runs it. This museum is a fun place to visit! It shows how the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company began.
What You Can See
The museum has many cool exhibits. You can see early products like sandpaper and Scotch Tape. You'll also learn about later inventions. These include Post-it Notes and Scotchgard.
The museum also has a recreated lawyer's office. It looks just like an office from the early 1900s! You can see old photos, items, and papers about the company's history. There's even a display of an early lab. This shows how 3M did its research and development.
Interactive Fun
Visitors can enjoy hands-on activities. You can learn about the latest technology from 3M. The 3M Company has given over $100,000. This money helped fix up the building for the museum.
See also
