Metropolitan Building (Minneapolis) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Metropolitan Building |
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The Metropolitan Building in November 1960
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| Alternative names | Northwestern Guaranty Loan Building |
| General information | |
| Status | Demolished |
| Location | 308 2nd Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 44°58′46.3″N 93°16′0″W / 44.979528°N 93.26667°W |
| Completed | 1890 |
| Destroyed | 1961 |
| Cost | $1,000,000 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 258 ft (79 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 12 |
The Metropolitan Building was a very important building in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was also known as the Northwestern Guaranty Loan Building. This building stood from 1890 until it was torn down in 1961. Its removal was part of a big plan to rebuild downtown Minneapolis. About 40% of the city center was taken down and replaced. Many people wanted to save the building. Its planned destruction helped start movements to protect historic places in the city and across the state.
Minneapolis' First Skyscraper
This building was thought to be Minneapolis' first skyscraper. It had 12 stories and was 218 feet (about 66 meters) tall. Small towers stood at its corners. The rooftop even had a popular garden.
The building was made from green New Hampshire granite and red Lake Superior sandstone. Inside, it had beautiful oak wood. There was also fancy iron and brass work. A large skylight helped light up the inside. This was important because electric lights were not common yet. The floors around the center court were clear. This let more light shine through.
Architect E. Townsend Mix designed the building. Many people think it was his best work. Many important companies in Minneapolis had offices there.
When it was new, the Northwestern Guaranty Loan Company owned the building. Its founder, Louis F. Menage, made a lot of money from buying and selling land in the 1880s. He spent $1 million to build the Metropolitan Building. Many people loved the building when it was finished. However, some, like Cass Gilbert, did not like its style.
Why the Building Was Torn Down
In 1893, there was a big economic crisis called the Panic of 1893. This caused Menage's company to fail, and he left the country. Thomas Lowry, another big land investor, bought the building. He owned the city's streetcar system. Lowry sold the building to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in 1905. This is how the building got its "Metropolitan" name. It changed owners a few more times before it was torn down.
There was no real reason to tear down the building. Records from that time show it was safe. It was also almost completely full of businesses. The building was taken down because of where it was located. It sat on the edge of an area called the Gateway District.
What Remains Today
In May 2010, some large marble stones from the building were found. They were in an old warehouse in Delano, Minnesota. The warehouse owner told some architects and history experts in Minnesota. Now, they are trying to find money to save these stones.
The Ice House Plaza opened in May 2012. It includes several stone blocks saved from the Metropolitan Building. A sculptor named Zoran Mojsilov designed the plaza. His sculpture, "White Angel," is the main artwork there. The plaza is located at 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in South Minneapolis. It has a fountain and benches made from parts of the old building.
See also
In Spanish: Metropolitan Building (Mineápolis) para niños
