Minneapolis Armory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Minneapolis Armory
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The Minneapolis Armory in 2006
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 500–530 6th St., S. Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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| Area | 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) |
| Built | 1935–36 |
| Architect | P.C. Bettenburg; Walter H. Wheeler, |
| Architectural style | PWA Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002491 |
| Added to NRHP | 26 September 1985 |
The Minneapolis Armory is a large building in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It can hold about 8,400 people for music concerts and other events. The Armory was first built for the Minnesota National Guard in 1935–36.
It was also once home to the Minneapolis Lakers basketball team. They played there from 1947 to 1960. The Armory is considered an important historical building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
In 2015, a company bought the Armory for $6 million. They changed it from a parking garage into a concert and event center. The Armory reopened in January 2018. It even hosted events for Super Bowl LII, a big football game, that year!
Contents
A Look Back: The Armory's History
The Minneapolis Armory was a very expensive building to construct in Minnesota. It received money from a special government program called the Public Works Administration (PWA). This program helped create jobs during a tough economic time.
Building Style and Design
The Armory is a great example of the PWA Moderne style. This design uses strong, simple shapes and bold lines. It often includes cool sculptures as decoration. A St. Paul architect named P.C. Bettenburg designed the building. He was also a major in the Minnesota National Guard. Inside, artist Elsa Jemne painted beautiful murals.
A Place for Everyone
From the late 1930s to the 1970s, the Armory was a busy place. It hosted many different community events.
- People came for concerts.
- Important political conventions were held there.
- It was a popular spot for sports, like Golden Gloves boxing tournaments.
The Minneapolis Lakers basketball team used the Armory as their home court. They played many games there between 1947 and 1959. For the 1959–60 season, it was their main home court.
Even professional motorcycle races happened inside the Armory! These races took place during the winter months from 1968 to 1980. The National Guard continued to use the building until at least 1985.
Saving a Historic Building
In 1989, Hennepin County bought the Armory. They planned to build a new county jail on the site. However, the Minnesota Historical Society stepped in. They sued to stop the building from being torn down.
In 1993, the Minnesota Supreme Court made an important decision. They ruled that the Armory was protected by state law. Because of its historical importance, it could not be destroyed.
So, in 1998, the county sold the building to a private company. The company bought it for $2.6 million. They agreed to preserve the Armory and use it as a parking garage. This kept the historic building safe until it became the concert venue we know today.
Images for kids
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The interior of the Minneapolis Armory in 2006, when it was a parking garage.
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JLO performing at The Armory for Super Bowl 52, 2018.
