Minneapolis Armory

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Minneapolis Armory
Minneapolis Armory.jpg
The Minneapolis Armory in 2006
Minneapolis Armory is located in Minnesota
Minneapolis Armory
Location 500–530 6th St., S.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Area 2.5 acres (1.0 ha)
Built 1935–36
Architect P.C. Bettenburg; Walter H. Wheeler,
Architectural style PWA Moderne
NRHP Reference # 85002491[1]
Added to NRHP 26 September 1985[2]

The Minneapolis Armory is located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The armory was built for the Minnesota National Guard in 1935-36 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.[2]

On July 2, 2015, it was announced that the Armory was purchased by a local development firm for $6 million.[3] The developer plans to convert the space from a parking facility to a mid-sized events center.[4] The firm estimates renovations will be complete within 12-18 months.

History

The armory was the costliest single building in Minnesota supported by a Public Works Administration grant. The building is an example of the PWA Moderne style, a design characterized by strong geometry, bold contouring and integrated sculpture ornamentation.[5] The building was designed by St. Paul architect P.C. Bettenburg, who was also a major in the Minnesota National Guard.[6]

From the late 1930s through the 1970s, it was a venue for civic events, including concerts, political conventions and sporting events such as Golden Gloves tournaments. The building was used by the Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball Association as a part-time home between 1947–59,[5] and as its primary home court for the 1959–60 NBA season.[7] The National Guard ceased operations at the armory in 1980.[5]

The interior of the Minneapolis Armory in 2006, during its incarnation as a parking structure

Hennepin County bought the armory in 1989 for $4.7 million, with plans to place a new county jail on the site.[6] The Minnesota Historical Society sued to stop its destruction and in 1993 the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the structure was protected by state law and could not be torn down because of its historical status.[6] In 1998, the county sold the building for $2.6 million to a private company for use as a parking structure on condition that it be preserved.[5]

In popular culture

Minneapolis native Prince used the building to shoot the music video for "1999" in 1982.[8] 16 years later, Aerosmith recorded the video for their song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" in the armory.[9]


See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Hennepin County Fact Sheets: Minneapolis Armory
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Millett" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ MTV MUSIC - Prince - Pop Up Video "1999"
  9. ↑ IMDB profile for "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing": Filming location

External links

  • Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
Preceded by Home of the
Minneapolis Lakers
1959 – 1960		 Succeeded by
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
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