Twin Cities History

BUILDING FOR BEER IN THE TWIN CITIES

St. Paul and Minneapolis were once dotted with breweries, biergartens, brewers' mansions, and saloons, all connected to the early brewing industry, and we have seen a renaissance of local beer spaces in recent years. In this presentation, we will explore the landscapes and architecture of beer from the mid-19th century to the present.

TWIN CITIES SPACES AND PLACES TO THE 1870S

Beginning with sites long sacred to the region’s Native Americans, this illustrated presentation visits significant early Twin Cities locations as it considers the many enduring links to this historic heritage. 

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME: A HISTORY OF TWIN CITIES BALLPARKS 

A richly illustrated presentation about the historic and contemporary baseball parks of the Twin Cities. Beginning with the early baseball grounds and simple wooden ballparks of the late 19th century, we'll also visit Nicollet Park and Lexington Park in the early 20th century, see Midway and Met Stadiums at mid-century, and finish our virtual tour with a look at two modern wonders, Target Field and CHS Field.

PRESERVATION AND LOSS: A HISTORY OF THE AUGSBURG CAMPUS

The Augsburg University campus has changed and evolved over the past 150 years. From Old Main (National Registry of Historic Places) to the Christensen Center, James G. Lindell Library, Sverdrup Hall and more, it's a fascinating story of preservation and loss — and a look at what the future holds for this beautiful campus.

THE ARCHITECTURE OF TARGET FIELD

Target Field is the third stadium used by the Minnesota Twins. Their second home, the Metrodome, left a lot to be desired, but it provided great inspiration for Target Field. In this illustrated presentation, we will explore the architectural history of our beautifully designed and award-winning downtown ballpark.

TWIN CITIES SKYWAYS: OUR SECOND-STORY SIDEWALKS

The extensive skyway systems of Minneapolis and St. Paul consist of nearly fifteen miles of walkways protected from the sometimes-harsh Minnesota weather. Whether designed as original parts of buildings or retrofitted into existing structures, the skyways connect commuters to their bus stops or parking ramps and provide access to dozens of skyway-level restaurants and shops. In this presentation, we’ll look at the history of the skyway system and visit some of its most interesting places.

THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR GROUNDS

The state fair was held in many places over the years—until 1885, at least, when they settled on the current fairgrounds. Over the decades, many buildings have come and gone—including three different grandstands at the current location. In this presentation, we’ll explore fairgrounds and facilities, past and present, going back to the days of the Territorial fairs and tracing our way to the present places and spaces of the Great Minnesota Get-Together.

MILTON SQUARE: A HISTORY

Located at an important St. Anthony Park intersection, the Milton Square complex has been a beloved destination for people from around the Twin Cities for decades. Learn about this iconic neighborhood landmark in this presentation.