I just visited Minneapolis for the first time this weekend, and I was surprised at how “modern” and “futuristic” the city seemed to be - I almost felt like I was on the set of a movie like Logan’s Run or Barbarella. From the design of the buildings to that neon clock to the ridiculous light rail system, I was blown away by “in the year 2000”-ness.
How’d that happen? Did Minneapolis go through some sort of boom? It seems like they must have had a period of quick growth in which all of that stuff was erected, because it doesn’t look like a city that grew up over time, but rather overnight.
Minnesotans have always been proud, as in their motto the “Star of the North”.
But the real art boom came from the generous donations to the arts from the original founders of the giant granaries of Pillsbury and General Mills.
Once started, many students of architecture went there to propose public projects and met with people already proud of their public art projects.
Public life, quality of life, art and architecture have always been valued in Minneapolis – not just thanks to a few rich millers, but thanks also to the kind of squeaky-clean social progressivism that seems to require a large population of Scandinavian-Americans. (Another such place, especially in earlier days, was Seattle. If you ever wonder why Milwaukee did not become another Minneapolis, or Portland another Seattle, one answer is: not enough Swedes.)
The Lake City’s futurist architecture had its real boom in the 1970s, when they turned downtown into a habitrail with the Skywalk system. (You would have done so too if you had -20°F winter days and a need for massive street-level urban renewal.)
I ride it to and from work every day, as do a whole lot of other people. In fact. it started out at about double the predicted ridership, and has been increasing since then, and that will likely continue as gas prices continue to increase. They’ve already had to place an order for 15% more cars, to try to cope with the added riders.
What I find ridiculous are the cars I see sitting in traffic jams as the LRT cruises by, burning way more in gas & parking fees as a week’s worth of my LRT tickets.
Personally, I’ve never thought of the city as particularly futuristic. The skyway system is pretty cool and there’s lots of parks. That doesn’t make us especially unique though.
Some of it has to do with the fact that Minneapolis has not preserved as many of their historical buildings as Chicago, Milwaukee or Saint Paul for that matter.
Not only is the skyway cool, it’s WARM in the winter. The U of Saskatchewan added a skyway while I was there and also had some underground tunnels connecting several buildings. There’s nothing like staying out of -30 degree weather while walking to class.
Anyway, back to Minneapolis… I have visited there a number of times and would move there in a heartbeat if I found a job in my field.
If you ever wonder why Milwaukee did not become another Minneapolis, or Portland another Seattle, one answer is: not enough Swedes.)
I know you already retracted this, but Milwaukee’s lakefront is becoming the most futuristic area you can find in the U.S. thanks to the new addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum
cough Milwaukee? I’m sorry…have you seen the Pabst buildings lately? Other than some of the buildings in the Water Street district and some warehouse lofts in the 3rd Ward, I’m trying to think of what historical buildings Milwaukee has actively preserved.
Er, the museum addition is nice (although overbudget and the movable “wings” have had nearly as many problems as the retractable roof on Miller Park) but one building does not a future make. And they still have that hideous piece of scrap metal blocking the view off the east end of Michigan Ave.
I meant it as a compliment, yes. It’s ridiculously clean, ridiculously “futuristic” in that it’s all plastic and bubble windows and primary colors and a soft female voice announcing the stops, and ridiculously cool.
Although, it emits a horrible ear-stabbing shrieking klaxon whenever the doors close. Someone should really do something about that.
I currently attend, and I can vouch for that. The only poor suckers stuck without an indoor route are the people taking Education classes, since the building is in the middle of nowhere.
