# Why is Minneapolis all "futuristic" in a Barbarella sort of way? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 16, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471 "2005-10-16T15:16:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/1 "2005-10-16T15:16:06Z")
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. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![pocelene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/0ea827/32.png) [@pocelene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pocelene)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/2 "2005-10-16T15:23:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/3 "2005-10-16T15:41:50Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/4 "2005-10-17T04:18:53Z")
> [@VCO3](#): > > the _ridiculous_ light rail system What’s ridiculous about the LRT? 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. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/5 "2005-10-17T05:17:03Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > 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.) You want squeaky-clean social progressivism? Milwaukee has had 12 socialist mayors, the most recent serving from 1948 to 1960. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/6 "2005-10-17T14:33:35Z")
Links to images of this “city of tomorrow”? ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/7 "2005-10-17T15:17:02Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Links to images of this “city of tomorrow”? [Try](http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/North_America/United_States/Midwest/Minnesota/Minneapolis/photo73330.htm) [these](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis%2C_Minnesota). Personally, I’ve never thought of the city as particularly futuristic. The [skyway](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyway) system is pretty cool and there’s lots of parks. That doesn’t make us especially unique though. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/8 "2005-10-17T15:25:30Z")
> [@Ass For A Hat](#): > > [Try](http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/North_America/United_States/Midwest/Minnesota/Minneapolis/photo73330.htm) [these](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis%2C_Minnesota). > > Personally, I’ve never thought of the city as particularly futuristic. The [skyway](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyway) system is pretty cool and there’s lots of parks. That doesn’t make us especially unique though. Hmm…nice looking town. What’s the job market like? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/9 "2005-10-17T15:31:30Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > What’s ridiculous about the LRT? > > 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. I think he used “ridiculous” in a good way. Kind of like: Kevin Garnett has some ridiculous jumping ability for a big man. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/10 "2005-10-17T16:12:37Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > You want squeaky-clean social progressivism? Milwaukee has had 12 socialist mayors, the most recent serving from 1948 to 1960. 12?! I knew they’d had a few, but 12? Whoooo doggies. All right, for Milwaukee, substitute Kansas City. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/11 "2005-10-17T16:26:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/12 "2005-10-17T16:27:02Z")
> [@Ass For A Hat](#): > > The [skyway](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyway) system is pretty cool and there’s lots of parks. 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. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/13 "2005-10-17T16:29:02Z")
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](http://www.mam.org/) ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/14 "2005-10-17T16:49:15Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Hmm…nice looking town. > > What’s the job market like? Heh, I had the same idea looking at those pictures. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/15 "2005-10-17T17:33:38Z")
> [@Hey you!](#): > > 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. James Lileks, columnist for the Star Tribune, has a [great website](http://www.lileks.com/mpls/index.html) with pictures of Minneapolis architecture, past and present. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/16 "2005-10-17T17:36:41Z")
> [@Hey you!](#): > > 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. _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. > [@Hey you!](#): > > 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 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. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/17 "2005-10-17T17:45:36Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > What’s ridiculous about the LRT? 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. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/18 "2005-10-17T18:49:36Z")
AFAIK the skywalk system was developed in Calgary as the [+ 15](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus_15) system. I never really got the sense that Minneapolis was futuristic when I lived there. ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/19 "2005-10-17T21:11:11Z")
:smack: So\* that’s\* the Skyway that The Replacements were singing about! ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471/20 "2005-10-17T21:45:33Z")
> [@rivulus](#): > > 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. 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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-minneapolis-all-futuristic-in-a-barbarella-sort-of-way/326471.md?page=2)