The iconic bronze statue of Mary Tyler Moore along Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, depicting the memorable hat-tossing moment from the opening of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which first aired in 1970 and helped cement Minneapolis in television history. Installed in 2002, the statue symbolizes the city’s cultural association with the show’s themes of independence and optimism. At the time of this photograph, Nicollet Mall—normally a busy pedestrian and transit corridor—appears unusually empty, reflecting the early days of COVID-19 shutdowns that drastically reduced public presence in city centers. Blue public art lanterns, added during street improvements completed in 2017, line the renovated streetscape, emphasizing Nicollet Mall’s evolution as both a commercial and cultural landmark.
Photo taken in March 2020.
