Concrete Grain Elevators Near Dinkytown, Minneapolis

Concrete grain elevators like these once anchored the milling district along the Mississippi River near the University of Minnesota's Dinkytown neighborhood. Minneapolis grew into the nation's flour-milling capital in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and the reinforced-concrete storage silos that replaced wooden elevators after a series of dust explosions became a defining feature of the riverfront skyline. Many of these structures were built to hold grain awaiting processing at nearby mills before rail and barge shipment. Some elevators in the area remain in industrial use, while others have been abandoned or repurposed as the milling industry declined through the 20th century.

Photo taken in March 2018.