Downtown Minneapolis

Buildings, streets, and public spaces across downtown Minneapolis from Nicollet Mall to the Mississippi riverfront

Downtown Minneapolis is Minnesota's commercial and civic core, a dense cluster of office towers, historic institutions, and riverfront industry that has been reshaping itself continuously since the city's founding on the Mississippi. The central business district stretches from the river bluffs of the Mill District south through Nicollet Mall and into the convention and stadium districts of Downtown East.

The city's early identity was built on flour milling. St. Anthony Falls powered the Washburn-Crosby and Pillsbury operations that made Minneapolis the flour-milling capital of the world by the late nineteenth century, and landmarks like the Gold Medal Flour sign and the Pillsbury A Mill remain visible along the east bank. The Warehouse District, built to move that industrial output by rail, survives in the form of brick masonry blocks that now hold restaurants, apartments, and offices.

The postwar decades brought the freeway system, which cut through neighborhoods north and south of downtown, and a wave of modernist construction that produced the IDS Center in 1972, the Wells Fargo Center in 1988, and the Capella Tower in 1992. Nicollet Mall, first developed in the 1960s as a pedestrian transit corridor, was rebuilt again in 2017. The Skyway System, the largest enclosed pedestrian bridge network in the world at roughly eight miles, grew from a single 1962 connection into a downtown-spanning infrastructure used by tens of thousands of workers each winter.

The most concentrated recent transformation came in Downtown East, where US Bank Stadium opened in 2016 on the former Metrodome site and the Wells Fargo twin towers replaced a surface parking field that had been a Star Tribune printing plant. The neighborhood around them, once largely vacant, added parks, apartments, and transit links within a few years of the stadium's completion.

Crowd at Cowboy Jacks in Downtown Minneapolis
July 8, 2025 — Cowboy Jack's, a multi-story bar and restaurant, is located on North 5th Street in Downtown Minneapolis. Known for its cowboy theme and sports bar atmosphere, it serves as a popular gathering spot for nightlife.
Last Call Party Bar interior in downtown Minneapolis, with tables, signs, and stacked wooden props.
January 24, 2025 — Last Call Party Bar is shown inside its downtown Minneapolis location. The room has long tables, wall signs, and low ceiling lighting, with stacks of branded wooden props in the foreground.
Metallica Pop Up Store in Minneapolis
August 14, 2024 — A worker installs bright yellow signage for a temporary Metallica pop-up store in downtown Minneapolis ahead of the band’s summer 2024 performances. The shop featured exclusive merchandise tied to Metallica’s 72 Seasons tour, one of the group’s largest North American runs in years. Pop-up locations like this were part of a coordinated campaign in major cities, connecting fans to the band’s tour stops with limited releases and local collaborations.
A Sun Country Airlines jet flies between office towers in downtown Minneapolis.
June 19, 2024 — A Sun Country Airlines jet flies over downtown Minneapolis between office towers. Sun Country Airlines is based at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, the region’s primary commercial airport.
Barkley O'Neal 2024 banner on a building in North Minneapolis with downtown behind it
June 8, 2024 — A banner reading “Barkley O'Neal 2024” hangs on a building in North Minneapolis with the downtown skyline in the background. The sign is a reference to NBA commentators Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal during the 2024 postseason.
State Theatre marquee in downtown Minneapolis with Timberwolves messages and Charles Barkley welcome sign
May 22, 2024 — The State Theatre marquee in downtown Minneapolis displays messages supporting the Minnesota Timberwolves and welcoming Charles Barkley back to Minnesota. The historic theater sits on Hennepin Avenue in the city’s theater district.
Hennepin County Government Center Atrium
May 19, 2024 — The atrium inside the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
Minneapolis skyline as seen from the shore of Bde Maka Ska
May 14, 2024 — The downtown Minneapolis skyline as seen from the shore of Bde Maka Ska, a Southwest Minneapolis lake.
Minneapolis with Canadian wildfire smoke in May 2024
May 13, 2024 — After a couple nights of visible northern lights in Minneapolis, Canadian wildfire smoke moves in to cloud the sky.
Orpheum Theatre on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis during a crowd for Disney’s The Lion King.
April 10, 2024 — Orpheum Theatre on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis hosts Disney’s The Lion King as theatergoers line up outside the venue. The Orpheum is one of the principal historic theaters on Hennepin Avenue and remains a major stop for Broadway touring productions in the city’s theater district. The crowd extends along North 9th Street beside the Hennepin arts and event center.
Rideshares just a ride not your ride or die
April 10, 2024 — A new billboard on Hennepin Ave in downtown Minneapolis from “Ride Sure”. Per it’s website, the campaign by the owner of Blue & White Taxi wants to debunk what it says are myths that rideshare is a better alternative to taxis.
Metro Transit Green Line train 251A in downtown Minneapolis.
April 4, 2024 — Metro Transit Green Line light rail train 251A in downtown Minneapolis. The Green Line is the Twin Cities' light rail route linking downtown Minneapolis and downtown Saint Paul. Metro Transit operates the line as part of the region's public transportation system.
Reflections on side of glass tower at sunset
March 17, 2024 — RBC Gateway and The Churchill towers in Downtown Minneapolis. Reflections from Wells Fargo Tower on the side of RBC Gateway during sunset.
Minneapolis downtown skyline with Century Plaza building undergoing renovation for new police 1st precinct station.
March 15, 2024 — The Foshay Tower rises 447 feet and 32 stories above downtown Minneapolis, completed in 1929 by insurance magnate Wilbur Foshay as a monument to his own business empire modeled after the Washington Monument. Foshay's fortune collapsed within weeks of the building's lavish opening celebration, a casualty of the stock market crash, and he was later convicted of fraud. The tower held the title of tallest building in Minneapolis until the IDS Center surpassed it in 1972, and it now operates as a hotel with an observation deck on its 30th floor. In the foreground, Century Plaza — a former Federal Reserve Bank building — is being converted into the Minneapolis Police Department's new 1st Precinct headquarters, relocating the precinct from its longtime home a few blocks away.
Boarded storefronts and construction barriers line Century Plaza during renovation of Minneapolis Police 1st Precinct station.
March 15, 2024 — Century Plaza, a downtown Minneapolis office building, is being converted into the new home of the Minneapolis Police Department's 1st Precinct.
Flagpole on top of large building downtown
March 5, 2024 — An American Flag on top of the Embassy Suites hotel in downtown Minneapolis.
Lit up theater sign in Minneapolis
January 24, 2024 — Lit up sign at the Orpheum Theatre on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. January 2024.
Orpheum Theatre marquee on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis at night.
January 24, 2024 — The Orpheum Theatre on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis in January 2024. The theater is one of the city’s major historic performing arts venues and hosts touring Broadway productions, concerts, and other stage performances.
Dudley Riggs Theatre on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, home of Brave New Workshop comedy.
January 24, 2024 — Dudley Riggs Theatre on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis is the home of Brave New Workshop, a comedy and satire company founded in 1958. The marquee in January 2024 advertises a final week of performances for the holiday show “All I Want for Christmas Is You… to Elf Off.” The venue is part of Minneapolis's Hennepin Theatre District.
Hyatt Centric hotel illuminated sign with decorative gold trim at night in downtown Minneapolis.
December 13, 2023 — Hyatt Centric is a lifestyle brand launched by Hyatt Hotels Corporation in 2015, aimed at travelers who want to be near a city's cultural and business districts rather than in a traditional resort setting. The downtown Minneapolis property sits within walking distance of Nicollet Mall and the city's core financial and entertainment corridor. Hyatt operates the brand through a mix of owned, managed, and franchised properties worldwide, with Centric locations concentrated in major metro centers rather than suburban or airport markets. The brand's positioning emphasizes local dining and neighborhood access over large-scale resort amenities.
Audacy office entrance in downtown Minneapolis displays the company's illuminated logo above potted plants.
December 13, 2023 — Audacy operates the Minneapolis offices and studios for WCCO Radio, the CBS-affiliated news and talk station that has broadcast from the city since 1924. Audacy Inc., formerly CBS Radio, owns and operates stations across major U.S. markets, distributing news, sports, and entertainment programming under a portfolio of local brands. WCCO has served as a longtime source of Minnesota news coverage, sports broadcasts, and severe weather reporting for the Twin Cities region.
Foshay Projected on the ATT Tower in Downtown Minneapolis
November 15, 2023 — AT&T Tower in Downtown Minneapolis with reflection of the Foshay Tower. November 2023.
Downtown Minneapolis office buildings and street-level skyway during sunset with orange sky.
October 26, 2023 — Capella Tower rises 776 feet above downtown Minneapolis, making it the city's second-tallest building after the IDS Center. Completed in 1992 and designed by César Pelli, the tower is best known for the crown-like open arch near its top, an architectural feature added specifically to give the building a distinct silhouette on the skyline. It was originally built as the headquarters for Multifoods and later took its current name from Capella Education Company, a longtime tenant. The building sits along the Nicollet Mall skyway system, the network of enclosed pedestrian bridges that connects most of downtown Minneapolis's office towers.
Gay 90's Sign on Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis
October 19, 2023 — The Gay 90's has operated on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis since 1948, making it one of the longest-running nightclubs in the city. The venue occupies a building that dates to the late 19th century and has long been known for its multiple bars and dance floors under one roof. It became a prominent gathering spot for the Twin Cities' LGBTQ community,
Crowd in line at large arena
August 9, 2023 — Crowd outside the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis waiting to get into the arena for a Zach Bryan concert on August 10, 2023.
Zach Bryan tour trailer parked outside the Target Center arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
August 9, 2023 — Zach Bryan's "Burn, Burn, Burn Tour" trailer was parked outside the Target Center in Minneapolis on August 9, 2023. The Target Center, opened in 1990, is the home arena of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx and regularly hosts touring concerts. Barricades and concrete traffic barriers lined the street to manage the crowds gathering for the show.
Couple walk in front of nightclub signs
July 2, 2023 — A couple walk by a Minneapolis police squad car on Hennepin Avenue outside the Gay 90s Nightclub on July 2, 2023.
Wildfire smoke full moon hazy IDS Center
June 14, 2023 — The IDS Center, Minneapolis's first skyscraper completed in 1973, is partially obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires. The building, designed by architect Philip Johnson, was a significant development in the city's downtown core and remains a prominent feature of its skyline. The hazy conditions, caused by smoke drifting south, significantly altered the appearance of the city and the sun, casting a reddish hue across the sky and reducing visibility.
Minneapolis City Hall seen through Warehouse District buildings
June 4, 2023 — The Minneapolis City Hall building as seen from the North Loop. June 2023.
Antennas on the top of IDS Center
May 4, 2023 — Closeup of the top of the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis, the tallest building in Minnesota.
Warehouse District buildings in downtown Minneapolis, with historic brick warehouses and newer residential towers.
May 3, 2023 — Warehouse District buildings in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The district contains late-19th- and early-20th-century brick commercial and warehouse blocks that were built for the city’s riverfront and rail-based wholesale trade. Newer residential towers now stand among the surviving masonry structures as the area has been redeveloped for housing and mixed commercial use.
2nd Avenue North street sign in downtown Minneapolis mounted on an overhead traffic structure.
May 3, 2023 — 2nd Avenue North street signage in downtown Minneapolis. It's mounted on an overhead traffic structure beside ongoing high-rise development in the central business district.
Minneapolis skyline viewed from St. Louis Park at night, with Highway 100 in the foreground. The highway, built in stages from the 1950s-1970s, connects western suburbs to the city.
May 2, 2023 — The Minneapolis skyline is visible from Woodale Avenue in St. Louis Park, with Highway 100 in the foreground. Highway 100, officially known as the Crosstown Highway, was constructed in stages from the 1950s through the 1970s to alleviate traffic congestion in the western suburbs and connect them to Minneapolis. The highway serves as a vital artery for commuters and commerce, facilitating access to the downtown business district and other key areas of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Tower crane rises above a high-rise construction site in downtown Minneapolis at night.
February 6, 2023 — Downtown Minneapolis has added several high-rise towers in recent years, with cranes marking active construction sites across the skyline. Tower cranes like this one are typically rated to lift several tons and can reach heights well above the buildings under construction, disassembling floor by floor as the structure tops out. Projects of this scale generally take two to three years to complete, from foundation work through final finishes. Downtown's building boom has included residential, hotel, and mixed-use developments concentrated near the Mississippi riverfront and the Nicollet Mall corridor.
Clearing snow on sidewalks in Downtown Minneapolis
November 14, 2022 — A sidewalk snow polow on the first snowfall of the season in Minneapolis.
Metro Transit bus on snow-covered Marquette Avenue in downtown Minneapolis beneath an elevated skyway.
November 14, 2022 — Marquette Avenue runs through the heart of downtown Minneapolis and serves as a primary corridor for Metro Transit's bus network. The METRO Orange Line, which opened in 2021, connects downtown to Burnsville along a dedicated bus rapid transit route running parallel to Interstate 35W. Marquette Avenue also sits beneath several segments of the Minneapolis Skyway System, an 8-mile network of enclosed pedestrian bridges connecting downtown buildings at the second-story level, first built in 1962 and now the largest continuous skyway system in the world.
WCCO Weather Sign in Downtown Minneapolis
September 2, 2022 — The WCCO "weather sign" in downtown Minneapolis ,It changes colors based on the weather conditions.
Antenna on the Foshay Tower in Downtown Minneapolis
September 2, 2022 — An antenna on top of the Foshay Tower in Downtown Minneapolis.
Looking up at the Capella Tower in Downtown Minneapolis
September 2, 2022 — The Capella Tower in Downtown Minneapolis on a sunny Spetember 2022 evening.
Downtown Minneapolis skyline with IDS Center tower rising behind Ramp A parking structure at dusk.
August 4, 2022 — The IDS Center rises at the center of the Minneapolis skyline, completed in 1972 to a design by Philip Johnson and John Burgee. At 792 feet and 57 stories, it remains the tallest building in Minnesota, topped with an antenna spire that adds to its height. The tower's Crystal Court atrium connects it to the city's Skyway system, a network of enclosed pedestrian bridges linking downtown buildings. Ramp A, a municipal parking structure near Target Field, sits in the foreground along the western edge of downtown.
Park Ave and the Capella Tower in Downtown Minneapolis
August 4, 2022 — Park Avenue sign in Downtown Minneapolis with the Capella Tower in the background.
Wells Fargo Center and Capella Tower rise above the downtown Minneapolis skyline at night.
May 10, 2022 — Wells Fargo Center rises at 90 South Seventh Street in downtown Minneapolis, completed in 1988 and designed by architect Cesar Pelli. The 774-foot tower originally served as headquarters for Norwest Corporation before that company merged with Wells Fargo in 1998. Capella Tower stands beside it at 225 South Sixth Street, finished in 1992 to the same architect's design and rising 776 feet, making it one of the two tallest buildings in Minnesota.
Franklin Steele Square park in Minneapolis
April 27, 2022 — Downtown Minneapolis as seen from Franklin Steele Square park in South Minneapolis.
Two22 Tower in downtown Minneapolis with a blue glass facade.
April 27, 2022 — Two22 Tower in downtown Minneapolis is a 29-story office building completed in 1987. It stands on Nicollet Mall in the city’s central business district.
Pillsbury A Mill complex in Minneapolis with the Pillsbury's Best Flour sign and water tower.
April 11, 2022 — Pillsbury A Mill complex in Minneapolis stands on the east bank of the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls. Built for the Pillsbury Company in the 1880s, the former flour mill was part of the city’s milling district and later adapted for other uses.
S 6th Street sign on downtown Minneapolis skyway with City Hall visible behind.
April 11, 2022 — S 6th Street runs through downtown Minneapolis, linking the government and financial districts near the Hennepin County Government Center and City Hall. A second-story skyway crosses above the street here, part of the Minneapolis Skyway System, which links more than 80 city blocks and is often cited as the longest continuous system of its kind in the world. The network dates to 1962, when the first bridge connected the Northstar Center to an adjacent building, and it has since expanded to give pedestrians climate-controlled routes between offices, hotels, and retail through the winter months. The tower rising behind the skyway belongs to Minneapolis City Hall, completed in 1906 as the Municipal Building and shared originally with Hennepin County courts.
RBC Gateway Behind A Fence in Minneapolis
April 8, 2022 — New RBC Gateway building in downtown Minneapolis from behind security fencing.
NCAA Women's Final Four Banners, Minneapolis
March 27, 2022 — Branding for the Womens NCAA Basketball Final Four hang in downtown Minneapolis.
Orpheum Theatre sign on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis with RBC Gateway rising behind.
March 21, 2022 — The Orpheum Theatre, a historic Minneapolis venue opened in 1921, stands adjacent to the modern Gateway Tower in the city's central business district. The Orpheum has been a premier destination for Broadway shows and live performances following numerous renovations.
Russian Ballet Swan Lake on State Theater Marquee
March 1, 2022 — Russian Ballet Theatre presents Swan Lake at the State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. Local news reports say the Russian Ballet dancers are from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Armenia and will be dancing with the message “We Dance for Peace”.
Steam rises from a cordoned construction site in downtown Minneapolis at night.
January 2, 2022 — Construction continues in downtown Minneapolis during a winter evening, with steam rising from the site. The area is cordoned off with safety barriers and traffic cones, indicating ongoing work. The presence of snow and steam highlights the challenges of building in a cold climate. The construction appears to be for a new building, as suggested by the modern architectural elements visible in the background.
Steam rising between construction fences in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on a freezing winter night.
January 2, 2022 — On January 2, 2022, temperatures in Minneapolis, Minnesota, dropped to -15°F, causing steam to rise from the urban environment. This phenomenon, common in extremely cold weather, occurs when warm, moist air from buildings or underground infrastructure meets the frigid outdoor air. The resulting condensation creates a dense fog that can obscure visibility, transforming familiar cityscapes into ethereal landscapes. The image captures this effect in an area with temporary fencing and construction materials, suggesting ongoing development or maintenance within the city.
Neenah Foundry sanitary sewer manhole cover in Minneapolis snow.
January 2, 2022 — This cast iron manhole cover, manufactured by Neenah Foundry Co. of Wisconsin, is part of Minneapolis's sanitary sewer system. Established in 1906, Neenah Foundry has a long history of producing durable components for public works. Manhole covers are critical for accessing underground utilities, facilitating maintenance and repair of essential services like sewers, electrical, and telecommunications networks. This cover, designed to withstand heavy loads and environmental conditions, represents a fundamental element of urban infrastructure.
Minneapolis riverfront at night with the North Star Blankets sign and steam over the Mississippi River
January 2, 2022 — The Minneapolis riverfront at night showcases the city's transition from its industrial past to its present-day urban environment. The Mississippi River, partially frozen, separates the historic warehouse district, now repurposed for residential and commercial use, from the modern downtown core. Prominent industrial structures, such as the towering electrical transmission poles, hint at the area's historical role in powering the city's growth. The "North Star Blankets" sign on one building recalls the area's manufacturing heritage.
Minneapolis: Steam rises from Mississippi River 2022
January 2, 2022 — On January 2, 2022, the Mississippi River in Minneapolis was shrouded in thick steam as temperatures plummeted to -15 degrees Fahrenheit. This phenomenon, known as "steam fog" or "arctic sea smoke," occurs when extremely cold air moves over warmer water. The image captures the riverfront area, likely near ongoing construction, where the rising steam obscures the urban landscape. The presence of steam fog highlights the extreme winter weather conditions experienced in Minnesota, a state historically shaped by its harsh climate and the waterways that have facilitated its development.
Minneapolis Main Post Office lit at night beside the Mississippi River.
January 2, 2022 — The Minneapolis Main Post Office, a neoclassical structure completed in the 1930s, is illuminated at night along the Mississippi River. This building was a vital center for mail processing and distribution for the city and its surrounding region. Its riverside location underscores its historical role in facilitating commerce and communication. The structure continues to serve its original postal function, demonstrating its lasting significance in Minneapolis.
Santa Bear-themed Christmas window display at the former Dayton's department store in downtown Minneapolis.
December 1, 2021 — Dayton's department store, founded in 1902 by George Draper Dayton, was long known for its elaborate Christmas window displays along Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. The flagship store's holiday windows became a seasonal tradition for generations of Minnesota families, drawing crowds each year to view animated figures and winter-themed dioramas. Santa Bear, a plush mascot introduced by Dayton's in 1985, became a signature part of the retailer's holiday marketing and merchandise line. The building later operated under the Marshall Field's and Macy's names before redevelopment into a mixed-use retail and office complex.
Full Moon over the Capella Tower, Minneapolis
October 19, 2021 — A full moon over the Capella Tower in downtown Minneapolis in October 2021.
Ameriprise Financial Headquarters in downtown Minneapolis at dusk.
September 3, 2021 — Ameriprise Financial Headquarters in downtown Minneapolis is a corporate office tower for Ameriprise Financial. The building stands in the central business district of Minneapolis.
Capella Tower crown illuminated above downtown Minneapolis buildings at night.
September 3, 2021 — Capella Tower, Downtown Minneapolis. Completed in 1992, the 40-story office tower is one of the city’s prominent modern skyscrapers. Its illuminated crown is visible above nearby buildings.
Lit up water tower and pillsbury neon sign
July 25, 2021 — The former Pillsbury flour mill near downtown Minneapolis. It's since been renovated into condos.
Minneapolis Skyline at Sunset from the South Loop
July 24, 2021 — The downtown Minneapolis skyline glows at sunset, viewed from the south side near the Elliot Park and Stevens Square neighborhoods. Prominent landmarks include the IDS Center, Capella Tower, and Wells Fargo Center—each a hallmark of the city’s late-20th-century architectural boom. The mix of older mid-rise apartment structures and new glass towers highlights the city’s ongoing evolution, where historic housing blocks now share the horizon with symbols of modern corporate development.
Cantilevered Roof, Minneapolis Central Library
October 1, 2020 — The Minneapolis Central Library sits at 300 Nicollet Mall, designed by Cesar Pelli and opened in 2006 as the fourth building to house the city's central library collection. The building spans about 353,000 square feet across four levels and cost roughly $150 million to construct. Its roof is a signature element of Pelli's design, a cantilevered canopy clad in wood paneling that extends beyond the glass curtain wall below. The library holds the Hennepin County Library system's central collection and includes a rooftop garden, an art gallery, and a special collections department documenting local history.
Foshay Tower mirrored in a downtown Minneapolis glass building facade.
June 4, 2020 — Foshay Tower in downtown Minneapolis is mirrored in the glass façade of a nearby office building. Completed in 1929, the Art Deco skyscraper was built for utilities executive Wilbur B. Foshay and was modeled after the Washington Monument. The building is now part of W Minneapolis–The Foshay and remains a landmark in the city’s downtown core.
Capella Tower rooftop crown rises above downtown Minneapolis at dusk.
June 4, 2020 — Capella Tower's rooftop crown rises above downtown Minneapolis. The 57-story office skyscraper opened in 1992 as First Bank Place and is one of the tallest buildings in Minnesota. Its semicircular crown is a defining architectural feature at the top of the tower.
Gold Medal Flour seen from Boom Island in May 2020
May 20, 2020 — Downtown Minneapolis as seen from Boom Island in May 2020. Gold Medal Flour and Northstar Blankets neon signs visible across the Mississippi River.
Downtown Minneapolis at dusk from Boom Island Park, with Wells Fargo Center and U.S. Bank Tower above treetops
May 20, 2020 — Downtown Minneapolis is seen from Boom Island Park at dusk. The Wells Fargo Center and U.S. Bank Tower rise above the riverfront, with treetops in the foreground.
Minneapolis in Development
May 10, 2020 — Tower cranes in downtown Minneapolis during constructon work on the 10th avenue bridge.
Skyscrapers in downtown Minneapolis on clear night
May 10, 2020 — The Capella Tower, IDS Center, and Wells Fargo Center in Downtown Minneapolis at night.
Capella Tower Crown In Downtown Minneapolis
May 8, 2020 — The Capella Tower (center) in downtown Minneapolis.
Capella Tower crown seen at night in Downtown Minneapolis
May 8, 2020 — Capella Tower in Downtown Minneapolis
Minneapolis City Hall and Hennepin County Government Center at night
May 8, 2020 — Minneapolis City Hall and the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis on a clear night.
Minneapolis City Hall at night in May 2020
May 8, 2020 — The Minneapolis City Hall and Hennepin County Government Center in the background.
Minneapolis Central Library's interior skylight and metal framework structure illuminated from above.
May 8, 2020 — The Minneapolis Central Library sits at 300 Nicollet Mall, serving as the flagship branch of the Hennepin County Library system. Designed by César Pelli and completed in 2006, the building replaced an earlier 1961 library on the same downtown site. Its cantilevered roof, clad in Kebony wood, extends over the building's glass curtain wall and was engineered to reduce solar heat gain on the reading areas below. The library holds close to 400,000 items and includes a rooftop garden above its lower levels. It also houses the Minneapolis Collection, an archive of historical materials documenting the city's development.
Fifth Street Towers in Downbtown Minneapolis at night
May 8, 2020 — Fifth Street Towers and Capella Tower in Downtown Minneapolis.
Downtown Minneapolis skyline with IDS Center, Wells Fargo Center, and Capella Tower at night.
May 6, 2020 — Downtown Minneapolis skyline, Minnesota, includes IDS Center, Wells Fargo Center, and Capella Tower on May 6, 2020. The office towers are part of the city’s central business district, clustered around Nicollet Mall and the downtown core. IDS Center has long been Minnesota’s tallest building, while Wells Fargo Center is one of the city’s most recognizable high-rise office towers.
Illuminated "PARK" letters at Gold Medal Park near downtown Minneapolis.
May 3, 2020 — Large illuminated letters spelling "PARK" stand at Gold Medal Park along the Mississippi River near downtown Minneapolis. The park occupies the site of the former Gold Medal Flour Mills, a major industrial landmark in the city's milling history. The signage serves as wayfinding and identification for the public green space.
Gold Medal Park sign in Downtown Minneapolis park
May 3, 2020 — Gold Medal Park sits along the Mississippi River near the Mill District in downtown Minneapolis, named in honor of the city’s flour-milling heritage and the iconic Gold Medal Flour brand. Designed by landscape architect Tom Oslund, the park opened in 2007 as part of the Guthrie Theater redevelopment and features a distinctive spiral mound at its center offering views of the river and city skyline. The illuminated park sign and tree-lined paths create a serene nighttime atmosphere against the industrial and cultural backdrop of the historic mill area.
Mary Tyler Moore Statue on an Empty Nicollet Mall
March 22, 2020 — 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.
Gaviidae Common and Westin Reflection on Nicollet Mall
March 22, 2020 — Downtown Minneapolis after dark, with the Gaviidae Common retail and office complex illuminated along Nicollet Mall. The metallic blue spherical public art installation in the foreground—inscribed with words referencing music, light, and community—adds a cultural element to the urban corridor. Reflected dramatically in the golden glass façade of the Westin building behind it is the historic Foshay Tower, one of Minneapolis’s earliest skyscrapers dating back to 1929. Today, Nicollet Mall serves as the city’s primary pedestrian and transit thoroughfare, blending modern commercial redevelopment, historic preservation, and public art into a central civic space.
Murray's Steakhouse, Minneapolis Blue Hour
March 15, 2020 — A north–south view through downtown Minneapolis during early evening, with illuminated office towers forming a dense street corridor and minimal traffic on the roadway below. The cylindrical crown of the IDS Center, completed in 1973, anchors the skyline in the distance as the city’s tallest building and a defining element of its modern profile. In the foreground, the neon signage of Murray’s, a Minneapolis institution since 1946, adds a warm counterpoint to the cooler glass-and-steel architecture surrounding Nicollet Mall.
View from above the IDS Center Skyway
March 13, 2020 — A man walks outside the IDS Center in Downtown Minneapolis. Seen from above the skyway.
Gethsemane Episcopal Church's stone tower and snow-covered roof stand below a high-rise in downtown Minneapolis.
February 14, 2020 — Gethsemane Episcopal Church stands at 905 4th Avenue South in downtown Minneapolis. The congregation was organized in 1856, making it one of the oldest Episcopal parishes in the city, and the current limestone building dates to the 1880s in a Gothic Revival style. The church has long served an urban parish role, offering outreach programs alongside regular worship. It sits within blocks of the Minneapolis Convention Center and the city's Loring Park neighborhood, surrounded in recent decades by high-rise residential towers built up around the older structure.
Snow-covered light rail tracks and traffic signals in downtown Minneapolis during a winter storm.
January 17, 2020 — The METRO Blue and Green Line light rail tracks run through downtown Minneapolis along a shared corridor near the Warehouse District. Metro Transit operates the system, which connects downtown to the Mall of America, the airport, and the University of Minnesota. Overhead catenary wires power the trains along fixed rails embedded in the roadway. Snowstorms are common in the region between November and March, and Metro Transit crews use heated switches and de-icing equipment to keep the rail lines operational during winter weather.
Steel-framed glass atrium ceiling inside the IDS Center's Crystal Court in downtown Minneapolis.
January 17, 2020 — The IDS Center's Crystal Court sits at the base of the 792-foot IDS Tower, completed in 1972 to a design by Philip Johnson and John Burgee with Edward Baker. The eight-story atrium was built as a public gathering space linking the tower to the surrounding skyway system, which connects much of downtown Minneapolis. Its steel-and-glass roof structure covers roughly an acre, making it one of the largest enclosed public spaces of its kind in the city. The building remains the tallest in Minnesota and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Salvation Army and Target Headquarters
December 1, 2019 — The Minneapolis North Loop district is home to both corporate headquarters and community service organizations. The Target World Headquarters, a prominent feature of the city's business landscape, stands adjacent to Target Field, a baseball stadium. Also visible is a sign for The Salvation Army, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing social services.
Target Field and downtown Minneapolis skyline at night, viewed from North Loop.
December 1, 2019 — Target Field opened in 2010 as the home of the Minnesota Twins, ending the team's 28-year run at the Metrodome. The ballpark seats about 38,800 and was built from Minnesota-quarried limestone at a cost of roughly $545 million. Beyond the outfield, downtown Minneapolis rises with the 57-story Wells Fargo Center and the 775-foot IDS Center, the tallest building in the state since its 1972 completion. The twin smokestacks near the ballpark belong to a district energy plant that supplies steam heat to much of downtown.
Gold Medalk Park near Downtown Minneapolis
November 19, 2019 — Gold Medal Park near downtown Minneapolis seen at night in November 2019.
Turrets and green roofline of Minneapolis City Hall in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
November 4, 2019 — The Minneapolis City Hall and Hennepin County Courthouse building stands at 350 South 5th Street in downtown Minneapolis. Completed in 1905, the Romanesque Revival structure was designed by architects Long and Kees. It houses offices for the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, including courtrooms and municipal administration.
Glass office tower, the former Thrivent Financial headquarters, among high-rises in downtown Minneapolis at night.
November 4, 2019 — This building at 625 Fourth Avenue South is the former Thrivent Financial headquarters in downtown Minneapolis. Thrivent, a Fortune 500 financial services organization, relocated its headquarters to a new downtown campus in 2020.
Entrance of The Grand Hotel at 615 2nd Ave S in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
October 3, 2019 — The Grand Hotel stands at 615 2nd Ave S in downtown Minneapolis. The building operates as a hotel property within the city's downtown core, near the Mississippi riverfront district.
Wells Fargo Tower Lights Up Downtown With Fog
September 12, 2019 — A foggy night in downtown Minneapolis with IDS Center in the background with Xcel Energy Headquarters in the foreground.
Tower cranes at the RNBC Gateway site
September 12, 2019 — A tower crane at the site of the new RBC Gateway development in Downtown Minneapolis.
RBC Gateway tower under construction in Minneapolis on foggy night
September 12, 2019 — A foggy evening in Downtown Minneapolis with the RBC Gateway tower under construction on September 12, 2019.
Downtown Minneapolis skyline at night from the North Loop, with the 401 North First Avenue building in front.
September 10, 2019 — Downtown Minneapolis skyline at night from the North Loop. The North Loop area combines former warehouse buildings with newer residential and commercial development.
Minneapolis Skyline Viewed At Night From Downtown East
August 27, 2019 — A night view of downtown Minneapolis glows in late August 2019. The IDS Center and Wells Fargo Tower stand prominently among the city’s modern high-rises, their lights reflecting the urban energy below. New residential buildings in the foreground contrast with the historic clock tower in the distance, highlighting the city’s mix of old and new architecture.
The Armory and Gold Medal Flour sign in Downtown Minneapolis
August 11, 2019 — The Gold Medal Flour seen in the distance with the Minneapolis Armory in the foreground. The Armory is noiw a concert venue after being a parking garage for a long time.
Minneapolis skyline at blue hour, featuring the IDS Center and Foshay Tower, with Interstate 94 visible below.
June 30, 2019 — The Minneapolis skyline is illuminated during blue hour, viewed from the vicinity of Cedar Lake Trail. Prominent structures include the IDS Center, recognizable by its golden-lit upper floors, and the Foshay Tower, topped with its distinctive spire and illuminated "FOSHAY".
Downtown Minneapolis skyline at night with Target Plaza South, Campbell Mithun Tower, and Foshay Tower.
June 5, 2019 — Downtown Minneapolis skyline at night includes Target Plaza South, the Campbell Mithun Tower, and the Foshay Tower. Target Plaza South houses Target’s corporate headquarters, while the Foshay Tower is a 1929 Art Deco skyscraper that was once the city’s tallest building. The Campbell Mithun Tower stands nearby in the city’s central business district.
Construction of the Thrivent Financial campus in downtown Minneapolis
May 28, 2019 — Construction of the Thrivent Financial campus in downtown Minneapolis is underway, with the company's existing building visible alongside the new structure. The project, which began in 2018, is designed to consolidate Thrivent's operations into a single, modern facility. The new building features a distinctive glass facade and is situated adjacent to the historic Milwaukee Road Depot, a landmark of Minneapolis's transportation history.
Ferris wheel on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis during NCAA Final Four festivities, with lit office towers.
April 2, 2019 — A temporary Ferris wheel stands on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis during the 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four. The ride was installed as part of the Tip-Off Tailgate, a fan festival staged along the transit mall in the days surrounding the championship games at U.S. Bank Stadium. Visible in the surrounding skyline are central downtown landmarks including the illuminated WCCO sign and the art deco Foshay Tower, placing the attraction within Minneapolis’s main business district.
Blue Ferris wheel on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis at night during the 2019 Final Four.
April 2, 2019 — A temporary Ferris wheel stands on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis during the 2019 NCAA Final Four festivities. The installation was part of the entertainment and fan programming organized as Minneapolis hosted the national semifinal and championship weekend in early April 2019. Set within the Nicollet corridor among office and retail buildings, the ride marked the mall’s use as an event space during one of the city’s largest annual sports-related gatherings.
Ferris wheel lit at night on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis
April 2, 2019 — A temporary Ferris wheel on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis was installed as part of the 2019 NCAA Final Four festivities. The ride stood within the event footprint created for the tournament and related fan programming held in Minneapolis in early April 2019. Surrounding office towers and event lighting place it in the central downtown corridor used for Final Four public attractions during the championship week.
Blue-lit Ferris wheel in downtown Minneapolis at night during the 2019 NCAA Final Four.
April 2, 2019 — A temporary Ferris wheel installed in downtown Minneapolis near Nicollet Mall operates during preparations for the 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four. The attraction was part of the tournament’s public event infrastructure in the city center in early April 2019, when Minneapolis hosted national championship weekend activities. Office towers, skyways, and street-level development around the wheel place it within the commercial core where fan events and related programming were concentrated.
Downtown Minneapolis towers reflected in a still water feature at night.
March 26, 2019 — Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, is seen from a reflecting pool near Nicollet Mall, with office towers and residential high-rises forming part of the central business district. The cluster includes Capella Tower and the Fifth Street Towers area, along with apartment development added as downtown housing increased during the 2000s and 2010s.
Clock tower and corner turret of Minneapolis City Hall stand near scaffolding on a building under construction downtown.
November 24, 2018 — Minneapolis City Hall, at 350 South Fifth Street, was built between 1888 and 1906 to a design by architects Franklin B. Long and Frederick Kees in the Romanesque Revival style. Its tower rises 345 feet and carries four clock faces, each about 24 feet in diameter, driven by a weight-powered mechanism installed when the building opened. The clock has long been cited as one of the largest four-faced, chiming clocks in the country. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and still houses Minneapolis municipal offices along with Hennepin County government functions.
625 Building sign on a downtown Minneapolis facade beside a blue glass office tower
November 24, 2018 — The 625 Building rises in downtown Minneapolis with a red and white facade in the foreground and a glass office tower behind it. A large “625” address sign is mounted on the building’s exterior near the corner.
AT&T Tower in downtown Minneapolis rises above a parking ramp.
November 21, 2018 — AT&T Tower, Minneapolis, rises above a downtown parking ramp. The building is a prominent office tower in the city’s central business district.
Target headquarters in downtown Minneapolis lit red and yellow at dusk.
November 21, 2018 — The Target Corporation headquarters building in downtown Minneapolis is illuminated at dusk. Completed in 2001, the structure serves as the central hub for the retail giant's operations. Its modern architecture features a dark glass facade, contrasted by a vibrant red and yellow lighting system on its upper levels. The building is a significant presence in the Minneapolis business district, reflecting the company's prominence in the retail industry.
Target Corporation headquarters tower in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
November 21, 2018 — Target Corporation headquarters in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The tower is part of Target Center’s corporate campus and the company’s main office complex in the city.
Rooftop view of the former Dayton's department store building on Nicollet Mall, downtown Minneapolis, during redevelopment.
October 15, 2018 — The former Dayton's department store building spans the block bounded by Nicollet Mall, Seventh Street and Eighth Street in downtown Minneapolis. Built in stages beginning in 1902 for the Goodfellow Dry Goods Company, the structure grew to more than 1.2 million square feet under Dayton's and later Macy's ownership. Macy's closed its downtown store in 2017, and United Properties purchased the property for a mixed-use redevelopment known as The Dayton's Project. The renovation added office space, retail, and a food hall while preserving much of the original masonry structure, with portions reopening in stages starting in 2019.
Colorful waterfall outside Hennepin County GC
October 1, 2018 — Hennepin County Government Center, construction was completed in 1977. While often looked at as a single building, it’s actually 2 different towers with glass in between them. When viewed from the northeast or southeast(such as this photo), the building gives the appearance of the letter H for Hennepin. The towers are accessible from each other via catwalks on each floor. Glass walls were added after multiple suicides.
Hotel Ivy and Ivy Residences rise near the snow-covered Minneapolis Convention Center.
March 31, 2018 — Hotel Ivy and Ivy Residences stand in downtown Minneapolis near the Minneapolis Convention Center. The complex is located on South Eleventh Street at the south end of downtown. Snow covers the convention center roofs and surrounding streets during late winter.
Metro Apartments in Minneapolis 2018
March 31, 2018 — Metro Apartments at Marquette Avenue and South 9th Street in Minneapolis is a multi-story residential building in the city center. The view shows the building’s flat roof under late-season snow, with rooftop mechanical structures and service equipment visible above the upper floors. Built for urban apartment living, the property occupies a block within the downtown street grid near Minneapolis’s office and transit corridors.
Gold Medal Park in Minneapolis with the Guthrie Theater and Gold Medal Flour sign at night.
March 27, 2018 — Gold Medal Park in Minneapolis's Mill District sits beside the Guthrie Theater near the Mississippi riverfront. The park opened in 2007 on land tied to the area's former flour-milling district. The Gold Medal Flour sign marks the historic Washburn-Crosby milling complex near Mill City Museum.
Hotel Ivy and IDS Center rise in the downtown Minneapolis skyline near Century Plaza.
March 13, 2018 — Downtown Minneapolis skyline near Century Plaza includes Hotel Ivy, IDS Center, and Wells Fargo Center. Century Plaza houses the Minneapolis Police Department's 1st Precinct, which covers the downtown area.
Demolition of violin shop with police graffiti in snow
February 22, 2018 — Demolition work on Marquette Avenue in downtown Minneapolis clears a low-rise commercial building for the City Club Apartments redevelopment in February 2018. An excavator works through the structure during a snowstorm, exposing interior walls and a mural left visible as the building is taken down.
Coyote Pretty pop-up club in downtown Minneapolis during preparations for Super Bowl LII.
January 17, 2018 — Coyote Pretty pop-up club in downtown Minneapolis was installed ahead of Super Bowl LII, played at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018. The temporary bar and dance saloon used Coyote Pretty branding during the city’s Super Bowl preparations.
Target Center and Mayo Clinic Square in downtown Minneapolis at night.
January 9, 2018 — Target Center and Mayo Clinic Square are in downtown Minneapolis near the Warehouse District. Target Center is the arena used by the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx. Mayo Clinic Square includes sports medicine, office, restaurant, and retail space adjacent to the arena.
The Armory and Downtown East redevelopment area in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
January 4, 2018 — The Armory and Downtown East in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The former armory anchors the redevelopment area near the city’s downtown core, with newer office towers and the Gold Medal Flour building nearby.

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