September 2024 — The American and Minnesota state flags ripple above the Foshay Tower in downtown Minneapolis, silhouetted against the glass and steel geometry of nearby modern office buildings. Completed in 1929, the Foshay Tower was the city’s first skyscraper and remained its tallest structure for over three decades. Modeled after the Washington Monument, it symbolized both the ambition and excess of the late Jazz Age. Today, the tower stands as a protected landmark, housing a hotel and museum that preserve its Art Deco legacy. The juxtaposition of flags and architecture here reflects Minnesota’s blend of historic pride and urban evolution — a monument to both civic identity and architectural endurance.