Minneapolis Armory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Minneapolis Armory | |
|---|---|
| (U.S. National Register of Historic Places) | |
 |
|
| Location: | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Coordinates: | |
| Built/Founded: | 1935-36 |
| Architect: | Bettenburg, P.C.; Wheeler, Walter H. |
| Architectural style(s): | Moderne |
| Added to NRHP: | 26 September 1985 [1] |
| Reference #: | 85002491 [2] |
The Minneapolis Armory is located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The armory was built for the Minnesota National Guard in 1935-36 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.[1]
The armory was the costliest single building in Minnesota supported by a Public Works Administration grant. The building is an example of the PWA Moderne style, a design characterized by strong geometry, bold contouring and integrated sculpture ornamentation.[3]
From the late 1930s through the 1970s, it was a venue for civic events, including concerts, political conventions and sporting events such as Golden Gloves tournaments. The building was used by the Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball Association as a part time home between 1947-59,[3] and as its primary home court for the 1959-60 NBA season.[4] The National Guard ceased operations at the armory in 1980.[3]
Hennepin County bought the armory in 1989 for 4.7 million dollars, with plans to place a new county jail on the site. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in 1993 that the structure was protected by state law and could not be torn down because of its historical status. In 1998, the county sold the building for 2.6 million dollars to a private company for use as a parking structure on condition that it be preserved.[3] As of 2006, the armory is still used for that purpose.
In 1998, the band Aerosmith recorded the video for their song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" in the armory.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Nord, Mary Ann (2003). The National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota: A Guide. St. Paul, Minn.: Minnesota Historical Society Press, p. 95. ISBN 0-87351-448-3.
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved on March 15, 2006.
- ^ a b c d Hennepin County Fact Sheets:Minneapolis Armory
- ^ Thornley, Stew (1989). The History of the Lakers : Basketball's Original Dynasty. Minneapolis, Minn.: Nodin Press, p.68. ISBN 0-921714-39-7.
- ^ IMDB profile for "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing":Filming location
| Preceded by Minneapolis Auditorium 1947–1959 |
Home of the Minneapolis Lakers 1959–1960 |
Succeeded by Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 1960–1967 |
 |
This National Register of Historic Places-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Categories: 1936 architecture | Art Deco | Basketball venues in the United States | Buildings and structures in Minneapolis | Los Angeles Lakers | Military facilities of the United States | Registered Historic Places in Minnesota | Sports venues in Minneapolis-St. Paul | Military in Minnesota | National Register of Historic Places stubs | Midwestern United States sports venue stubs | Minnesota building and structure stubs
