Some then and now scenes to show how much the Twin Cities have grown in the past century. These are scans taken out of a book called Twin Cities: Then and Now, written by Larry Millett. It is an excellent book, and definitely one worth looking at.

This is a view of downtown Minneapolis with Nicollet Island in the foreground. "Then" is 1904, when milling was still happening in the city and the tallest building to date was City Hall. The "Now" view is set in 1996, with the U.S. Federal Courthouse under construction and now blocking City Hall.

This Minneapolis view is from Portland and Grant. What is neat about this view is that the foreground doesn't change much, so you get the feeling of continuity for part of the picture. "Then" is 1957, when Foshay ruled the skies, versus the "Now" view of 1995, when all the towers dwarved the old tower and created the skyline that makes Minneapolis so impressive. A drastic change in half a century.

This is a view looking east on 5th Street. In the first picture, from the 1940's (best guess), we can see the Telephone Building in the background on the left, the modern day home of Qwest. The decorative top has not been added to the building as of yet. This is also a busy part of the city, especially with the department stores in the area, most noticeably J.C. Penneys. Now, the department stores along the street have gone, and vibrant commerical buildings have become parking lots in the foreground. The Fifth Street Towers now block out the view of the Telephone Building and skyways cross the streets. Is it a real loss of character, or a sign of progress? Take a look and judge for yourselves.

Take a look at this dramatic change, occuring over only half a century. This busy scene is in the northern fringes of Nicolett Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Then and now, it remains a busy center of commerical businesses, but using a different style. Back in the old days, lower commercial buildings would crowd streets, creating a real sense of vibrancy and urbanity. Now, large courtyards surround a smaller amount of buildings, deciding to take to the skies instead of the streets. Reliastar, the former Federal Reserve, and the Public Library (and Planetarium) all command large pieces of land, making Nicollet Mall feel less packed and more open to the outdoors. However, it comes at a price, since the street has lost just about every single building in the old view. Minneapolis is a dynamic city, one that continues to reinvent itself with the times.

This is a view down Marquette Ave., in the middle of the downtown action. Yesteryear, in the late 1940's to 1950's (I believe) shows the old headquarters of Wells Fargo when it used to be called Northwestern National Bank. The weatherball, sporting the NW, was a classic downtown icon for many years. It now sits in storage ever since the 1982 fire that saw its perch burned to the ground. The Rand Tower, one of the most luxorious addresses in the business world of Minneapolis, stands on the other side of the street. If you go to the modern view of the street, times have dramatically changed. The street feels more caved in than ever, especially with Midwest Plaza, IDS, and the new Wells Fargo Center all reaching above the frame. On the other side, AT&T Tower now stands on the immediate right-hand side. Definitely a massive change for a short time.

This 2nd Ave. view, looking north, shows what will become of Foshay Tower. We look at this late 20's view, with the Foshay Tower starting to top out, exciting people all over the city. They have nearly reached 500 feet, unheard of in the Twin Cities. The modern view makes it invisible, as modern towers surround the poor little building and peer down from columns of steel and ribbons of glass. U.S. Bank Place looks down on Foshay, standing nearly 300 feet tall, and the new hero of the Minneapolis residents (well, not really, but I'm trying to sound dramatic). I actually feel sorry for Foshay in this view. It went from king of the skyline to the towerboy for a team of bigger and better players.

Moving yet another block east, we look north along 3rd Ave. in downtown Minneapolis. Looking towards what used to be the Gateway area, there stands a collection of luxury hotels fighting over the people visiting the city. The Curtis and the Nicollet were on top of there game, complete with neon signs that broadcasted their presence to the city. Now, those signs are gone, the buildings destroyed, and the Gateway all but vanished as a new wave of corporate towers build up the street into a huge cave, a totally different image then it had mearly 50 years ago.

A great shot off the High Bridge showing how much downtown has changed in about 83 years. "Then" is set back in 1912, showing downtown as a skyline of spires with the almost unworldly capitol in the distance, looking out over the land. This is the days of the St. Paul Hotel, Landmark Center, Assumption Church, and even a couple of now-demolished buildings, the second state capitol and the old St. Paul City Hall and County Courthouse. "Now" is in 1995. Even that picture is old compared to 2001, when the X-Cel Energy Center, Science Museum, and Lawson Commons add to the impressive scene. You judge which one you liked more.

This is a view from approximately 6th and Summit, now where the Historical Society is. "Then" is 1916, showing a great view of the skyline and a real sense of density. "Now" is about 1995, which is really depressing to me because of the foreground. The entire neighborhood is gone, thanks to I-94. Now, the Historical Society occupies this area of old homes. Downtown is impressive as ever, and you can even catch a few of the old buildings in the newer shot, especially Landmark Center and Assumption Church. The perfect example of how the American modern skyscraper (and the 80's) changed the city forever.

This one is perhaps the most shocking Then and Now scene you will see for Saint Paul. Looking at the older picture from the early 20th century, a bustling street of activity was operating, called 8th Street. Now, it is known as 7th Place, and believe me, prepare yourself for the current picture. EVERYTHING is gone! The entrance to the World Trade Center is what is left of that street in the photo. Well, I can't say that is completely true. The street is segmented now, all the old buildings are gone, and now the street is nothing back a back entry way for Minnesota Life. A block long section of it has been turned into a shopping arcade, and could be seen if the photographer turned 180 degrees. Seventh Place, the shopping arcade, has had limited success. Not what people think of Saint Paul after they hear about how old-fashioned and historic it is.

This 4th St. view shows how rich and vibrant the streets were in those days. That is until urban renewal advocates had gotten the idea that destroying old buildings and replacing them with concrete counterparts would turn the city around. It may have brought new opportunities downtown, but it destroyed many old ones. I believe the old scene was taken in the late 1800's, since the Railroad Trust Building (now U.S. Trust Center) hasn't been built yet. This view looks into what is now Lowertown.

Another dramatic scene. Back before the urban renewal days, the capitol was the centerpiece of a delightful neighborhood...of slums. That's right, the Minnesota Capitol Building was sitting in some of the worst slums in the Twin Cities, hardly befitting for such a magnificant piece. Though, Cass Gilbert had forseen a mall for this building ever since its conception. The current view shows what the government made for the capitol. If not for the capitol dome, you'd swear it was two completely different places.