Mill City Museum

704 South 2^nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Thursday, October 7, 2010; 7 pm

 

The Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota is pleased to invite 2010 ACSP Conference participants to a welcome reception at the Mill City Museum.

 

Built into the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill, Mill City Museum is located on the historic Mississippi Riverfront. The construction of the Mill City Museum paved the way for a riverfront renaissance that transformed the area into one of the most vital mixed use neighborhoods in the Twin Cities.
 

 

Today visitors can experience the intertwined histories of the flour industry, the river, and the city of Minneapolis at the Mill City Museum.

 

Originally designed by Austrian engineer William de la Barre and declared the world's largest flour mill after its completion in 1880, the structure housing Mill City Museum is a National Historic Landmark. Known as the Washburn A Mill, it was nearly destroyed by fire in 1991.

 

The City of Minneapolis, working through the Minneapolis Community Development Agency, cleaned up the rubble and fortified the mill's charred walls. Soon the Minnesota Historical Society announced plans to construct a milling museum and education center within the ruins.

 

Faced with the challenge of preserving the ruins of this historically significant site while building a modern museum, the Society turned to Thomas Meyer, principal of Minneapolis architectural firm Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd. Meyer developed a concept that melded the historic integrity of the mill structures with modern components. Construction on the museum began in March 2001.

 

When possible, Meyer's design has left intact many features of the original mill, including flour bins, milling machinery, the engine house, rail corridor and a wheat house. He also has used limestone, brick, concrete and steel within the museum to emphasize its industrial origins.

 

Among the new architectural features is an eight-story glass facade overlooking the Mississippi River. True-to-scale graphics of the milling machines are featured on the glass façade to give visitors an idea of how massive the milling operation was. The facade forms a reflective backdrop for the courtyard, a 100-by-100 foot outdoor area with weathered masonry walls, that was created by the 1991 fire. Ruins of the historic mill are showcased in the courtyard through significant excavation efforts.

 

The 2010 ACSP welcome reception will be held on the main floor and courtyard of the building. The Museum will be open for self-guided tours throughout the evening.

 

For more information on the Mill City Museum visit www.millcitymuseum.org.