Loop Back: The North Loop’s Colorful History
From the late 1800s to the 1930s, the North Loop was the center of a wholesaling and manufacturing boom that turned Minneapolis into one of the key distribution centers in the U.S.
The North Loop has been through some dramatic ups and downs over the past century, from a booming distribution and industrial center, to a neglected warehouse district, to what is now a dynamic urban neighborhood and entertainment center. In this video series, Loop Back, you’ll see historic photos of familiar buildings and hopefully gain a new appreciation for the role they played in our city’s growth and development. Photos courtesy of: Hennepin County Library, Minnesota Historical Society, Library of Congress
The warehouses that characterize the district are mostly six to eight stories high. About 62 structures are listed as contributing to the historic nature of the district. The predominant design is the Chicago Commercial style, but many other styles were built, including Italianate, Queen Anne style, Richardsonian Romanesque, Classical Revival, and early 20th century commercial styles. The warehouse district was associated with the railroad network under development at the time, connecting Minneapolis with the rest of the country. These warehouses were used for wholesale and storage of goods related to farming and manufacturing. The nomination for the National Register of Historic Places states that this is a cohesive district of buildings with a common physical appearance, as well as a common age and original use.
