Industrial Exposition Building
Encyclopedia
Industrial Exposition Building was located in Minneapolis
, Minnesota
. The building stood from 1887 to 1940. It was the site of the 1892 Republican National Convention
, the only major party convention to be held in Minnesota
until the 2008 Republican National Convention
. It was also the site for the "Festival of Fire and Victory Jubilee" on September 5-10, 1898.
The structure was built on the east side of Minneapolis on the site of the Winslow House Hotel. It was bounded by Bank Street SE, Central Avenue SE, Main Street SE, and Ortman Street SE, in the Old St. Anthony part of the city.
Designed by Isaac Hodgson
, the building had eight stories and was completed in 1887. Its modified Renaissance exterior was dominated by a 240 foot corner tower
. The exterior walls were masonry and the interior had metal support structures. Over $250,000 was raised in private funds to build it.
It initially featured displays of modern technology. The building failed as being a major convention center, however, and in 1903 was taken over by the International Stock Food Company. In the 1930s, it was used a merchandise warehouse for a mail order company.
The 240 foot tower on the southwest corner of the building was, for many years, the tallest structure in Minneapolis.
The Exposition Building was torn down in 1940 for the construction of a Coca-Cola
bottling plant. The bottling plant was torn down in the early 1980s. The area was later a parking lot and is currently built up with townhouse condominiums.
This is the tallest structure in Minneapolis to be demolished intentionally. The Northwestern National Bank Building, though taller, was destroyed in a fire known as the Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day Fire
.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. The building stood from 1887 to 1940. It was the site of the 1892 Republican National Convention
1892 Republican National Convention
The 1892 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held at the Industrial Exposition Building, Minneapolis, Minnesota, from June 7 to June 10, 1892. The party nominated Benjamin Harrison from Indiana for re-election as President of the United States on the first ballot...
, the only major party convention to be held in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
until the 2008 Republican National Convention
2008 Republican National Convention
The United States 2008 Republican National Convention took place at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from September 1, through September 4, 2008...
. It was also the site for the "Festival of Fire and Victory Jubilee" on September 5-10, 1898.
The structure was built on the east side of Minneapolis on the site of the Winslow House Hotel. It was bounded by Bank Street SE, Central Avenue SE, Main Street SE, and Ortman Street SE, in the Old St. Anthony part of the city.
Designed by Isaac Hodgson
Isaac Hodgson (architect)
Isaac Hodgson was an Irish-American architect who worked primarily in Indiana and Minnesota. He was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1826 and studied at the Royal Academy. He went to work for architect Sir Charles Lanyon at the age of 16...
, the building had eight stories and was completed in 1887. Its modified Renaissance exterior was dominated by a 240 foot corner tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
. The exterior walls were masonry and the interior had metal support structures. Over $250,000 was raised in private funds to build it.
It initially featured displays of modern technology. The building failed as being a major convention center, however, and in 1903 was taken over by the International Stock Food Company. In the 1930s, it was used a merchandise warehouse for a mail order company.
The 240 foot tower on the southwest corner of the building was, for many years, the tallest structure in Minneapolis.
The Exposition Building was torn down in 1940 for the construction of a Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
bottling plant. The bottling plant was torn down in the early 1980s. The area was later a parking lot and is currently built up with townhouse condominiums.
This is the tallest structure in Minneapolis to be demolished intentionally. The Northwestern National Bank Building, though taller, was destroyed in a fire known as the Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day Fire
Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day Fire
The Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day fire destroyed an entire block of Downtown Minneapolis on November 25–26, 1982, including the 16-story headquarters of Northwestern National Bank and the vacant, partially demolished location formerly occupied by Donaldson's department store, which had...
.