My chilly walk took me past the former Pillsbury A-Mill, now home to artist lofts. Here, I unintentionally caught the evolution of grain elevators in a single photo. Brick was used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, in 1901, Minneapolis made history by constructing the world’s first concrete elevator. They were narrow like the one in the middle. Shortly after, larger-scale concrete elevators, like those on the right, won out.
Tag: Grain Elevators
International Style
On my cycle ride, stopped to walk around the outside of this abandoned grain elevator to take in its undulating form. Silos like this started to be built in the early 1900’s. Their forms strongly influenced the International Style that emerged in the 1920’s and 1930’s. I’ll miss this bold structure when it’s replaced with… Continue reading International Style
May Peace Prevail on Earth
Spotted this on my cycle ride. The tower used to be part of a grain elevator. Now, it’s being incorporated into a new apartment complex. I tapped “Maanoo Da-bangan Miziwekamig” into Google and learned it’s Ojibwe. I wheeled my bicycle a little further to reveal the translation
Relics
On our sunny Minneapolis walk: abandoned grain elevators.
Making Way for Housing
Grain elevators made way for housing as we cycled through Nordeast Minneapolis.
Derelict, Repurposed, and Working
My bicycling theme today: derelict, repurposed, and working grain elevators.