Demonstrating the historic significance of an AA clubhouse supports its continued service to the community.

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CHALLENGE

The Alano Society of Minneapolis Clubhouse was constructed in 1887 as a private residence and repurposed in 1942 as a clubhouse for a Minneapolis chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous. In 2019, the Alano Society received a Legacy Grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to evaluate the building’s eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places, but the reason for the building’s historic significance was unclear, especially given the number of renovations that had been done by the Society to keep the building in use.

SUCCESS

Through archival research and on-site investigation, New History demonstrated the building’s unique historic significance as the headquarters of the first and most influential chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous in Minnesota, positioning the house for National Register listing and its associated benefits. National Register listing will open doors for future grants to fund physical improvements to the site, allowing the building to continue its important service to AA members in Minneapolis.