A much-needed historic context provides the framework for evaluating midcentury buildings in Minneapolis.

​

CHALLENGE
The preservation of the recent past is increasingly at the forefront of preservation planning in the United States. As buildings from the mid- to late twentieth century age, there is a need for information that will help identify these "Modern Era" resources and evaluate their potential historic significance. In 2019, the City of Minneapolis received a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund ("Legacy Grant") to develop such a framework, known as a "historic context," for its Modern Era resources. This context explains the development of the built environment of the entire city over nearly five decades of history.

​

SUCCESS
New History developed a 328-page historic context study that serves as an analytical framework for identifying and evaluating Minneapolis resources associated with the Modern Era. Additionally, New History completed a reconnaissance-level architecture survey to evaluate dozens of properties for potential local and/or national historic designation. The context study is organized around key themes - such as Business and Industry; Urban Renewal; Residential Development; Arts, Culture and Recreation; and Architecture - and integrates graphics developed by our project partners and data scientists at Visible City. Both thorough and wide-ranging, the context has the potential to inspire greater understanding and appreciation of Modern Era history and architecture at the local and statewide levels.