The Way of the Skyway: 2010-08-29

Through a waterfall, history

On the Government Center side of the tunnel to the Municipal Building, you find this wonderful waterfall set to the north of the great fountain/pond that adorns the North Plaza of the building. Look up through the curtain of water and see the old pile in her glory.

More hidden beauty in the Municipal Building

If you take the tunnel from the Municipal Building (old city hall) to the Government Center, look straight up before you enter the tunnel. You will see this gilded stamped tin ceiling provided by a renovation in the 90's. It is a curious, lovely counterpoint to much of the awful makeover that occurred in the 30s when the city expanded its offices. There are spot efforts to restore some of the wonder of this building, here and there. But funds are tight.

We've got your back, Hubert Horatio

This statue of Vice President Hubert Horatio Humphery, former Mayor of Minneapolis, stands facing the Government Center. This shot is from the entry to the tunnel between the old City Hall and the newer Gov. Ctr...Below HHH you can see the tunnel. It was designed as an arcade, with space for vendors to sell food, flowers, news, etc. But that never happened. It is an interesting counterpoint to the skyways, and an extension of an elaborate series of tunnels surrounding the Municipal Building. On some maps, these tunnels are depicted in the same style as the skyways.

Those little faces in buldings, lurking around

When Long and Kees Architects commissioned art for the new City Hall in 1891, they found Italian craftsmen who carved a series of unique character faces on the capitals of pilasters around the elevator shafts. Look closely at them when you go by. They want to tell you something.

Not Poseidon

I know what you are thinking. But this isn't Poseidon, God of the Oceans. (Unless you were thinking something else. Like, "Get dressed, dude. This is the Police Station!") This is a figure carved from Carerra Marble in Italy on commission from the city of St. Louis Missouri to commmemorate the grandeur of the Mississippi River. That makes him the embodiment, so to speak, of Old Man River. And like the song says, he don't do nuthin. He don't pick cotton. He just keep rollin along. At least until that 'gator under his knee makes a move.

Why is he in Minneapolis, in the Municipal Building foyer?

Well the official story is that St. Louis couldn't afford him, so some civic minded Minneapolis movers and shakers had him crated up and set down in the City and County building. I have no historical material to support the idea that St. Louis didn't want this on their hands when they saw what their commission had bought them.