Industrial Exposition Building

The Industrial Exposition Building was an eight-story exhibition hall in Minneapolis with a modified Renaissance facade and a 240-foot corner tower on its northwest side. The structure contained expansive interior spaces designed to display exhibitions and art collections throughout its floors.

The building was constructed in 1886 after Minneapolis lost its bid to host the Minnesota State Fair to St. Paul, with local citizens raising funds for the structure near the Mississippi River. It was demolished in 1940 after serving as the city's tallest building for many decades.

The building served as a major gathering place where visitors could see technological advances and international artworks displayed together. It helped shape how people in the city thought about progress and culture during that era.

The site occupied the former location of the Winslow House Hotel near the Mississippi River, making it accessible to those exploring the neighborhood. Visitors interested in the city's architectural history can still identify where the structure once stood by visiting downtown Minneapolis.

During its final years as a mail-order warehouse in the 1930s, employees used roller skates to move through the building's vast interior spaces. This creative solution helped workers navigate the enormous floor areas more quickly during their daily tasks.

Location: Minneapolis

Inception: 1886

Floors above the ground: 8

GPS coordinates: 44.98580,-93.25670

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:10