The Twin Cities That Never Happened

A system of canals that would have turned Minneapolis into the “Venice of the North.” An elevated monorail line and aerial gondola system across Saint Paul. A self-contained, utopian community at Southdale Mall. These ideas and more were seriously considered by urban planners in the Twin Cities, though they were ultimately dropped in favor of the city design we know today. Come explore the long and surprising history of urban planning projects that were rejected, passed by, or never finished, and ponder the fanciful alternate history of a very different Twin Cities that could have been.
Speaker: Alex Weston has worked for MNHS since 2005 at a variety of sites, including Historic Fort Snelling and the Mill City Museum, and is currently a Program Associate at the James J. Hill House and Alexander Ramsey House. He holds a Bachelor’s in History from Metro State University. He lives in Saint Paul with his wife and three children.
About North Star Voices:
This series takes us on real and imagined odysseys that venture through some of Minnesota’s hidden, forgotten, or otherwise off-pavement landscapes. Hear stories that make the North Star State a unique and complex place within our nation’s story.

[@emilymarlow2624]

I've been looking forward to this, thank you Alex and Acoma!

[@morg52]

Back in 1979, J.L.Sheily Co. Had a plan to have an underground barge terminal on the Mississippi River just down river of the lower lock and dams, near where I35W crosses the river. It was to tunnel under the west side and have a concrete batching plant with storage for sand, gravel and cement. They had a big presentation at the Ramada Inn at I94 and White Bear ave. All the employees were required to attend.

[@jelsner5077]

I always wished they had fully implemented the City Beautiful initiative.

[@MustangsTrainsMowers]

Or the capital city that never happened: Stillwater. Stillwater Minnesota would have been a much bigger city had it became the capital of Minnesota.

[@The_Bri_Cli]

Love it

[@Pablo_Del_Norte]

Solid presentation, thank you.