Minneapolis Armory

Minneapolis Armory
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Minneapolis Landmark
The Minneapolis Armory in 2006
Location	500–530 6th St., S. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coordinates	44°58′30.33″N 93°15′47.8″W
Area	2.5 acres (1.0 ha)
Built	1935–1936 (1936)
Architect	P.C. Bettenburg; Walter H. Wheeler,
Architectural style	PWA Moderne
NRHP reference No.	85002491
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	26 September 1985
Designated MPLSL	2017

The Minneapolis Armory is a historic event center and former National Guard armory located in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Built by the Public Works Administration in 1936, the building was occupied by several Army and Naval Militia units of the Minnesota National Guard from its opening until 1985. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Since its reopening in 2018, it has hosted numerous musical performances, including during the weekend of Super Bowl LII.

History

The armory was the costliest single building in Minnesota supported by a Public Works Administration grant. The building is an example of the PWA Moderne style, a design characterized by strong geometry, bold contouring and integrated sculpture ornamentation. The building was designed by St. Paul architect P.C. Bettenburg, who was also a major in the Minnesota National Guard. St. Paul artist Elsa Jemne painted murals in the building.

From the late 1930s through the 1970s, in addition to serving as an armory for Minnesota National Guard units based in Minneapolis, it was a venue for civic events, including concerts, political conventions and sporting events such as Golden Gloves tournaments. The building was used by the Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball Association as a part-time home between 1947–1959, Professional motorcycle racing took place inside the Armory during the winter months from 1968 through 1980. The Minnesota National Guard was still operating at the armory as late as 1985. In 1998, the county sold the building for $2.6 million to a private company for use as a parking structure on condition that it be preserved. The building was converted from a parking facility to an 8,400-capacity events center and concert venue. It reopened in January 2018 in time to host several events related to Super Bowl LII.

The building was designated a Minneapolis historic landmark in 2017.

In popular culture

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J.Lo performing at The Armory for Super Bowl 52, 2018.

Minneapolis native Prince used the building to shoot the music video for "1999" in 1982.

In 1998, Aerosmith recorded the video for "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" there.

The 1998 comedy The Naked Man filmed scenes at the Armory as well.

See also

• List of Registered Historic Places in Minnesota