Minneapolis Armory | |
Minneapolis Landmark | |
 The Minneapolis Armory in 2006 | |
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| Location | 500–530 6th St., S. Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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| Coordinates | 44°58′30.33″N93°15′47.8″W / 44.9750917°N 93.263278°W /44.9750917; -93.263278 |
| Area | 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) |
| Built | 1935–1936; 90 years ago (1936) |
| Built by | C.H. Peterson & Co., Inc. and Paul Steenberg Const. Co.[2] |
| Architect | Philip C. Bettenburg[2] |
| Engineer | Walter H. Wheeler[2] |
| Architectural style | PWA Moderne |
| Website | armorymn.com |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002491[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 26 September 1985[3] |
| Designated MPLSL | 2017 |
TheMinneapolis Armory is a historic event center and formerNational Guard armory located indowntown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Built by thePublic Works Administration in 1936, the building was occupied by several Army and Naval Militia units of theMinnesota National Guard from its opening until 1985.[4] The building is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[3]
In addition to its military use, the armory hosted sporting events, political conventions, and music concerts. It was the home arena of theMinneapolis Lakers of theNBA (now theLos Angeles Lakers) during the 1959–1960 season and part-time home from 1947 through 1959. The armory held 8,000 people for basketball.[5] Later used as a parking facility, the armory underwent renovations and was turned into an 8,400-person events center and concert venue.[6] Since its reopening in 2018, it has hosted numerous musical performances, including during the weekend ofSuper Bowl LII.
The Minneapolis Armory was completed in 1935 at the cost of $1,000,000 ($22.9 million in2024).[7] The Armory was the costliest single building in Minnesota supported by aPublic Works Administration grant. The building is an example of thePWA Moderne style, a design characterized by strong geometry, bold contouring and integrated sculpture ornamentation.[8] The building was designed by St. Paul architect P.C. Bettenburg, who was also a major in the Minnesota National Guard.[9] St. Paul artistElsa Jemne painted murals in the building.[10] The armory was constructed from concrete, brick, tile, and steel. The barrel roof has three hinged-arch trusses with a span of 210 feet. The drill hall was 140 by 270 feet, and sat 4,200 upon completion.[7]
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 asGolden Gloves tournaments. The building was used by theMinneapolis Lakers of theNational Basketball Association as a part-time home between 1947 and 1959,[8] and as its primary home court for the1959–60 NBA season.[11][12] 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.[8]
Hennepin County bought the armory in 1989 for $4.7 million, with plans to demolish it and place a new county jail on the site.[9] TheMinnesota Historical Society sued to stop its destruction and in 1993, theMinnesota Supreme Court ruled that the structure was protected by state law, and could not be torn down because of its historical status.[13] In 1998, the county sold the building for $2.6 million to a private company for use as aparking structure on condition that it be preserved.[8]
In 2015, the Armory was purchased by a local development firm for $6 million.[14] The building was converted from a parking facility to an 8,400-capacity[15] events center and concert venue.[6] It reopened in January 2018 in time to host several events related toSuper Bowl LII.
The building was designated a Minneapolis historic landmark in 2017.
The venue hostedNXT Deadline in December 2024.
Minneapolis Armory has hosted numerous concerts with artists such asArctic Monkeys,Deadmau5,A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie,Dua Lipa,Falling in Reverse,Halsey,Judas Priest,Huddy,Motionless in White,Megadeth,Machine Gun Kelly,Pink,Katseye andWeezer.
Prince used the Armory to film his music video "1999" from theeponymous album in 1982.
Media related toMinneapolis Armory at Wikimedia CommonsAuthority control databases: Geographic |
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| Preceded by | Home of the Minneapolis Lakers 1959 – 1960 | Succeeded by |
