Lost Twin Cities

by Larry Millett

"An impressive sampling of the vanished buildings of the Twin Cities, tracing their history and including information on who the owners and architects were, how these structures were used, why they were torn down, and what occupies each site today. Highly recommended." —Library Journal

Lost Twin Cities is an architectural and social history of the downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The richly illustrated text emphasizes the growth and development of the two downtowns in the nineteenth century and their subsequent alteration by urban renewal and other forces of change in the twentieth century.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Architecture, Art, Local History

346 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Larry Millett has combined his interest in journalism, architectural history, and mystery fiction to create an unusual writing career. A native of Minneapolis, he attended school there and then went on to obtain a bachelor’s degrees in English from St. John’s University and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago.

He began working as a general assignment reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 1972 and became the newspaper’s first architecture critic after a year of study on a fellowship to the University of Michigan.

Larry’s first book, The Curve of the Arch, appeared in 1985. Since then, he’s written eleven other works of nonfiction, including Lost Twin Cities, which has been in continuous print for more than twenty years.

Larry began writing mystery fiction in 1996 by bringing the world’s most famous consulting detective to Minnesota for The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon. He’s published six other novels featuring Holmes, Dr. Watson, and St. Paul saloonkeeper Shadwell Rafferty.

Larry lives in St. Paul’s historic West Seventh Street neighborhood with his wife and occasional writing partner, Jodie Ahern, who is also an accomplished painter and a freelance copy editor.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's so sad to think that all these beautiful buildings were torn down for progress. I love St Paul more than Minneapolis. St Paul makes no sense at all unless you memorize the streets. I wish I could have seen it before the 94 and 35E corridors were put in.

If you're interested or researching the Twin Cities, this book will prove invaluable to you.

[Kalen Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A photo book and stories of the history of architecture in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Both St. Paul and Minneapolis had underground rivers and lakes hidden in caves at the banks of the Mississippi. Most of these caves have been closed or destroyed.

Stephanie purchased this book for me as a birthday present

[CTEP]

Lost Twin Cities by Larry Millett is a book about the constant physical changes that have taken place in Minneapolis and St. Paul since the nineteenth century and the buildings and landscapes that have been destroyed in the process. Both cities, but particularly Minneapolis, have spent most of their lives trying to remodel themselves after whatever architectural movement would, at the time, make them appear both trendy and economically viable. Millett repeatedly notes that the decision to replace iconic structures with more aesthetically modern but less structurally sound or interesting buildings was often carried out by city officials with virtually no experience in the field of architecture and no regard for the effects that this construction had on local communities. As a result of this aggressive desire to physically modernize themselves, the two cities have largely failed to preserve buildings that would today give them "character". I appreciated this perspective as I often feel that downtown Minneapolis is uncomfortably sterile and lacks any sort of personality, unlike other neighborhoods I've had the chance to explore.

Overall, however, I thought that Lost Twin Cities focused too much on the loss of interesting, unique architecture in the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul and too little on the effects that constant demolition and construction have had on local communities. It was especially surprising that although Millett did write at some length about the introduction of interstate highways to the Twin Cities, he provided an extremely limited discussion about the impact that the then-new interstates had on neighborhoods throughout the area, especially on neighborhoods that were predominantly home to people of color. By focusing more on the lost architecture of the Twin Cities than on lost experiences, which I believe are inseparable from that architecture, Millett falls into the same mode of thought as the decision-makers he criticizes. The one instance in which he does provide a thorough analysis of the ways in which the Twin Cities' unending quest to redefine themselves have hurt communities can be found in a section about the gentrification of the Warehouse District in Minneapolis. In this section, Millett laments the loss of a neighborhood that not only housed mostly single, working class men, but also served as a center of culture and entertainment for the city. Even here, however, Millett chooses to emphasize the loss of "culture" over the fact that gentrification and construction have forced many people out of their homes and separated many people from each other.

[Daniel Currie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5 stars if they had that rating.

I think I was hurt by not realizing what this book was really about. It very much concentrates on the architecture of the past. I didn't realize that was to be the main focus here. If that is your interest then this book is definitely for you. Lots of great pictures and the text is very well written and presented.

Coincidentally, I read a good portion of this at the latest, greatest development in St. Paul at the new Highland Bridge complex which is not open yet for habitation but the center waterway is open.

[Cindy Kish]

Interesting to get the back stories on where I live. There is also a PBS special

[Priscilla Snelling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting and what a loss of history

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely riveting. I think this book was meant to be sort of a coffee table book with lots of pictures, but I read every single page. It is fascinating to learn about how many buildings and neighborhoods have come and gone and completely changed through the years. I didn't know anything about the history of Minneapolis/St. Paul before, and now as I drive around the city I think of the buildings and stories included in this book.

[angrykitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

so i just happened to catch the documentary about this book on pbs....and of course...i had to go get the book. it's an awesome book about minneapolis/st. paul, but to see all that we have lost is really very sad....

[Jeff Bloomquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you live in the Twin Cities this is a very cool book and lots of pictures. The old buildings here were unbelievable

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this book! The pictures and accompanying narrative are well-researched and written! It's a beautiful chronicle of times gone by.