The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, a stunning 11-acre park in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts.
Managed by the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, this vast urban sculpture garden reopened on June 10, 2017, after undergoing a major transformation.
Now a 19-acre campus, the garden is home to 40 permanent art installations and various temporary pieces, making it one of the largest of its kind in the United States.
Nestled between Loring Park and the Basilica of Saint Mary, the park's history dates back to the early 20th century when it was first acquired by the park board.
Known as 'The Parade,' the land was initially used for military drills before becoming the Armory Gardens under park superintendent Theodore Wirth.
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The gardens housed a U.S. National Guard armory (Kenwood Armory) for Spanish War volunteers, serving as a civic and cultural hub.
The land was transformed into a floral haven in 1913 when it hosted a floral convention. For the next 50 years, it remained a beautiful garden.
In 1934, the Armory was demolished due to its instability, and a new Armory was built downtown. The Armory Gardens were handed over to the Minneapolis Park Board.
The area, including the land to the west, was used for recreational sports and saw the construction of the original Parade Stadium in 1950.
In 1988, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden was officially opened, designed by esteemed architect Edward Larrabee Barnes and landscape architects Quinnel and Rothschild.
After the demolition of Parade Stadium in 1990, the garden expanded to an additional 3.5 acres. This new section, designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates, Inc., features a more open layout, a walkway, and the impressive 300-foot-long Alene Grossman Memorial Arbor.
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At the heart of the garden stands the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry (1985–1988) fountain, a creative masterpiece by renowned artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.
To further enhance the garden's connectivity, the Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge (1987), designed by Siah Armajani, now spans Hennepin Avenue, linking the sculpture garden to Loring Park.