1879

* Combined population of Minneapolis and St. Paul: 60,728

* Two towns were founded on either side of Saint Anthony Falls: Saint Anthony, on the east side, and Minneapolis, on the west side. Minneapolis absorbed the small community of St. Anthony in 1872.

* Eighteen flour mills are operating on the west side of the Mississippi River.

* Farmland is still visible just outside the city.

* On March 10, 1876, the first telephone call is made by Alexander Graham Bell to his assistant, Thomas Watson.

Map by J.J. Stoner, courtesy of the Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division

1885

* Combined population of Minneapolis and St. Paul: 193,127

* After a massive explosion at the Washburn A Mill in 1878, several millers had to rebuild along the west bank. The flour industry saw revitalization on the east bank as well. Among the mills introduced on the east side was the Pillsbury A Mill, built in 1881, one of the largest mills to grace the St. Anthony Falls.

* Total production from the mills at the Falls made Minneapolis the largest flour producer in the nation.

* The Stone Arch Bridge over the Mississippi River was completed. Built by railroad baron James J. Hill, the bridge allowed for increased movement of people and goods across the river.

* On June 19, 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived at Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor, a gift from the people of France.

By Burt Levy, courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

1912

* Combined population of Minneapolis and St. Paul in 1910: 516,152

* Minneapolis City Hall and Courthouse relocated to the Municipal Building Commission in order to provide an adequate space to serve the needs of a rapidly growing frontier town.

* Norwegian sculptor Jacob Fjelde created Hiawatha and Minnehaha, a plaster sculpture illustrating Longfellow's poem, The Song of Hiawatha. It was cast in bronze and installed along the Minnehaha Creek in 1912 at a public ceremony.

* On April 15, 1912, the Titanic, the largest ship afloat at the time, collided with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City. The sinking of the ship resulted in the loss of more than 1,500 passengers and crew.

Photograph by C.J. Hibbard, courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

1929

* Combined population of Minneapolis and St. Paul in 1930: 735,962

* Construction of the Foshay Tower was completed in the summer of 1929, the tallest building in the heart of downtown rising 447 feet. On Labor Day weekend, the Foshay Tower debuted one of the grandest building-dedication ceremonies in Minneapolis history. The three-day celebration featured fireworks, dancing, 19-gun salutes, and music written by John Philip Sousa for the occasion.

* On October 28, 1929, the stock market crashed, leading to The Great Depression and a world wide economic crisis lasting until the mid-1930's.

Photography from the New York World-Telegram and Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection, courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division

1936

* Combined average population of Minneapolis and St. Paul from 1930-1940: 758,034

* With Mills on both sides of the river, additional bridges were built in order to provide rail access. The Rand Tower was completed.

* The Downtown East neighborhood was composed of a mix of industrial, manufacturing, apartments, retail and single family residential uses.

* The U.S. was still recovering from The Great Depression. By 1936, all main economic indicators regained the levels of the late 1920's except for unemployment, which remained high.

Photograph courtesy of the Hennepin County Library Special Collections, WPA Civic and Commerce Collection

1950

* Combined population of Minneapolis and St. Paul in 1950: 833,067

* Foshay Tower remained the tallest building in the city.

* The Post Office and Gateway District remained untouched. The Armory had been completed.

* Not long after the end of WWII, the Korean War began in June 1950, followed by the beginning of the Vietnam War in November 1955.

Photograph courtesy of the Mark Hurd Photographic Collection, used with the permission of Quantum Spatial