More Light Rail

Dale returned from Madeline yesterday. He returned his rental car at the airport and then took light rail to the Hiawatha and 46th Street stop which is where I picked him up. I only waited for about 10 minutes for his train to arrive.  It was a pleasant evening with a summery feel - perfect for sitting outside.  These photos were taken at around 8:15 p.m. I remember as far back as 1980 reading in the old Minneapolis Star about the possibility of light rail transit coming to Minneapolis.  I can't believe is took as long as it did to become a reality. Minneapolis once had an intricate trolley system that was the envy of the nation but I believe it was dismantled in the 1960s to make way for the freeway system. It's a shame that a new system had to be started from scratch when there was once such a functional network.

The IDS Center - Another Rainy Day Photo

This photo of the IDS Center was taken in 1980 on the same day I took The Nicollet Mall on a Rainy Day. Rather gloomy I'd say.

The Nicollet Mall on a Rainy Day Part 2

Here's another I photoshopped version of my 1980 photo The Nicollet Mall on a Rainy Day that I tried to make look like a painting. My inspiration was Rainy Evening on Hennepin Avenue, 1902, by Robert Koehler which hangs in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. You should be able to click on it to enlarge it.

The Nicollet Mall on a Rainy Day Part 1

I took the above photo in 1980 and titled it The Nicollet Mall on a Rainy Day. As a kid I had a bubble umbrella just like the woman in the foreground to the left.

One of my favorite paintings from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts has always been Rainy Evening on Hennepin Avenue. I think I've loved this painting by Robert Koehler since childhood because it really captures a mood and also because it's a window into the past of Minneapolis. Hennepin Avenue looks nothing like this and hasn't for quite a long time. I like how the people are walking toward you in the painting. In my photo the people are walking away.

I recently photoshopped the photo I took more than 30 years ago to make it look a bit more like a painting. You should be able to click on it to enlarge it.

Return in the Rain

Just got back from a trip to Colorado today. We ran into a huge storm just south of the city and it was still raining when we pulled in the driveway. I like this photo I took in 1980 of the Nicollet Mall on a rainy day. Wow. Thirty-one years ago.

Minneapolis City Hall

Another old photo I found recently. The shot is of Minneapolis City Hall and was taken from the Hennepin County Government Center which is just next door. I love how the Government Center windows frame City Hall. Too bad it was such a dark rainy day.

Anthony Junior High School

I attended Anthony Junior High School from 1978-1980. At the time I attended, Anthony was grades 7-8. As of this writing, it is called Anthony Middle School and includes grades 6-8. I'm now a teacher with Minneapolis Public Schools and have recently attended some workshops that were held at Anthony. It looks exactly as it did when I attended there in the late 1970's and, I believe, has held up quite well. It was at this school that I met two of my lifelong best friends, Heidi and her brother Rob.

Minneapolis - Population

Population 1960: 482,872

U.S. Rank: 25

Population 1970: 434,400

U.S. Rank: 32

Population 1980: 370,951

U.S. Rank: 34

Population 1990: 368,383

U.S. Rank: 42

Population 2000: 382,618

U.S. Rank 45

Photos are from the Minneapolis Aquatennial. Top circa 1930s and bottom circa 2003.