February 19, 2017, Sunday - Pillsbury A Mill Tour
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am
Location: A-Mill Artist Lofts, 415 Main Street SE
Discover the story of the National Historic Landmark Pillsbury A Mill, the largest flour mill in the world for many years, which recently reopened as the A-Mill Artist Lofts. A Mill City Museum guide will lead a tour of the former milling complex, including the rooftop deck and the basement waterpower facilities. Visitors will explore the largest and best-preserved waterpower system in Minneapolis (with views straight down a 50-foot drop shaft); discover how the building functioned during the flour milling era and learn about the new hydroelectric plant that helps to power the complex.
The Pillsbury A Mill was the flagship mill of the Pillsbury Flour Milling Company. The A Mill was not only the largest flour mill in the world when it opened in 1881, it was one of the few architect-designed mills in Minneapolis, designed by Leroy S. Buffington. As such it was an industrial show piece and tourist attraction from the start. The Pillsbury A Mill ceased operation in 2003, and in 2015, the complex was redeveloped as affordable lofts for working artists by Dominium, a Minneapolis-based developer.
Please meet at the gray door on Third Avenue SE at Main Street (around the corner from the A-Mill Artist Loft main entrance at 315 Main Street SE). The tour includes about 1.0 miles of moderately-paced walking indoors and outdoors with some uneven surfaces.
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