Minneapolis History: The Aerial Experience

Minneapolis celebrates its 150th birthday this summer. Go back on an aerial journey through time to experience the roots of the Mill City. Minneapolis experienced an economic boom in the last two decades of the 19th century carried by a thriving milling industry. For half a century, Minneapolis was the flour mill capital of the world. Just before the stock market crash of 1929, wealthy entrepreneurs including Wilbur B. Foshay were spending absurd amounts of money on real estate, specifically tall structures. Once the Great Depression hit, Minneapolis would go into a major period of recession and the city turned into a gathering place for unemployed men surrounded by flophouses and vacant buildings. In the early 1960's the city still never shook off the aftermath of the great depression. They received federal funding to demolish 40% of the city in just a few years. Many historic structures were lost in this large scale demolition for no apparent reason. Watch this historical drone-based documentary narrated by Bob Michaels and you will learn much more than they teach you in school.