Looking back: Demolition of the Great Northern depot, 1978
Star Tribune staff photographer Art Hager captured these scenes of the railway station's destruction
www.startribune.comHere’s a quick update on the Minneapolis Great Northern Depot (the historic depot on Hennepin Ave):
- The Great Northern Depot, opened in 1914, was a major passenger hub in Minneapolis for several decades before it was torn down in 1978. The site later became part of development that eventually included the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis; today the downtown riverfront area near that site hosts other transportation nodes and developments.[1][3][7]
- After demolition, the area saw progressive changes, including the construction of new rail-related facilities nearby, such as the modern Union Depot complex in St. Paul and the later Target Field Station area, which sit a bit west of the original depot site.[3][7][1]
- If you’re looking for a concise historical overview, Minnesota Historical Society’s Mnopedia and Star Tribune archives provide detailed timelines and photos from the depot’s 1914 opening through its 1978 demolition, as well as context about passenger rail declines in the mid- to late-20th century.[2][9][3]
Illustration (conceptual):
- A timeline image showing: 1914 opening of the depot → peak passenger rail usage mid-20th century → 1978 demolition → site redevelopment (Federal Reserve Bank and surrounding projects) → later rail-oriented developments in downtown Minneapolis area.
If you’d like, I can pull together a short, citation-backed timeline or a map sketch showing the depot’s former location relative to today’s rail and transit assets.