Named after a Catholic missionary priest, Thomas Cahill, Cahill School was built in 1864 which featured a single room made of wood. This room served for 94 years as a school, a community center, a theater and a church. The building closed down in 1958, to be reopened with restorations done in 1969. It still has a woodstove that was functional. It is now used as a rental space for birthday parties, field trips, tours or summer camps.
A romantic landmark in the city, the 640.08 meter (2100 feet) long Stone Arch Bridge used to be a railway bridge for the Manitoba line. It is the second oldest bridge across the river. Erected in 1883 by James Hill, a railway tycoon, it spans proudly across the Mississippi river in a curve. The twenty-three arches are a sight to behold and serve as a scenic welcome for travelers to the city. Tourists love to watch the ships sail past here. Today, the bridge is open for pedestrians and bikers.
Bob Dylan left a huge impact on the music industry and decades later, he continues to leave a mark on Minneapolis's artistic scene. The Times They Are A-Changin' is a huge, mural, with a kaleidoscope of colors showing the two versions of the legendary musician, one when he was an amateur and the other when he became a star. Overall, this mural is a delight for music fans who visit the city.
In 1881, the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce formed an association to facilitate the buying and selling of wheat, oats and corn. The purpose of this organization was to make sure both parties were arriving at a fair price based on the quality of the product being brought to market. Gaining notoriety and becoming a national force in the growing grain industry, the Chamber of Commerce commissioned the construction of a building in downtown Minneapolis to house the daily activity of the grain business. It was not until 1947 that the building was officially christened the Minneapolis Grain Exchange and commodity trading became a separate entity from the Chamber of Commerce. The building's turn-of-the-century design includes heavy use of stone, brick, marble and ornate wood. The terracotta ears of corn and stalks of grain on the building's façade are particularly interesting and striking. Tours include a glimpse of the always-rowdy trading floor.
With a record 3,780 hours of dominating the dance floor under his belt, Callum DeVillier took the crowd by storm at a competition in Massachusetts in the year of 1933. Along with his partner Vonnie Kuchinski, DeVillier depicted a remarkable perseverance and determination which lead to victory, thereby immortalizing him in the annals of history. Today, his grave in Lakewood Cemetery can be visited by curious tourists passing through the city.
