Question: What do an abandoned jail, a small town bank, below ground resources, and a mid-century Modern icon all have in common?

Answer: They are all listed on the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota’s 2008 Ten Most Endangered Historic Places List. On Thursday May 1, 2008 the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota officially unveiled the list with a press conference held in Minneapolis’ Peavey Plaza, one of the sites on this year’s list.

This list, the 15th annual compilation the Alliance has released, profiles the state’s most endangered historic sites. The Ten Most Endangered program is designed to spotlight historic properties that face imminent danger through demolition, neglect, severe alteration, or inappropriate public policy. Through this program the Alliance seeks favorable outcomes that can be achieved through a preservation approach.

The Ten Most Endangered Historic Places are selected from nominations submitted by citizens and groups from around the state. The selection committee is comprised of preservation professionals representing the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota; State Historic Preservation Office; Minnesota Historical Society; Historic Saint Paul; Preserve Minneapolis; the Historic Resources Committee of the American Institute of Architects-Minnesota; and the Minnesota advisors to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The 2008 Ten Most Endangered Historic Places List includes:
* St Louis County Jail, Duluth
* Historic Mantorville Normal School, Mantorville
* McGrath Old State Bank, McGrath
* Layman’s/Pioneer and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, Minneapolis
* Oakland Apartments, Minneapolis
* Peavey Plaza, Minneapolis
* St. Anthony Falls Historic District Archaeological Resources, Minneapolis
* Floral Hall (Olmsted County Fairgrounds Building #31), Rochester
* St. Matthews (Rock of Ages) Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Paul
* Buch House, Shakopee

* For detailed information regarding each specific property, please refer to the “2008 Ten Most Endangered” Page, found under the “Programs” tab on our homepage!

Ten Most Endangered Resources:
2008 Ten Most Endangered Brochure - This brochure accompanies a traveling exhibit that traverses Minnesota throughout the year in promotion of the Ten Most Endangered Program. Designed by Drumminhands Design and sponsored by Kodet Architecture and Pioneer Photography, the 2008 Ten Most Endangered Brochure is a great resource that concisely highlights each property, the specific threat and potential positive outcomes for the property.

2008 Ten Most Endangered Media Kit - The Alliance has assembled a media kit that you can use in your community to promote preservation and the Ten Most Endangered List. This Media Kit includes
* 2008 Ten Most Endangered Short Press Release
* 2008 Ten Most Endangered Detailed Press Release
* Preservation Alliance of Minnesota Ten Most Endangered Process Statement
* Complete “Saved or Lost”Listing of all Ten Most Endangered Properties
* Preservation Alliance of Minnesota Organizational Statement
* Downloadable photos and previous Ten Most Endangered Lists

What can you do to help Minnesota’s historic resources? By joining as a member of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, you can be assured that you are among hundreds throughout Minnesota who are concerned about our historic resources and are dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting our history. Join online today (under the “get involved” tab on our homepage), we would love to have you as a member!

The Foshay Soiree: A Roaring 20’s Restoration

Friday, August 22, 2008

6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Tickets: $50 per person for Alliance members / $60 for nonmembers

Proceeds benefit the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota

Mark your calendar now to be one of the first to celebrate the restoration of Minnesota’s beloved Foshay Tower, reopening in August as the W Hotel. Join the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota at its annual sneak-peek fundraising event, where we bring you up close and personal with the latest preservation successes in our state.

Were you at the Westin?? The Foshay Soiree is modeled on the Alliance’s successful 2007 “Banking on Preservation” fundraiser, the first event held inside the restored Farmers & Mechanics Bank Building in Minneapolis, now the Westin Hotel. Our members and friends loved this event so much, they asked for another–what better place than the Foshay?

Be on the inside–tour, savor, dance, and bid (and all for a good cause!). Go behind the scenes with special VIP tours. Devour signature hors d’oeuvres to the sounds of Robert Bell’s Hot Swing Combo featuring Maude Hixson. You’re the star on this dance floor after taking lessons from The Swing Cats, or sit back and watch as you bid on a range of swank auction items.

When can I buy tickets? Watch our website, but we expect to have tickets on sale beginning in July.

How can I support this event? Sponsorship opportunities are available, or make a donation to the auction. Contact Bonnie McDonald at bmcdonald@mnpreservation.org for more information.

The Foshay Tower, designed by Leon Eugene Arnal of the firm of Magney & Tusler, was completed in 1929. One of the city’s signature Art Deco jewels, its ceremonious opening was soon overshadowed by the stock market crash. Credited as “the first skyscraper west of the Mississippi,” the 32-story Foshay and its mast antenna have been a fixture of the Minneapolis skyline. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Work began in 2007 to convert the office tower into a W Hotel through the vision of developers Ralph Burnet and Ryan Companies US and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Proceeds from this event support the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, the statewide nonprofit working to protect historic places like the Foshay. We would like to thank Ralph Burnet, Ryan Companies US, and the W Hotel for making the Foshay Tower available for this event.