PAM-o-rama Tours 2010

Introducing the PAM-o-rama 2010 Tours!

The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota is proud to present PAM-o-rama! – our annual series of mini-tours focusing on historic preservation across the state. Explore the preservation of mid-century modern from four distinct perspectives: take a stroll through St. Louis Park’s “Miracle Mile” shopping center, learn about the utopian Lustron houses, throw a strike at a retro bowling alley, and spend a day perusing the modernism of Eero Saarinen and Frank Lloyd Wright in Rochester.

Lustron Utopia – Saturday, August 21, 2010
In 1949, “the house America has been waiting for” arrived in south Minneapolis. The steel manufactured Lustron house was maintenance-free, cost less than 10,000 dollars, and could be erected on-site in less than a week. The pastel exteriors never needed painting; the efficient interiors offered clever built-ins, such as a combination dishwasher-clothes washer. The prefabricated Lustron was the brainchild of Carl Strandlund, an engineering visionary with ties to Minnesota. His unique version of the “home of the future” was meant to help solve the post-World War II housing crisis AND revolutionize American life. But politics, financial problems, government corruption, and bad press doomed Strandlund’s dream. Come learn about his rise and fall and the amazing story of the lovable Lustron. Then we’ll stroll over to Nicollet Avenue to the largest grouping of Lustrons in Minnesota and see what makes them so special.  Guide: Ann Meyer

Tour begins at 10:00 am, meet at the Washburn Library is 5244 South Lyndale Avenue, Minneapolis.

Strike! – Saturday, October 16, 2010
Bowl your way through modern entertainment at Elsie’s in Minneapolis.

Rochester Modernism – Saturday, November 6, 2010
Tour Saarinen’s 1958 IBM headquarters and see other modern architecture in Rochester.

Tickets: $10/$15 per person or attend all 4 for $30/$40 (member/non-member). Tours will be from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, except Rochester.

To Register:
Register Online

Members

Miracle Mile – April 17 $10.00 Lustron Utopia – August 21 $10.00 Strike! – October 16 $10.00 Rochester – November 6 $10.00 All 4 Tours $30.00

Non-members

Miracle Mile – April 17 $15.00 Lustron Utopia – August 21 $15.00 Strike! – October 16 $15.00 Rochester – November 6 $15.00 All 4 Tours $40.00

OR

Call the Alliance at 651.293.9047 x2

The 2010 PAM-o-rama tours are sponsored by a generous donation from the Henry Luce Foundation and TrustModern, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.