Foshay Tower, Minneapolis

The Foshay Tower, now the W Minneapolis – The Foshay hotel, is a skyscraper in Minneapolis. Modeled after the Washington Monument, the building was completed in 1929, months before the stock market crash in October of that year. Its observation desk on the 30th floor has a stunning view of the Minneapolis downtown.

The building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, is an example of Art Deco architecture. As the building was designed to echo the Washington Monument, the sides of the building slope slightly inward, and each floor of the Foshay Tower is slightly smaller than the one below it. Internally the building uses steel and reinforced concrete. The exterior is faced with Indiana limestone, while the interior features African Mahogany, Italian marble, terrazzo, gold-plated doorknobs, a silver and gold plated ceiling, ornamental bronze, hand wrought iron and three commissioned busts of George Washington.

Foshay Tower was the lifelong dream and namesake of Wilbur Foshay, an art student turned businessman who amassed his fortune by building up three utility company empires.

Image Courtesy of Flickr and Fibonacci Blue.

Sight description based on Wikipedia.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Foshay Tower
Sight Location: Minneapolis, USA (See walking tours in Minneapolis)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Minneapolis Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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