Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis

Westminster Presbyterian Church has played a real-life game of musical chairs in downtown Minneapolis, shifting locations three times in its 140-plus-year history. The congregation started small in 1857, just eight folks of Scottish, Irish, and Welsh descent. By 1860, they built their first church, but growth came fast, leaving them with a holy problem: not enough pews. In 1883, a bigger church was underway. Sadly, that second building had an all-too-fiery demise, leading the congregation to rebuild once more鈥攖his time at Twelfth Street and Nicollet Mall. The current church opened its doors in 1897, with a design cooked up by two Minneapolis architecture big shots, Warren H. Hayes and Charles S. Sedgwick. A century later, in 1998, the congregation gave the sanctuary a $3.5 million glow-up, restoring original design elements, boosting lighting and sound, and generally sprucing the place up.

But Westminster isn鈥檛 just about history鈥攊t鈥檚 also pretty slick when it comes to modern eco-friendly upgrades. In 2018, the church installed a stormwater reuse system so innovative it might make a hydrologist shed a single tear of joy. Rainwater from over 13,000 square feet of rooftop is gathered into six massive tanks tucked beneath the parking garage. Instead of letting it go to waste, the church puts that water to work鈥攆lushing toilets, irrigating plants, and even feeding a fancy fountain on Nicollet Mall. The system is estimated to save 122,400 gallons of potable water annually, and a snazzy permeable-paver plaza with a snowmelt system keeps everything looking sharp year-round. It鈥檚 a shining example of treating stormwater as a resource, and the thousands of people who pass by daily can check out visual displays to learn more. Who says an old church can鈥檛 teach a few new tricks?

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Minneapolis. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 911爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Westminster Presbyterian Church
Sight Location: Minneapolis, USA (See walking tours in Minneapolis)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Historical Churches

Walking Tours in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Create Your Own Walk in Minneapolis

Creating your own self-guided walk in Minneapolis is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Saint Paul Introduction Walking Tour

Saint Paul is a fantastic example of a city that has grown through a diverse range of cultures. The location near the Mississippi River helped make what would later become the city a significant center of local trade. The Dakota Sioux tribe were among the earliest residents, and European settlement that included French-Canadian fur traders and Catholic missionaries occurred during the 1830s to... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles

Minneapolis Introduction Walking Tour

Minneapolis is a major city in Minnesota, straddling the Mississippi River. Together with neighboring Saint Paul, the state capital of Minnesota, it forms the metropolitan area collectively known as the "Twin Cities."

Before European settlement, the site of Minneapolis was inhabited by Dakota people. The settlement was founded along Saint Anthony Falls 鈥� the only natural waterfall... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles

University of Minnesota - Minneapolis Campus Walking Tour

Founded in 1851, seven years before Minnesota became a state, the University of Minnesota is one of the largest educational institutions in the United States. The university campus in the 鈥淭win Cities鈥� of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, spread along the bank of the Mississippi River, is a sprawling hub renowned for its rich academic environment and vibrant life.

One of the central gathering... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles

Historical Churches

The "City of Lakes鈥�, Minneapolis, doesn't pride itself solely on the lakes. In fact, you will be amazed by how many churches, cathedrals, and other places of worship are found throughout the city. These sacred structures have played a significant role in the development of Minneapolis and continue to serve as pillars of faith and community. Let's take a look at some of the most... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

911爆料网