Minneapolis is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the seat of Hennepin County. It is the 46th most populous city in the US. Seven counties encompassing Minneapolis and its neighbor Saint Paul are known as the Twin Cities.
![]()
|
| Minneapolis in the 1980s |
Minneapolis lies on both banks of the Mississippi River, just north of the river’s confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Saint Paul, the state’s capital. With one of the nation’s best park systems, the city is abundantly rich in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls, many connected by parkways in the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway.
The city and surrounding region is the largest population and primary business center between Chicago and Seattle. Minneapolis was historically a marketplace for timber, became the flour milling capital of the world, and, to the present day, preserved its financial clout.
Anchoring strong music and performing arts scenes, Minneapolis is home to both the Guthrie Theater and the First Avenue nightclub. Reflecting the region’s status as a center of folk, funk, and alternative rock music, the city was the launching pad for several of the 20th century's most influential musicians, including Bob Dylan and Prince.
These amazing photos were taken by Todd Jacobson that show street scenes of Minneapolis in the 1980s.
![]() |
| North Fourth Street, Downtown Minneapolis, July 1982 |
![]()
|
| 6th Street, Minneapolis, May 1983 |
![]() |
| 9th Street, looking towards Hennepin, Downtown Minneapolis, early 1983 |
![]() |
| 900 block of Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, May 1983 |
![]()
|
| Biking along Nicollet Mall, Downtown Minneapolis, spring 1983 |
![]() |
| Fifth Street, Downtown Minneapolis, early 1983 |
![]() |
| Nicollet Mall at 10th Street, Minneapolis, May 1983 |
![]() |
| Nicollet Mall near 10th Street, Minneapolis, June 1983 |
![]() |
| Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, May 1983 |
![]() |
| Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, May 1983 |
![]() |
| Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, May 1983 |
![]() |
| Old gas station at 3rd Avenue and 10th Street, Downtown Minneapolis. Piper Jaffray Tower under construction, circa 1983 |
![]()
|
| Sixth Street, Downtown Minneapolis, fall 1983 |
![]() |
| Uptown Minneapolis, winter 1983 or 1984 |
![]() |
| 7th Street at Amfac Hotel, City Center, Minneapolis, December 1984 |
![]() |
| 7th Street, looking to Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, December 1984 |
![]() |
| Calhoun Square, Uptown Minneapolis, February 1984 |
![]() |
| Hotel Leamington, Minneapolis, late 1984 |
![]() |
| Lake Street from Hennepin Avenue, Uptown Minneapolis, February 1984 |
![]() |
| Minneapolis skyline from Highway 12 (now I-394) at Penn overpass, circa early 1984 |
![]() |
| Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 1984 |
![]() |
| Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, December 1984 |
![]() |
| Skating at Peavey Plaza, Minneapolis, December 1984 |
![]() |
| Uptown Minneapolis looking south on Hennepin to Lake Street, February 1984 |
![]() |
| West Lake Street, Uptown Minneapolis, February 1984 |
![]() |
| West Lake Street, Uptown Minneapolis, February 1984 |
![]() |
| First Avenue North, Minneapolis, March 1985 |
![]() |
| Hennepin Avenue at 5th Street, Minneapolis St Patricks Day, 1985 |
![]() |
| Looking west from Garfield Ave S, Minneapolis, March 1985 |
![]() |
| Punks on Hennepin Avenue, in front of Hot Licks/Wax Museum record store, Minneapolis, March 1985 |
![]() |
| Railroad tracks from Wash Ave Bridge, Warehouse District, Minneapolis, March 1985 |
![]() |
| Ruins of mill, Minneapolis, March 1985 |
![]() |
| I-494 twilight, the Bloomington Strip. Minnesota Center UC at right, crane for 8400 Normandale visible in center background, fall 1986 |
![]() |
| Lincoln Center under construction, Downtown Minneapolis, fall 1986 |
![]() |
| Nicollet Mall, during construction of The Conservatory (Upscale Retail Mall), Minneapolis, July-August 1986 |
![]() |
| The Uptown Grill, Hennepin Avenue,, Minneapolis, fall 1986 |
![]() |
| Uptown Minneapolis, November 1986 |
![]() |
| Different varieties of love, 10th St & Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, December 1987 |
![]() |
| First Avenue, Warehouse District, Minneapolis, December 1987 |
![]() |
| Hennepin Avenue at 10th Street, Minneapolis, December 1987 |
![]() |
| Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, August 1987 |
![]() |
| First Avenue North, Minneapolis, December 1988 |
![]() |
| Hennepin Avenue looking north towards Lake Street, Uptown Minneapolis, October 1988 |
![]() |
| Nicollet Mall near 4th Street, Minneapolis, December 1988 |
![]() |
| Washington Avenue North, Warehouse District (North Loop), Minneapolis, December 1988 |
![]() |
| Hennepin Avenue, north from 27th Street, March 1989 |
![]() |
| 7th Street and 3rd Avenue S, looking at construction site for US Bank Place (now Capella Tower or 225 S 6th St), Minneapolis, October 1989 |
![]() |
| Dayton's Department Store, 7th and Nicollet, Minneapolis, October 1989 |
![]() |
| Hennepin Avenue, Uptown Minneapolis, October 1989 |
![]() |
| Looking south on Nicollet Mall from NSP Plaza at 5th Street, Minneapolis, October 1989 |
![]() |
| Near Hennepin and Lake, Uptown Minneapolis, October 1989 |
![]() |
| Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, October 1989 |
![]() |
| West Lake Street at Irving Ave, Uptown Minneapolis, October 1989 |
![]() |
| Historic Main Street, Minneapolis, December 1989 |
![]()
|
| Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, December 1989 |
