Minneapolis Club

{{Use American English|date=September 2025}} thumb|The Minneapolis Club in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The '''Minneapolis Club''' is a private club with its clubhouse at 729 Second Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota. The club operates under laws for 501(c)(7) Social and Recreation Clubs; in 2024 it claimed total revenue of $4,408,465 and total assets of $11,135,808.<ref>{{cite web |title=Financials for The Minneapolis Club |url=https://app.candid.org/profile/7591504/the-minneapolis-club-41-0414540 |website=candid.org |publisher=Candid. |access-date=11 April 2026}}</ref>

== History == The Minneapolis Club was founded in 1883 by leading Minnesota business and civic leaders, including John Pillsbury and Charles Loring.<ref name = "MPLS 1920" >{{citation |title= Minneapolis Club: A Review of its History from 1883 to 1920 by an Old Member|last=Edgar |first=William |year=1920 }}</ref> In its first 25 years, the club changed locations three times. It has been headquartered in its present location, however, since its opening in 1909.

Throughout its history, the club has played host to prominent individuals visiting the Twin Cities.<ref name = "Convention">{{cite news | title = On the Way to the Hall | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B01E3DB1538E233A2575AC0A9609C94639ED7CF | newspaper = New York Times | date = 1892-06-09 | page = 1 | accessdate = 2010-06-26 | archive-date = 2012-11-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121110073600/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B01E3DB1538E233A2575AC0A9609C94639ED7CF | url-status = live }}</ref> William Howard Taft stayed, and dined, at the club during his 1909 visit to the Twin Cities.<ref name = "Taft">{{cite news | title = Taft Spends Day in the Twin Cities | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E01E1DE143EE033A2575AC1A96F9C946897D6CF | newspaper = New York Times | date = 1909-09-19 | page = 2 | accessdate = 2010-06-26 | archive-date = 2012-11-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121110073609/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E01E1DE143EE033A2575AC1A96F9C946897D6CF | url-status = live }}</ref> Then-Colonel Theodore Roosevelt visited the club in 1901, just before becoming president.<ref name="MPLS 1920"/> Carroll D. Wright, the US Commissioner of Labor, presented comments on the Coal Strike of 1902 at the club.<ref name = "Wright">{{cite news | title = Carroll D. Wright Says Miners will Lose Fight | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D05E7D81E3BE733A25750C2A96F9C946397D6CF | newspaper = New York Times | date = 1902-09-23 | page = 3 | accessdate = 2010-06-26 | archive-date = 2024-09-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240924132516/https://www.nytimes.com/1902/09/23/archives/carroll-d-wright-says-miners-will-lose-fight-also-reported-to-have.html | url-status = live }}</ref> In 1909, the Minneapolis banking establishment used the club to host Senator Nelson Aldrich of Rhode Island for a day-long forum on financial issues.<ref name = "Aldrich">{{cite news | title = Aldrich Asks Questions | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F04E4DE1239E733A25750C1A9679D946897D6CF | newspaper = New York Times | date = 1909-11-13 | page = 5 | accessdate = 2010-06-26 | archive-date = 2024-09-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240924132407/https://www.nytimes.com/1909/11/13/archives/aldrich-asks-questions-also-talks-in-minneapolis-of-the-central.html | url-status = live }}</ref> James J. Hill, a member, hosted his 67th birthday at the club.<ref name="MPLS 1920" />

== Membership == Membership in the Minneapolis Club is by invitation only.<ref name="club">{{Cite web|title=Membership at the Minneapolis Club |publisher=The Minneapolis Club |url=http://www.mplsclub.org/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp |accessdate=2010-06-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107013339/http://www.mplsclub.org/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp |archivedate=January 7, 2010 }}</ref> The club does not, however, discriminate based on race, sex, national origin, or religion.<ref name= "club" />

Notable members have included Supreme Court justice Harry Blackmun<ref name = "Blackmun" >{{citation |title= Harry A. Blackmun: The Outsider Justice |last=Yarbrough |first=Tinsley |year=2008 |page=126 |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA }}</ref> and Sol Smith Russell,<ref name = "Sol">{{cite news | title = On the Way to the Hall | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E01EFDC1638E433A25755C1A9679C94699ED7CF | newspaper = New York Times Illustrated Weekly Magazine | date = 1898-01-16 | page = SM5 | accessdate = 2010-06-26 | archive-date = 2024-09-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240924132408/https://www.nytimes.com/1898/01/16/archives/illustrated-weekly-magazine-silver-cup-like-a-flour-barrel.html | url-status = live }}</ref> the actor and comedian.

== Architecture == thumb|The Minneapolis Club, viewed from kitty-corner. The Minneapolis Club is a brick building located in downtown Minneapolis. The present building was designed by Gordon, Tracy and Swartwout (New York) with William Channing Whitney and constructed in 1908.<ref name = "AIA">{{citation |title=AIA Guide to the Twin Cities |last=Millett |first=Larry |year=2007 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |page=37}}</ref> It was expanded in 1911 by Hewitt and Brown and again in 2002 by Setter Leach & Lindstrom.<ref name = "AIA" />

== See also == * List of American gentlemen's clubs

== References == {{reflist|33em}}

== External links == * [http://www.mplsclub.org/ The Minneapolis Club (official website)]

Category:1883 establishments in Minnesota Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1908 Category:Buildings and structures in Minneapolis Category:Clubs and societies in the United States Category:Gentlemen's clubs in the United States