Fifth Street Southeast Historic District

You can read about the history and designation of the Fifth Street Southeast Historic District historic landmark.

About

View the design guidelines and map of this historic district

 

1965


Woodbury Fisk Residence, 1965

 

1894


John E. Lockwood Residence, 1894

Boundaries: Generally bounded by 4th Avenue Southeast, the alley between 4th and 5th Streets Southeast, 8th Avenue Southeast, and the alley between 5th and 6th Streets Southeast.

Neighborhood: Marcy Holmes

Date of Local Designation: 1976

Date of National Designation: N/A

Historic Profile: The Fifth Street Southeast Historic District exhibits popular nineteenth century architectural styles built by influential citizens of Minneapolis. Primarily centered along Fifth Street Southeast extending from 4 th Avenue to I-35W, the district generally includes those properties facing Fifth Street, in addition to a few properties facing Fourth and Sixth Street Southeast. Beginning as a scattered residential development in the late 1850s, the district expanded on the edge of the pioneer milling town of St. Anthony. When St. Anthony and Minneapolis merged in 1873, the street names were changed to numeric identities and lots along Fifth Street Southeast were sold to prominent families for further development.

During the early years of St. Anthony and after the merge, Fifth Street Southeast remained one of the finer streets of residence. Many of the people who resided in this neighborhood were merchant families originally from New England. The flour and milling industry drew these early residents to St. Anthony and Minneapolis. In order to be near their business, Fifth Street Southeast was a reasonable choice for settlement, due to its close proximity to the river.

Octavius Broughton, a millwright from New Hampshire, arrived in St. Anthony Falls in 1854 and purchased the lot at 511 Fourth Avenue Southeast in 1858. Woodbury Fisk, also a native of New Hampshire, came to St. Anthony in 1856 and became a principle in the flour milling firm of Pillsbury, Crocker and Fisk. He built his Italianate Revival home in 1870 at 424 Fifth Street Southeast. Related to Woodbury Fisk by marriage, Thomas Andrews built his Italianate Revival home at 527 Fifth Street Southeast. Thomas Andrews served as alderman in St. Anthony and Minneapolis. Other large homes of merchant families within the Fifth Street Southeast area include the Van Cleve residence (603 5 th St. SE), William McNair (610 6 th St. SE) and John Dudley (701 5 th St. SE).

Combinations of large and small homes were built in the district, along with several institutional buildings, such as Andrew Presbyterian Church (1890). In addition to Italianate Revival, the district also features excellent examples of Greek Revival and Richardsonian Romanesque architectural styles. Remarkably, many of these buildings remain unaltered.

Photo Credits:

1965, courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

1894, courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

Works Cited:

City of Minneapolis, "Local Heritage Preservation Designation Form." 

Request accessible format

If you need help with this information, please email 311, or call 311 or 612-673-3000.

Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Contact us

Community Planning & Economic Development

Historic Preservation

Phone

612-673-3000

Address

Public Service Center
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 320
Minneapolis, MN 55415