Overview

The Murphy House is an early extant example of Italianate architecture. 

• Location: 167 Island Avenue East 
• Neighborhood: Nicollet Island – East Bank 

Historic photo (Circa 1980)

Architecture

• Architectural Style: Italianate
• Architect(s): Unknown

Use

• Historic use: Residential
• Current use: Residential

Construction

• Construction date: 1875
• Contractor: Unknown 

Significance

• Area(s) of significance: Architecture 
• Period of significance: Undefined 
• Date of local designation: 1986
• Designation: Exterior 
• Date of National Register designation: Not individually listed 

Historic profile

The Murphy House is an early extant example of Italianate architecture. The house was built at 716 21st Avenue South. It was likely built in the 1870s.  

The Murphy House may have belonged to Captain Edward Murphy. Murphy was an early settler and Mississippi River steamboat captain. Murphy owned and developed much of the land in the Cedar-Riverside Neighborhood. He platted this land in 1857 as "Murphy’s Addition."  

The building is a very good example of the Italianate architectural style. It has molded window hoods, segmental arch openings, and wide bracketed eaves. These are common features of the Italianate style. This style was popular in Minneapolis from about 1855 to 1885.  

The early history of the home can't be confirmed at this time. Experts know the property had many tenants thought its history. It was used as immigrant housing and student rooming for Augsburg Seminary. The property was moved to Nicollet Island in 1988. A total of five houses were moved to Nicollet Island around this time. 

Photo credit

1980 photo: Courtesy of the Hennepin County Library 

Work cited

• Murphy House designation files  
• Star Tribune archives