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Minneapolis and the Age of Railways Don L. Hofsommer |
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The fascinating, intertwined history of the city of Minneapolis and its railways. With the recent revitalization of the Minneapolis Warehouse District and the surge in construction of condominiums and new buildings near the banks of the Mississippi, the landscape of the city seems to change almost daily. Not so long ago, however, this newly desirable area was blanketed by railroads serving the lumber and flour mills and other industries powered by the enormous Falls of St. Anthony. In Minneapolis and the Age of Railways, Don Hofsommer presents Minneapolis from the 1860s into the 1950s, when railroads served as a unique link between city and countryside. Rails carried wheat and helped make Minneapolis the flour milling capital of the world; brought logs to Minneapolis to be processed into lumber that built towns and farms across the prairies; and delivered coal and all manner of manufactured goods and merchandise to Minneapolis, its vast hinterland to the north and west, and beyond to the Rockies and the Pacific, making the growth of America’s northern heartland possible. Railroads also provided efficient, long-distance transportation for hundreds of thousands of people who traveled via Minneapolis. The Milwaukee Road and Great Northern passenger terminals in Minneapolis were vibrant places—the heart of the city—pumping passengers, mail, and express parcels into the nation’s steel-rail cardiovascular system. Illustrated with more than 200 period photographs and maps detailing the city and the tracks that crossed it, this remarkable book reflects a time not so long ago when the locomotive dominated the landscape and set the tempo for the nation—the age of railways. “Although outsiders might not think of railways when they picture Minneapolis, the history of this city is tightly linked to this transportation technology. Illustrations in this large, handsome volume match the energy of the text, with maps, photographs, period advertisements, and other graphics providing a welcome accompaniment.” —Bloomsbury Review “Minneapolis is very fortunate to have respected historian Don L. Hofsommer explore the impact of railroads on the evolving city, and the University of Minnesota Press deserves praise for publishing such an informative and attractive book. This is one of the most attractive marriages of top-notch text and illustrations I have seen produced by any publisher. Minneapolis and the Age of Railways offers something for almost everyone.” —Minnesota History “The book’s 17 vintage maps graphically demonstrate the rails’ evolution over a century. This book is highly recommended to anyone interested in development of the railroads that have served Minneapolis over the last 100 years, as well as to those who are interested in Minnesota history.” —Railfan & Railroad “The author’s talent for conveying the essential issues and outcomes with eloquent characterization is as robost as ever.” —Lexington Quarterly “Not so long ago, trains bustled constantly in and out of Minneapolis, carrying myriad supplies, resources, manufactured goods, and people—but mostly bringing change. Don L. Hofsommer gracefully hearkens back to this formative time in the history of the country and of Minneapolis. This is an intriguing book, rich in historical detail, handsomely featuring more than 200 photographs and related maps.” —Scale Rails “Hofsommer explains how Minneapolis became a prominent industrial hub with railways defining life in the city.” —St. Paul Pioneer Press “A real treat for the history and rail buff.” —The Great Northern Goat “Over 200 period photos and maps cover the city's rail lines, providing a history of railroad property, political and government acts, consolidations, and passenger trends alike. The lively story of Minneapolis and its growth is charted in terms of trends and rail history in a survey which will delight both rail buffs and Minneapolis natives alike.” —Midwest Book Review “This large and impressive book, which is filled with wonderful old photographs.” —Material Culture Don L. Hofsommer is professor of history at St. Cloud State University. He is the author of many books on railroad history, including The Tootin’ Louie, The Hook & Eye, and The Great Northern Railway. 480 pages | 200 halftones, 24 line art, 17 maps | 11 x 9 | October 2005 |
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$39.95 Cloth/jacket