Docomomo US/MN, 4157 W Broadway Ave N, Robbinsdale, MN (2026)

04/07/2026

Join Docomomo US/MN on Saturday, May 2 for a day celebrating and showcasing Modernism in Southern Minnesota.

Tickets now on sale via Eventbrite! Link in bio.

Docomomo US/MN is excited for our inaugural regional bus tour, heading to Mankato + St. Peter. Get ready for an action-packed day, touring seven Modernist homes and a Modernist church.

The motor coach will depart promptly at 8:00am from the Ridgedale Library, where you will be greeted with coffee + Cardigan Donuts. Tickets also include a picnic lunch and a reception with refreshments and light bites at the last stop.

Tickets:
Docomomo US/MN Members: $135
General Admission: $160

Link in bio.

04/07/2026

Docomomo US/MN is collaborating with the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) on Thursday, April 9 for a presentation about the development of midcentury commercial architecture in Golden Valley and how the arrival of commerce and industry helped transform Golden Valley from village to city to a formidable first-ring suburb of the Twin Cities.

Along with photos and well-researched anecdotes, guest speaker Bobak Ha’Eri, creator of the award-winning Minnesota Modern Registry, will introduce you to the companies, issues, and unique perspectives that drove post-war commercial development of this city.

The presentation will highlight the General Mills Headquarters Campus (1956-58); G.H. Tennant Co. (1956-57); Honeywell / Resideo (1956/1982) Midwest Federal Savings and Loan (1964); Heilicher Bros., Inc. building (1964-65); Minneapolis Clinic of Psychiatry and Neurology (1967-68); Valley Square Professional Building (1973); and many others.

The “How Mid-Century Commercial Architecture Helped Transform Golden Valley” illustrated talk, followed by a question-and-answer session, begins at 7 pm at the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS),
6731 Golden Valley Road,
Golden Valley, MN 55427

The event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.

The Golden Valley History Museum (same address) will be open from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, prior to the program.

02/24/2026

This week – Two home tours!
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MEMBERS ONLY Pop-Up Tour: Mid-Century Modern on Summit Avenue. Thursday, February 26, 2026; 4:30pm-6:30pm. Presented in Partnership with MNSAH.

Join Docomomo US/MN and the Minnesota Society of Architectural Historians (MNSAH) for a look inside one of the only Mid-Century Modern houses on Saint Paul’s historic Summit Avenue.

This tour is FREE for current members of Docomomo US/MN and MNSAH.

Photos Courtesy The Intuitive Group
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Mid Mod Marvel: Magnificent Moderne. Sunday, March 1, 2026; Noon-2pm. Lake Phalen, Saint Paul.

Join Docomomo US/MN to tour a Modernist home, the P.G. Seaholm House, built in 1947 on the shores of Lake Phalen. This Streamline Moderne, an architectural style that is relatively rare in Minnesota, is striking and unique.

General admission tickets: $10
Docomomo US/MN members: FREE (registration is required).

Photos Courtesy Anderson Realty
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LINK IN BIO!

01/19/2026

Mid Mod Marvel: Positively Pristine Polivka. Sunday, January 25, 2026; 11am-1pm.

Join Docomomo US/MN for a pop-up tour of this 1956 house by architect John Polivka.

This California coastal-style home sits on the shores of Gleason Lake in Plymouth, with direct access to the Luce Line State Trail. Low, sprawling, converging gable rooflines and deep overhanging eaves sit on a concrete masonry unit foundation, sited and oriented to maximize lake views and privacy. The interior has vaulted wooden ceilings and central limestone fireplaces. The current owner grew up visiting the home, and purchased it from the second owners in 2022.

The house is furnished with impressive, period-appropriate Danish teak pieces, in addition to mid-century furnishings by notable designers that have been brought back to life with vibrant upholsteries. The art and objects in the house have also been painstakingly selected to accentuate the original character of the home.

In-Person (self-guided) Tour: Sunday, January 25, 2026; Guests must choose an entry time upon registration:
11:00am
11:40am
12:20pm

General admission tickets: $10
Docomomo US/MN members: FREE (registration is required).

Link in bio.

01/08/2026

Join us for a special evening celebrating the legacy of Eileen Gray, one of modernism’s most visionary and underrecognized figures.

Docomomo US/MN presents “E.1027: Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea,” a powerful documentary exploring Gray’s iconic house on the French Riviera and the enduring questions of authorship, equity, and preservation.

The program includes:
• Architecture phone photography tips with Eric Mueller
• Prerecorded film conversation with director Beatrice Minger and independent film curator Sheryl Mousley
• Feature film screening

Thursday, January 29, 2026
FilmNorth, St. Paul, Free Parking
Members $5 | Non-members $7

We hope you will join us for this thoughtful and inspiring evening.

Link in bio!

11/18/2025

Don’t miss our Very Merry Mod Mixer at Golden Age Design in Robbinsdale THIS THURSDAY, November 20th from 6-8pm. It’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season and shop small for everyone on your list - both naughty and nice!

Golden Age has an incredible selection of vintage Scandinavian furniture and the perfect accessories and gifts for all the MCM lovers in your life. Plus, they are offering a discount of 10% for the evening and will be donating 10% of all purchases during the event to Docomomo US/MN. Win-win.

Bekah Worley will be joining us as well! Bekah is the featured artist for the Docomomo US/MN 2025 merch collaboration – which will all be available at the event. She will also be hosting a mini-pop up shop of some of her other work. Don’t miss it!

Did someone say “Raffle”? You betcha. All Docomomo US/MN Members at the event will receive one free raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets will be sold for $5 each, or 5 for $20. Fabulous prizes include donations from the following:

Bekah Worley
Cardigan Donuts
Cocoa Flake Chocolate Shop
Docomomo US/MN
Fly Vintage & Vinyl
Golden Age Design
Pig Ate my Pizza
Peter Barile / Anderson Realty
& Salon Halo

THANK YOU donors for your generosity!

Throughout the evening, we will enjoy complementary food, drinks, and sweets by local eateries Pig Ate My Pizza + Nouvelle Brewery and Cardigan Donuts. Plus endless merriness and good vibes.

Time + Date:
Thursday, November 20th, 2025 from 6-8pm

Golden Age Design
4157 W Broadway
Robbinsdale, MN 55422

The event is free to attend, but please RSVP (link in bio) so we know how many to expect. We may need the elves to work overtime if this turns out to be total banger. We hope to see you there. Cheers!
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11/10/2025

Please join Docomomo US/MN for a Very Merry Mod Mixer at Golden Age Design in Robbinsdale on Thursday, November 20th from 6-8pm. It’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season and shop small for everyone on your list - both naughty and nice!

Golden Age Design
Golden Age has an incredible selection of vintage Scandinavian furniture and the perfect accessories and gifts for all the MCM lovers in your life. Plus, they are offering a discount of 10% for the evening and will be donating 10% of all purchases during the event to Docomomo US/MN. Win-win.

Artist Bekah Worley
Bekah Worley will be joining us as well! Bekah is the featured artist for the Docomomo US/MN 2025 merch collaboration – which will all be available at the event. She will also be hosting a mini-pop up shop of some of her other work. Don’t miss it!

Did someone say “Raffle”? You betcha. All Docomomo US/MN Members at the event will receive one free raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets will be sold for $5 each or 5 for $20. Fabulous prizes include: Docomomo US/MN merch, a Golden Age Design gift basket, a Bekah Worley print, and gift cards from local businesses.

Throughout the evening, we will enjoy drinks and food from a local restaurant and brewery plus endless merriness and good vibes. 🎄🥂

Time + Date:
Thursday, November 20th, 2025 from 6-8pm

Golden Age Design
4157 W Broadway
Robbinsdale, MN 55422

The event is free to attend, but please RSVP (link in bio) so we know how many to expect. We may need the elves to work overtime if this turns out to be total banger. We hope to see you there. Cheers!
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10/27/2025

Join Docomomo US/MN and for a lecture by Bobak Ha’Eri, “Modernist Monuments: Minneapolis Post-War Places of Worship.”

Minneapolis became a hotbed of modernist religious architecture in the years after World War II. This talk explains the rise of modernism and its arrival in Minnesota, and how it expressed itself through places of worship across the city with illustrated slides and energetic conversation.

Bobak Ha’Eri is a board member of Docomomo US/MN where he created and researches the award-winning Minnesota Modern Registry and is an expert on the history of Modernism in Minnesota.

This event is part of a month-long series of events dedicated to the 2025 Docomomo US Advocacy Theme, Places of Worship.

Date: Monday, October 27, 2025
Time: 6:30pm
FREE but registration is encouraged; Donations accepted at the door. LINK IN BIO.

Location: First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
900 Mt Curve Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55403

Arriving at First Unitarian Society: The building is fully accessible. Wheelchair access is available from both the Mount Curve entry and the Groveland entry, although the Groveland ramp is considerably longer. The building features elevator service to all three floors. The Upper Assembly Hall has an assisted hearing device system available.

More information on Parking and Directions and Accessibility are available from First Unitarian Society at their website.
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About Preserve Minneapolis
Preserve Minneapolis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and celebrating the city’s historic architectural and cultural heritage. Through walking tours, public programs, digital storytelling, and advocacy efforts, the group connects people with the places that shape Minneapolis’ identity. From humble beginnings to a vibrant community-driven movement, Preserve Minneapolis continues to educate, inspire, and preserve the city’s unique built environment for generations to come.

10/20/2025

Join Docomomo US/MN to tour The Dorset Road House, a home built in 1956 by Architects Thorshov & Cerny.

The Dorset Road House is a striking example of postwar modern residential design. Conceived by Minneapolis architects Thorshov & Cerny, the plan was first published in Better Homes & Gardens (September 1953) and later included in Reinhold’s Quality Budget Houses (1954). Only two houses using this plan were built in the Twin Cities; this is the second, constructed in 1956.

The original version - the Jensen Residence in Minnetonka (1949) - has been altered over time. By contrast, the Dorset Road House preserves the architects’ vision more closely. Designed for a couple “constantly on the go,” the plan emphasized low maintenance, crisp detailing, and an intimate connection with nature.

Heidi and Scott Swank, the home’s fourth owners, purchased the property in 2021 and have undertaken careful restorations in the spirit of Thorshov & Cerny’s original intent.

The house is located in Mendota Heights, and remains a vivid expression of how mid-century modernism sought to blend natural materials, efficient planning, and openness to the outdoors. It is a quiet marvel nestled into its wooded setting.

If you are interested in how this home was bestowed with its unique house number, just ask Heidi. She loves to tell the story.

In-Person (self-guided) Tour:
Thursday, October 23, 2025; 5:30-7:30pm

Transportation is on your own, or with a friend or two!

General admission tickets: $7
Docomomo US/MN members: FREE* (registration is required)

Link in bio!

10/11/2025

Join Docomomo US/MN tomorrow, Saturday, October 11 for in-person site visits across the Twin Cities to Places of Worship designed during the mid 20th century. Tickets are free for all tour locations, open to all. Link in bio.

Locations and Tour Times -
Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis. 1959-61 | Open House; 10am – 11:30am

Designed by the architectural firm of Sovik, Mathre & Associates, the church has concrete side columns shaped like elongated diamonds; St. Olaf College Prof. Arnold Flaaten created relief panels in the chancel depicting Biblical themes.

St. Columba Catholic Church, St. Paul. 1948-50 | Open House; 11:30am - 1pm
Barry Bryne began his career working in the Prairie Style, before developing his own more simplified approach to form after WWI, implementing the Expressionist Style. The parish pastor Michael Casey insisted that the bell tower of the new church be built to look like an Irish round tower; per a contemporaneous report in The Minneapolis Star, “... it would combine the ancient and modern, recall the youth of the church’s patron saint, St. Columba, who played at the foot of such a tower in Ireland.”

Mount Zion Temple, St. Paul. 1952-54 | Guided Tour; Beginning Promptly at 1:30pm
Designed by Erich Mendelsohn and completed after the architect’s death, the design is filled with symbolism: The towers of sanctuary and chapel rise to denote “the aspiration of worship.” One tower has a double-tablet symbolic of the Ten Commandments, the other has a Menorah.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, New Brighton. 1967-68 | Guided Tour; Beginning Promptly at 3pm. Abstract lecture by Mary Dahlman Smith; 3:45pm

This Late Modern church was designed by Shifflet, Hutchison & Associates, with liturgical consultant Frank Kacmarcik. Strong design with powerful brick walls, the nave seats 1,400. Congregation established in 1902 the current complex began with the 2-story school at the northern end, finished in 1952. A large 1955 addition included a 500-seat auditorium which served as the parish church until the 1968 structure was completed.

10/02/2025

Going, going, gone! The Oskam House
Thursday, October 9, 2025, Edina, MN.
Entry Times: 4:30pm, 5:15pm, 6pm

Registration is now open! Link in bio.

Join Docomomo US/MN for an opportunity to see a 1963 Close Associates home still occupied by its commissioning client.

The Marri and Hendrik Oskam House is a rare, pristine example of the residential designs of Elizabeth “Lisl” Scheu Close, an acclaimed modern architect and cofounder of the first architectural firm in Minnesota dedicated to modern design. The house has been meticulously maintained for six decades by its original owners.

The Oskam residence is the only modern house in the city of Edina to have been designated an Edina Heritage Landmark. In 2025, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its significance as the “work of a master,” that master being Elizabeth Scheu Close.

Docomomo US/MN

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11/18/2025

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