Tomorrow, as part of the Aquatennial events, the 50th floor will be reopen to the public from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Marquette Hotel recently renovated the area and christened it Windows on Minnesota and will be hosting the free event. There will be an ice cream social featuring Bridgeman's ice cream cones for a dime with the proceeds going to the March of Dimes. Other events will include a unique coin exhibit and a chance to register to win a 69-piece collection of U.S. quarters.
As many times as I was at the top of the IDS (okay, really a floor from the top of the IDS), I have never seen the City of Minneapolis from that vantage point in the daylight. Since I can see the IDS from 35W heading north when I reach around County Road 50, I am going to guess that I will be able to see to Burnsville and beyond.
There was an interesting panoramic aerial photo of the Twin Cities (from the 30's I would guess) as you entered the special collections area at the old Downtown library that showed the streetcar lines from White Bear Lake and Stillwater to Minnetonka and Shakopee. I am guessing that this is what the view from the 50th floor during the daytime will look like. I'll know by the time I leave tomorrow afternoon.
I also remember thinking about the express elevator that goes from street level to the 50th floor in what seemed like a very short time. But the ride was remarkably smooth, not like a Valley Fair ride. I remember wondering how the elevator worked- was it cables (imagine how long those cables would have to be) or was it hydraulics (imagine how large the oil reservoir would have to be). Does anyone know how elevators in Minneapolis' skyscrapes work?
Bring the kids- this may be a rare opportunity to get this view of Minneapolis any time in the near future.
Ron Lischeid Windom
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