A Sense of Place
Building portraits that invite you to slow down and look more closely at the structures that quietly shape our sense of place
A downtown Saint Paul institution dating back over 90 years of ownership by the same family, the Gopher opened during prohibition as the Gopher Cafe before transitioning to the Gopher Bar in 1933 when liquor licenses were (thankfully) available again.
I think we can safely call the Gopher a “dive” bar in the best way possible; an unfussy decor, “neighborhood joint” feel, and determined resistance to modern changes (cash only!). Famous for the Coney Island hot dogs that have been feeding cops, firefighters and locals for years, don’t sleep on the other tasty and maybe surprising items on the menu; last time there they had ramen (delicious) and I hear now there is an eggroll section on the menu (Reuben, taco, Philly cheesesteak and stuffed green peppers).
Museum-quality print made on thick matte paper.
• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%
• Paper is sourced from Japan
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Built in 1883 by railroad tycoon James J Hill for his Great Northern Railway, the Stone Arch Bridge brought his trains from the eastern U.S. over the Mississippi river and into Minneapolis. It's the only arched bridge made of stone on the entire Mississippi river. Currently it's a pedestrian and bicycle bridge, one of the most popular sightseeing locations on the Minneapolis riverfront because of its expansive views of the Mississippi river and the St Anthony Falls.
Museum-quality print made on thick matte paper.
• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%
• Paper is sourced from Japan
On a riverfront full of iconic signs, this is surely the most popular; the Grain Belt Beer bottle cap sign. It's been mentioned in popular song and has several social media accounts, including Twitter and Facebook, and adorns everything from T-shirts, ball caps, tote bags, coasters and even pillows.
50 feet wide and built in 1941, it originally sat atop the Merigold ballroom about 13 blocks away on the west end of downtown Minneapolis before being moved to it's current location on the riverfront alongside the heavily trafficked Hennepin Avenue bridge in 1950. Its a real survivor considering it has withstood decades of Minnesota winters, the bankruptcy and sale (twice) of its namesake company and even periods where the beer itself was not being produced and the sign went dark. The sign has been restored and re-lit three separate times, the last time replacing its incandescent bulbs with neon in 2017.
Museum-quality print made on thick matte paper.
• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%
• Paper is sourced from Japan
Split Rock Lighthouse, an iconic North Shore Minnesota site. Built in 1910 and decommissioned in 1969, it's light was visible over Lake Superior for 22 miles. Up until the mid-1920s it was only accessible by water so it was a very remote location for its keepers. Think of the movie "The Lighthouse"….
Museum-quality print made on thick matte paper.
• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%
• Paper is sourced from Japan
