Homes MSP Real Estate Blog: Museums & Churches

Museums & Churches

January 29, 2012

Onion domes in Minnesota

My head turned as I drove past the striking St. Katherine Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Arden Hills when I was out showing houses yesterday. One of only two Ukranian Orthodox parishes in Minnesota according to the website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, St. Katherine's celebrated its 60th anniversary last year. Its current structure was built in 1996.

Although I know it's there, it always surprises me when I see this distinctive Russian church in Minnesota where this style of church architecture is rare... after all, the Twin Cities have been jokingly called the Vatican of the Lutheran Church so our dominant style of church architecture is very different.

With 36.7% of Minnesotans of German ancestry, 17.2% Norwegian and 9.9% Swedish it isn't surprising that 6 of 10 Minnesotans are Lutheran. Worldwide, the Eastern Orthodox religious tradition is second only to that of the Roman Catholic Church. In the Ukraine, 80% are of the Eastern Orthodox faith.

While the long narrow style basilica style of public buildings became the church building style of Western Christianity, the Eastern Orthodox religion adopted the more compact style of pagan tombs. My understanding is that five domes, as in this church, symbolize Jesus Christ and the four evangelists, and the distinctive onion style of the domes was developed to prevent snow from accumulating on them... hmmm, sounds like this could work for Minnesota as well...

When I visited orthodox churches in Russia and Bulgaria I was surprised to find the congregation standing throughout the entire worship service... there were no seats to be found. Services were also sung almost in their entirety with no instrumental accompaniment... supposedly because they see the human voice as the most perfect instrument of praise.

The orthodox cross adds two additional bars to the traditional one bar cross found in the Western Christian tradition... the upper one representing the plaque hung over Christ's head, the middle bar the beam on which his wrists or palms were nailed (same as in Western Christianity), and the bottom bar the footrest where it is believed his feet were nailed.

Interested in what's for sale in Arden Hills around this striking church on County Road 96 just east of US Highway 10? I encountered a neighbor out running with his dogs through the grounds when I stopped yesterday. Current average list price in this neighborhood is $381,382.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Arden Hills Realtor

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January 22, 2012

Why is there an umbrella by the altar at the Basilica of St. Mary?

When a small vocal group I am part of sang at the Basilia of St. Mary in Minneapolis last week someone asked me why there was an umbrella next to the altar. As a lover of architecture, and especially church architecture and history, it's a question I have been asked several times before so thought it was worth an explanation.

In ancient Rome public buildings used for assemblies and the administration of justice were called basilicas... buildings built in the shape of a rectangle with a central aisle down the middle. So a basilica was originally an architectural form, with its name derived from the Greek basileus, meaning king.

When Rome was Christianized a lot of these public basilicas were converted into churches, and the raised platform formerly occupied by a judge became the place of the high altar.

Along with converting the building, the Roman Catholic Church also converted the term basilica... to designate a church with special distinction, which must be designated by the pope himself. Used in this liturgical sense, the term 'basilica' has nothing to do with architectural style, size or anitquity of the church... it designates high rank, and highest expectations regarding the celebration of the liturgy and liturgical education.

The conopaieum, or red and yellow silk 'umbrella', as well as a coat of arms and symbols on the doors are trappings indicating the church's ''Basilica-ness'. I would guess the water symbol on the bottom of St. Mary's coat of arms below is in reference to Minneapolis, 'City of Lakes'.

The Basilica of St. Mary holds the distinction of being the first church in the United States to be designated a Basilica... so named by Pope Pius XI in 1926. As of 2008 there were 68 Roman Catholic Basilicas in the United States.

It is easy to get so swept up in the grandeur of this stunning example of Beaux Arts architecture that you are surprised when you see a quirky red and yellow parasole next to the main altar and wonder what it is doing there... now you know.

Next time you see the magnificent dome and towers of the Basilica of St. Mary piercing the skyline at Hennepin Avenue between 16th & 17th Streets on the edge of downtown Minneapolis near Loring Park... take a walk inside and scope out the umbrella by the altar. Maybe you can help clear someone else's puzzled look.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis Realtor

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December 11, 2011

Winterlights at the Purcell Cutts House, masterpiece of Prairie School architecture

On a narrow lot on a short, quiet street near Lake of the Isles sits one of the most significant examples of Prairie School architecture in the country... the Purcell-Cutts House, designed and built by William Gray Purcell and George Grant Elmslie in 1913.

Purcell cutts1

Now decorated for the holidays, this gem is open for tours on Saturdays and Sundays through January 1, 2012. The Purcell-Cutts House is located at 2328 Lake Place, Minneapolis, MN 55405.

During the rest of the year it is open the second weekend of the month. If that doesn't fit your schedule consider a private tour. We brought a small group of 8 for a private tour this week and it was a real treat! Uncrowded and docent-led, I was surprised to discover how affordable it was and how easy it was to schedule... I highly recommend it!

It is hard to imagine now how revolutionary this design was when it was built nearly 100 years ago. William Purcell had worked alongside Frank Lloyd Wright and George Elmslie in Chicago under Louis Sullivan, who has been called the father of modernism.

When Purcell moved to Minneapolis he specifically chose a narrow city lot overlooking Lake of the Isles to build his home that was in sharp contrast to the revival style homes popular at that time. With an open living area 50 feet long adaptable for multiple uses, this was the forerunner of today's open floor plans... except for the kitchen, which was not to be seen!!

In his own words...

In so far as the house represents a departure from customary forms it does so because in designing it a conscious attempt has been made to first establish a real modern American family life, and then give it expression in real forms. This is indeed a departure.

Its open spaces make it feel more spacious than its modest size of about 2400 sq ft, and its 500 leaded art glass windows give it the feeling of a glass jewel box. Purcell did the architectural design and invited his friend Elmslie from Chicago to do the detail design work, including the windows, stenciling, built-ins and furniture which flow through the entire home in a unified design.

It's easy to miss this house as you drive down this street in spite of its unique design because of its setting on the lot. Another indication of how carefully Purcell considered every part of the design and its relationship to its surroundings, he situated the house back about 30 feet from the street so windows faced the neighbors' backyard gardens instead of their houses.

The Purcell family only lived in Minneapolis a short time, and when they sold the house in 1919 it was purchased by Anson and Edna Cutts, who lived in it for 66 years. They realized the architectural significance of the house and made virtually no changes except for adding a detached garage. The Purcell-Cutts House was bequeathed to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in 1985 and after restoration work it has been open for public tours since 1990. They welcome visitors from throughout the world.

Located in the prestigious East Isles neighborhood of Minneapolis nestled between the east shore of Lake of the Isles and Hennepin Avenue north of Lake Street, neighborhood homes average $628,633. See homes for sale in East Isles, Minneapolis, MN.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis Realtor

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November 13, 2011

One-of-a-kind museum on the shores of Lake Calhoun

Lake Calhoun is the largest of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, and a popular destination for walkers, joggers, bikers and joy riders... a great place to see the city skyline, people watch and enjoy the elegant homes surrounding the lake.

The West Calhoun neighborhood of Minneapolis is home of the Minikahda Club, the oldest country club west of the Mississippi River.

It is also home of the only museum and library in the world dedicated primarily to medical electricity... the Bakken Museum, located in West Winds mansion on the west shore of Lake Calhoun.

Named for Earl Bakken, developer of the first pacemaker and co-founder of Medtronic, Bakken started collecting old electric medical machines and books in 1969. When he outgrew storage space, he purchased the West Winds mansion on the west shore of Lake Calhoun in 1976... where it has continued to grow as an educational destination for both scholars and young people.

The Bakken still has the feel of a fascinating old mansion, the perfect setting for 'Dr. Frankenstein's Laboratory' with a 12-minute multi-media show that brings Dr. Frankenstein's monster to life.

Today educational programming plays a prominent role in the museum. Their school and youth programs include extensive outreach, field trip and science theater programs... Lego robotics, Inventor's Club and summer science camps.

The building fits in so well with its neighbors that you might not even realize it is a museum as you pass by on your journey around the lake.

Current average home price in this neighborhood is $457,889... see homes currently for sale around Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Minneapolis Realtor

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September 11, 2011

Remembering 9/11 at the Basilica

"This will be our response to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before." ~ Leonard Bernstein

September 11, 2001 was a day indelibly inscribed in our minds... changing the world as we knew it and shaping our thoughts, our actions, and our culture.

Like most people, I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. I was with my mother in Indiana when the nightmare started unfolding, getting ready to head to the airport and back home after a week visting my mother's sister and twin brother. We had a rental car, so ended up driving back to Minnesota and North Dakota, figuring it could take days before we could travel by air. It was a journey of shock and mourning... and now it is already 10 years later.

Music and the arts have a unique way of uniting peoples and cultures and we have both in abundance in the Twin Cities. Last night the Minneapolis Downtown Interfaith Community drew together to perform Songs of Hope in a concert service of remembrance and hope. Hope for peace. Hope for the future.

The beautiful Basilica of St. Mary, the first basilica in the United States, was a fitting setting for this moving service that included Leonard Bernstein's stunning Chichester Psalms, as well as readings and prayers from the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Universalist traditions.

At the end of the moving concert everyone's candles were lit as the youth choir sang "Every face is in you..." Then we all left the cathedral carrying our lighted candles, carrying the light "out into a world that has been shrouded in the darkness of fear, ignorance and intolerance."

Today every corner of state will stop to remember, including a gathering on the Capitol grounds from 2 to 4 and a Civic Commemoration and Memorial Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul at 4:30 and 5:00.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - HomesMSP.com

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April 24, 2011

Our Lady of Lourdes... oldest continuously used church in Minneapolis

The city of Minneapolis started along the riverfront at St. Anthony Falls... with Minneapolis on one side and St. Anthony on the other. Today Main Street along the riverfront in the St. Anthony Falls historic district is the oldest street in the city. Perched on the bank behind St. Anthony Main is Our Lady of Lourdes, the oldest continuously used church in the city of Minneapolis.

The original building was constructed of native limestone in the form of a Greek temple by the First Universalist Society between 1854 and 1857. Twenty years later, in 1877, it was purchased by the Catholic French Canadian community and it was expanded and renovated in the Gothic Revival style. This community has worshipped here continuously since that time.

It almost closed in 1968, but instead started undergoing restoration work as the city re-developed around it. Today parishioners come from many surrounding suburbs and neighborhoods of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

This area is often called the birthplace of Minneapolis, and it has seen re-birth with many condo developments in the area looking across the river to what is now downtown Minneapolis. The area is sometimes referred to as NeHe, referring to Northeast Hennepin.

Click here to see condos, lofts and other homes currently for sale in the area Our Lady of Lourdes in Minneapolis, MN. (Please be patient while the link searches for the most current listings...pass your cursor over the dots on the map or scroll down for property information.)

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis Realtor

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November 21, 2010

Sunday's Site - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul

Minnesota Children's Museum, which has been 'sparking children's learning through play' since 1981, is a hands-on blast of discovery for kids 6 months to 10 years.

We visited recently and our grandson was busy exploring for hours...

... including visiting Japan, building with a crane, creating a music video, climbing the giant anthill, and creative interactive play. With 65,000 sq ft and both permanent and traveling exhibits there is enough variety to spark any child's imagination... inviting them to 'please touch'!

With the holidays coming up, it's a great family destination for visitors and locals alike with young children. Plan to spend 2-3 hours... and the World Trade Center parking ramp kitty-korner from the museum just happens to have a special 3-hour parking rate for museum visitors. Check hours and rates before you go (they offer a AAA discount)... closed Mondays.

The Minnesota Children's Museum is located in downtown St. Paul, not far from the Science Museum of Minnesota which is the most popular museum in the Upper Midwest all ages... and the Minnesota History Center which is currently featuring an exhibition on chocolate!

You will find condos and loft conversions in the immediate area around the Minnesota Children's Museum, with some newer construction along the riverfront. Nearby Cathedral Hill, home of the St. Paul Cathedral overlooking downtown St. Paul, features some of the most elegant historic homes in the metro area.

Click here to see homes currently for sale in downtown St. Paul around the Minnesota Children's Museum at 10 West 7th Street in downtown St. Paul, MN and nearby areas. Please be patient while the link searches for the most current listings... click on the map to zoom in until you see icons on the dots, then pass your cursor over them for property information, click for property details.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - St. Paul Realtor

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September 12, 2010

Sunday's Site - Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

NOTE: see the bottom of Sunday's Site posts for homes for sale in the area

One of the Twin Cities' real treasures is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, home of the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry designed by husband and wife team Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.

A unique collaboration of Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, this 11-acre urban garden is one of the largest in the country and has more than 40 works of art on permanent display... and it is totally free for anyone to enjoy!

The garden is next to the Walker Art Center, and is joined to Loring Park by the Irene Hixon Whitney pedestrian bridge designed by Siah Armajani spanning 16 lanes of traffic. Don't miss looking up to read the poem by John Ashbery commissioned for the work as you cross from either side.

On the other side of the park is the conservatory with the giant glass fish designed by Frank Gehry, who also designed one of Minneapolis' other famed landmarks, the distinctive Weissman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota.

If you visit during our 'warmer' seasons, don't miss standing under the trees past the spoon bridge and listening to Pierre Huyghe's incredible installation of 47 sets of wind chimes containing every note in the score of John Cage’s Dream (1948).

It is easy to be so enamored with the famous spoonbridge that you miss the many other treasures of this unique park. It is one of our grandson's favorite places to frolic. Plan about 30 minutes to meander through the front 'rooms', then stroll through the park past the spoonbridge down to the trellis garden at the far end for a mini retreat in the heart of the city.

Always free, the park is open daily 6 am to midnight on Vineland Place across from the Walker Art Center.

Click here to see homes currently for sale in the area around the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Please be patient while the link searches for the most current listings...click on the map to zoom in until you see icons on the dots, then pass your cursor over them for property information, click for property details.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis Realtor

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August 15, 2010

Sunday's Site - Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis

NOTE: see the bottom of Sunday's Site posts for homes for sale in the area

One of my favorite sites, the distinctive Weisman Art Museum is one of the Twin Cities' most recognized landmarks. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, it is currently undergoing an expansion which will be completed in October 2011.

I love this building both inside and out... I always feel like I have taken a mini vacation when I visit. A teaching museum of the University of Minnesota, its collection features early 20th century and contemporary art, including Georgia O'Keefe's well-known 'Oriental Poppies'.

Sparkling in the sunlight from its perch on the east bank of the Mississippi River, you can get a rush just driving by... and the approach across the Washington Avenue walking bridge uniting the east and west banks of the University campus is stunning.

Admission to the Weisman Art Museum is free, closed Mondays... located at 333 East River Road.

Click here to see homes currently for sale in the area around the museum on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Please be patient while the link searches for the most current listings...click on the map to zoom in until you see icons on the dots, then pass your cursor over them for property information, click for property details.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis Realtor

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April 11, 2010

Sunday's Site - American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis

NOTE: see the bottom of Sunday's Site posts for homes for sale in the area

The American Swedish Institute is a museum, education and research organization housed in a stunning turn-of-the-century mansion completed in 1908 for Swedish immigrants Swan and Christina Turnblad.

It seems hard to imagine building this 33-room castle-like mansion as a home for a small family with only one child and modest social ambitions. When Turnblad donated the property to establish the "American Institute for Swedish Arts, Literature and Science" in 1929 it made sense... it had been his plan from the beginning.

Swan Turnblad's family was part of the wave of 150,000 Swedish immigrants who came to the US between 1861 and 1881, fleeing their homeland because of sweeping famine due to an exploding population and scarce tillable land. His family settled in a small community in southern Minnesota, but he was not content to continue in the family farming tradition and moved to Minneapolis. There he lived a rags-to-riches story publishing a Swedish newspaper.

Today, the Turnblad mansion is a blend of period rooms and exhibit galleries which showcase art and and artifacts from the American Swedish Institute's permanent collection as well as special exhibits, many of which come directly from Sweden. A magnificent mahogany two-story fireplace is the focal point of the majestic Grand Hall, and 11 distinctive porcelain tile stoves (kakelugnar) are found throughout the mansion.

When I stopped by on Friday it was a busy afternoon, with visitors coming and going the whole time I was there. The current exhibit, 17 Swedish Designers, runs through the end of May and features the work of contemporary Swedish designers... all young, progressive women spanning a wide variety of design fields including glass, ceramics, textiles, architecture, furniture, industrial design, interior design and graphic design. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 12-4 (Wednesday until 8) and Sunday 1-5.

Click here to see homes currently for sale in the area near the American Swedish Institute at 2600 Park Avenue in south Minneapolis, MN. Please be patient while the link searches for the most current listings...click on the map to zoom in until you see icons on the dots, then pass your cursor over them for property information, click for property details.