Amazing Photos Capture Street Scenes of Minneapolis in the 1980s

Minneapolis is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the seat of Hennepin County. It is the 46th most populous city in the US. Seven counties encompassing Minneapolis and its neighbor Saint Paul are known as the Twin Cities.

Minneapolis in the 1980s

Minneapolis lies on both banks of the Mississippi River, just north of the river’s confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Saint Paul, the state’s capital. With one of the nation’s best park systems, the city is abundantly rich in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls, many connected by parkways in the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway.

The city and surrounding region is the largest population and primary business center between Chicago and Seattle. Minneapolis was historically a marketplace for timber, became the flour milling capital of the world, and, to the present day, preserved its financial clout.

Anchoring strong music and performing arts scenes, Minneapolis is home to both the Guthrie Theater and the First Avenue nightclub. Reflecting the region’s status as a center of folk, funk, and alternative rock music, the city was the launching pad for several of the 20th century's most influential musicians, including Bob Dylan and Prince.

These amazing photos were taken by Todd Jacobson that show street scenes of Minneapolis in the 1980s.

North Fourth Street, Downtown Minneapolis, July 1982

6th Street, Minneapolis, May 1983

9th Street, looking towards Hennepin, Downtown Minneapolis, early 1983

900 block of Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, May 1983

Biking along Nicollet Mall, Downtown Minneapolis, spring 1983

Fifth Street, Downtown Minneapolis, early 1983

Nicollet Mall at 10th Street, Minneapolis, May 1983

Nicollet Mall near 10th Street, Minneapolis, June 1983

Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, May 1983

Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, May 1983

Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, May 1983

Old gas station at 3rd Avenue and 10th Street, Downtown Minneapolis. Piper Jaffray Tower under construction, circa 1983 

Sixth Street, Downtown Minneapolis, fall 1983

Uptown Minneapolis, winter 1983 or 1984

7th Street at Amfac Hotel, City Center, Minneapolis, December 1984

7th Street, looking to Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, December 1984

Calhoun Square, Uptown Minneapolis, February 1984

Hotel Leamington, Minneapolis, late 1984

Lake Street from Hennepin Avenue, Uptown Minneapolis, February 1984

Minneapolis skyline from Highway 12 (now I-394) at Penn overpass, circa early 1984

Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 1984

Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, December 1984

Skating at Peavey Plaza, Minneapolis, December 1984

Uptown Minneapolis looking south on Hennepin to Lake Street, February 1984

West Lake Street, Uptown Minneapolis, February 1984

West Lake Street, Uptown Minneapolis, February 1984

First Avenue North, Minneapolis, March 1985

Hennepin Avenue at 5th Street, Minneapolis St Patricks Day, 1985

Looking west from Garfield Ave S, Minneapolis, March 1985

Punks on Hennepin Avenue, in front of Hot Licks/Wax Museum record store, Minneapolis, March 1985

Railroad tracks from Wash Ave Bridge, Warehouse District, Minneapolis, March 1985

Ruins of mill, Minneapolis, March 1985

I-494 twilight, the Bloomington Strip. Minnesota Center UC at right, crane for 8400 Normandale visible in center background, fall 1986

Lincoln Center under construction, Downtown Minneapolis, fall 1986

Nicollet Mall, during construction of The Conservatory (Upscale Retail Mall), Minneapolis, July-August 1986

The Uptown Grill, Hennepin Avenue,, Minneapolis, fall 1986

Uptown Minneapolis, November 1986

Different varieties of love, 10th St & Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, December 1987

First Avenue, Warehouse District, Minneapolis, December 1987

Hennepin Avenue at 10th Street, Minneapolis, December 1987

Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, August 1987

First Avenue North, Minneapolis, December 1988

Hennepin Avenue looking north towards Lake Street, Uptown Minneapolis, October 1988

Nicollet Mall near 4th Street, Minneapolis, December 1988

Washington Avenue North, Warehouse District (North Loop), Minneapolis, December 1988

Hennepin Avenue, north from 27th Street, March 1989

7th Street and 3rd Avenue S, looking at construction site for US Bank Place (now Capella Tower or 225 S 6th St), Minneapolis, October 1989

Dayton's Department Store, 7th and Nicollet, Minneapolis, October 1989

Hennepin Avenue, Uptown Minneapolis, October 1989

Looking south on Nicollet Mall from NSP Plaza at 5th Street, Minneapolis, October 1989

Near Hennepin and Lake, Uptown Minneapolis, October 1989

Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, October 1989

West Lake Street at Irving Ave, Uptown Minneapolis, October 1989

Historic Main Street, Minneapolis, December 1989

Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, December 1989