Downtown East in Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Did You Notice a Plaque Outside This Entrance?
Photographed By McGhiever, August 4, 2023
1. Did You Notice a Plaque Outside This Entrance? Marker
This arch was the main entrance to the Washburn A Mill. The mill was built in 1879 on the site of the company's first A Mill (constructed in 1874), which was leveled in a flour-dust explosion on May 2, 1878. The plaque honors the memory of 14 Washburn-Crosby employees who died in the accident. Four other people were also killed, and many more were injured by the powerful blast.
The explosion occurred without warning. The mill's roof was blown hundreds of feet in the air, the walls of nearby mills collapsed, and sheets of flame swept the milling district. In a single night, Minneapolis's milling capacity was cut by one-third. Lumberyards, planing mills, a machine shop, a wheat-storage elevator, a railroad roundhouse, and several houses were also destroyed.
The next month, engineer William de la Barre visited Minneapolis for the first time. "It certainly was a memorable, sad sight," he later wrote. "The ruins were smoldering, and a crew of firemen were still on duty. Relic hunters were busy climbing over the debris. Visitors from near and far were daily arriving to obtain a view of the disaster."
Washburn-Crosby employees killed in the 1878 A Mill explosion, The Eventually News, April 28, 1920
Washburn A Mill entrance, from Maria Parloa, Miss Parloa's New Cookbook,
this page online
Erected by Minnesota Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is May 2, 1878.
Location. 44° 58.749′ N, 93° 15.418′ W. Marker is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in Hennepin County. It is in Downtown East. Marker can be reached from West River Parkway east of Portland Avenue, on the right when traveling east. The marker is at Mill City Museum, in the courtyard formed by the ruins of the second Washburn A Mill, which can be accessed for free from West River Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 704 S 2nd Street, Minneapolis MN 55401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Washburn A Mill (here, next to this marker); Washburn Mill "A" Memorial (a few steps from this marker); The West Side Mills (within shouting distance of this marker); A Milling District Timeline (within shouting distance of this marker); What is Urban Archaeology? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Beauty and Nature at the Falls (about 300 feet away); A Changing Landscape (about 400 feet away); Tailrace Skyline (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minneapolis.
Photographed By McGhiever, August 4, 2023
2. Did You Notice a Plaque Outside This Entrance? Marker within Mill City Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 412 times since then and 116 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 27, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
