North Loop in Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Butler Square

1906, 1972, 1980, 2021

— Historic Downtown —

Butler Square Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, June 23, 2024

1. Butler Square Marker

Inscription.

In 1900, T.B. Walker purchased land that once housed the 1,800 seat Athletic Park, home to the Minneapolis Millers and St. Paul Saints. Walker built the 534,241 SF warehouse for Butler Brothers retail business of Douglas Fir timber from Walker's tree farm in northern MN with heavy masonry exterior walls (1906-1908). The Warehouse served as the distribution center and showroom for a nation-wide retail operation.

In 1971, the Butler Brothers Warehouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. After sitting vacant for years, the building underwent two phases of restoration and preservation. In 1972, the warehouse was renamed "Butler Square" with the east half of the building redeveloped into an office-retail complex. In 1980, the western half of Butler Square was redeveloped.

In 2009, Butler Square was the first historic, multi-tenant building in the nation to achieve LEED Certification and continues sustainable practices today. Butler Square connects the core of Minneapolis to the Warehouse District via street and skyway. In 2021, the atrium was renovated providing a contemporary contrast to Butler Square's

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

award-winning, historic architecture, maintaining and highlighting the historic timbers and brick.

Erected by the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 44° 58.786′ N, 93° 16.49′ W. Marker is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in Hennepin County. It is in North Loop. It is at the intersection of N. 1st Avenue and N. 6th Street on N. 1st Avenue. The marker is at the south corner of Butler Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 N 6th Street, Minneapolis MN 55403, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8

Butler Square Marker at the south corner of the building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, June 23, 2024

2. Butler Square Marker at the south corner of the building

other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gluek's Restaurant and Bar (within shouting distance of this marker); Masonic Temple Building (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lumber Exchange Building (about 700 feet away); Wyman Building (about 700 feet away); State Theatre (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named State Theatre (approx. 0.2 miles away); Westminster Presbyterian Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Minneapolis YMCA Central Building (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minneapolis.

Also see . . . Butler Square (QR code on marker). (Submitted on November 28, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

Butler Square from the southeast image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, September 7, 2015

3. Butler Square from the southeast

Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 55 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 28, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.