Minneapolis has a combination of history and architecture that should be celebrated. This year, a new event made that possible all in one weekend.
Doors Open launched in May 2019 and offered our community a chance to see some of Minneapolis’ most iconic locations behind the scenes. This free event, which took place May 18-19, quite literally opened the doors to buildings and landmarks that are otherwise closed.
The event provided a community engagement experience that not only generated a lot of interest in Minneapolis but brought thousands of visitors downtown. As a result, Doors Open Minneapolis was selected as a mpls downtown council 2025 plan leadership award. It will be recognized on Oct. 1 at the mpls downtown council annual gala.
The initiative was spearheaded by Mayor Jacob Frey’s office and shed light on Minneapolis in a whole new way. Over the two days, Minneapolis was in the spotlight. Not only did it provide buzz in the media in the weeks leading up to Doors Open weekend, but it was a wildly popular activity on social media.
Some of the locations of note included walking behind the LED lights atop Target Corporation’s headquarters, going inside the Witches Hat Tower at Prospect Park, touring the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, getting a first-hand look at the Scottish Right Masonic Center and more.
In total, the event featured 112 venues throughout Minneapolis and welcomed 17,841 unique visitors, 71,687 total visits and 1,340 volunteers. It also garnered 1,429 engagements on Instagram and 1,040 submissions for a social media contest which offered a chance to be the featured image for the 2020 event. Doors Open provided a chance for the community to come out and not only explore but also celebrate Minneapolis.
Click here for more information on the 2025 plan.
