Foshay Tower

Was it hubris that drove Wilbur Foshay to build his namesake tower, the Foshay Tower? Here we stand before this magnificent Art Deco skyscraper, a testament to both Foshay’s ambition and the roaring twenties. The Foshay Tower, completed in 1929, was Minneapolis’s tallest building for over 40 years, a symbol of the city’s progress and prosperity. It was even promoted as “the best address in the Northwest”. Inspired by the Washington Monument, Foshay spared no expense in its construction. He envisioned his corporate empire housed within its 32 stories, a grand testament to his success. The opening celebration was a lavish affair, a three-day extravaganza. John Philip Sousa, commissioned to compose a march specifically for the occasion, led the band. The “Foshay Tower Washington Memorial March” filled the air, a melody echoing the optimism of the era. The guest list included dignitaries from across the nation, their travel expenses covered by Foshay himself. Each received a commemorative gold pocket watch, a glittering symbol of Foshay’s apparent wealth. But the Foshay Tower’s story takes a dramatic turn. Just weeks after the grand opening, the stock market crashed. Foshay’s carefully constructed empire crumbled. His check to Sousa bounced, a small but poignant detail in the unfolding tragedy. Foshay never occupied his luxurious apartment within the tower, its gold-plated faucets unused. He faced charges of mail fraud and ultimately served time in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary. The Foshay Tower, however, endured. It became a beloved Minneapolis landmark, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It stands as a reminder of a bygone era, a symbol of both ambition and the fragility of fortune. Today, the Foshay Tower has been reborn as a luxury hotel. Though no longer the tallest building in the Minneapolis skyline, it continues to captivate. Its story, etched in marble and bronze, is a poignant reminder of the dreams and aspirations that shaped this city.