Wondering about the towering structure before you? That’s The Churchill. This isn’t just another skyscraper in Minneapolis. The Churchill Apartments is a 310-foot testament to modern architecture. It reaches 33 stories high.
Completed in 1981, The Churchill is the 38th-tallest building in the city. Architect John Black and the firm of Dubin, Dubin, Black & Moutoussamy designed it. McColl-Tribco was the main contractor.
But there’s more to The Churchill than height and design. The opening scene of the movie Young Adult was filmed inside. Various units served as the backdrop for the film.
Now, let’s jump back in time to January 1901. A young Winston Churchill lectured in Minneapolis. It was decades before he led Britain through World War II. At that time, he was only 26. He had recently been elected to Britain’s House of Commons. He was already famous for his daring escape from the Boers in South Africa.
His lecture tour brought him to the Twin Cities. Churchill arrived in Minneapolis on January 18, 1901. He checked into the West Hotel at Fifth and Hennepin. It was the city’s first truly grand hotel.
A reporter from the Minneapolis Tribune interviewed him. It was before Churchill had completed his toilet or bath preparations. Churchill shared his views on the situation in South Africa. The next day’s headline read: Boer Cause Is Hopeless, Says Winston Churchill.
That evening, Churchill lectured at the Lyceum Theater. The sponsoring Teachers’ Club introduced him. He spoke about his experiences with about 100 slides. A magic lantern projected them. It was an early slide projector.
The Minneapolis Journal said the lecture was absorbingly interesting. It said it was unaffected and unhackneyed. The St. Paul Dispatch praised his dry humor. The Dispatch said it was peculiarly American.
After his lecture, Churchill dined with James Young. Young was a successful real estate mogul and bibliophile. Young bet Churchill 100 pounds that the British Empire would lose a quarter of its territory within ten years.
Churchill also visited St. Paul. He lectured at People’s Church. He spoke of Queen Victoria’s rapidly declining health. The St. Paul Pioneer Press noted his remarks.
Before leaving the Twin Cities, Churchill returned to Young’s home. British poet Richard Le Gallienne joined them. They discussed Queen Victoria’s death and its impact on the British Empire.
Not all went smoothly during Churchill’s visit. The family of a British officer he had freed expressed displeasure. Churchill had refused to meet with the officer’s widow.
Despite some negative press, Churchill’s visit left a mark. A St. Paul Dispatch writer saw a special future for him. He predicted Churchill would be a notably good talker in Parliament.
Today, The Churchill stands tall. It is a reminder of Minneapolis’s connection to a towering figure. The Churchill is also a landmark in its own right. It is an iconic piece of the city’s skyline.