The presence of abundant water bodies has been the reason for Minnesota’s physical and economic well-being. There are over 10,000 lakes in the state in addition to rivers, canals, and streams spanning thousands of miles. If you spot a body of water, it’s a sign that you’re near one of the best urban destinations.
Most of the abandoned places in this state once thrived largely because of their proximity to these water bodies. If you wish to explore such places in Minnesota, make sure you know the basics of the local trespassing laws. Now, let’s take a look at some of the famous abandoned places in the state:
1. Banning Sandstone Quarry
The Banning Sandstone Quarry was once a source of livelihood for hundreds of residents. It was founded in the late 19th century and employed more than 500 workers. They created blocks out of sandstone to be used in the construction industry.
You can see this abandoned quarry’s remains from the Quarry Loop Trail, which follows an old railroad bed. When the quarry business was booming, an increasing number of people opted to settle nearby permanently. This considerable growth in population led to the incorporation of Banning town in 1896.
Within a few years, the use of sandstone declined owing to the new trends in construction. Stronger building materials were being used for construction and the quarry had to shut down completely in 1905. Today, the remains of the abandoned quarry can still be seen.
2. Tanner Hospital
Tanner Hospital lies in a state of disrepair in the city of Ely today. Many of its windows are boarded up or broken out. The ‘For Sale’ signs have been subject to damage over the years and now dangles from the siding. This hospital came up at the beginning of the 20th century. The intention was to combat the rising cases of disease in northern Minnesota.
They were largely the result of the sanitation systems that were inadequate in the mining boomtowns. These towns had quickly sprung up in the area called ‘Iron Range’. Tanner Hospital was a private, for-profit hospital. It had an architecture that was quite unusual for a healthcare facility. It looked more like a fairytale castle with its elaborate masonry and four-story turrets.
The dormers along the roofline and bay windows offered excellent views of the Shagawa Lake for the recovering patients. It got its name in the honor of Anterro Tanner, a pioneering Finnish doctor. A few years later, the hospital got the name Carpenter’s Hospital in the honor of Dr. Carroll Carpenter.
3. ADM Mill
The Dinkytown neighborhood in Minneapolis is home to the shuttered Archer-Daniels-Midland mill or ADM mill. On the side of the concrete towers, you’ll find the faded ‘ADM’ initials. Now they don’t seem important owing to the work of some daring graffiti artists. At the top of the urban monoliths, these artists have painted the words ‘United Crushers’. They’re visible from I-94 and this is the reason why the facility became an unlikely icon.
In recent times, this mill has been under threat from the expansion plans of the University of Minnesota. The structure still stands as a popular destination for curious visitors and adventurers. It is off-limits technically owing to safety concerns. Despite this, people still breach the barriers regularly to explore the interiors of this old facility.
