UPCOMING EVENTS
The Prairie School Legacy in Iowa, Presented by Heritage Works – June 27-28, 2025; Dubuque, Iowa.
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A two-day event highlighting the work of architects Alfred Caldwell and Frank Lloyd Wright and their impact on midwestern architecture.Heritage Works, Inc., a historic preservation organization in Dubuque, Iowa will host a one-and-a-half day symposium that will examine the Prairie style of architecture in Iowa through the lens of two sites: Eagle Point Park in Dubuque, Iowa, designed by landscape architect Alfred Caldwell and completed in 1934 and Cedar Rock, Lowell and Agnes Walter House, designed by internationally acclaimed architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867—1959) and completed in 1950. Registration open through June 20, 2025: https://heritageworksdbq.com/events/the-prairie-school-legacy-in-iowa-symposium |
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: Preview Night at The Museum of Russian Art – Avant Garde Architecture of the Soviet Era: Photography by William Brumfield. Friday, June 13, 2025; 7:30-9:30
House of Soviets of the Narvsky District, St. Petersburg (Leningrad)
Architect Noi Trotsky, 1930-35 Photography by William Brumfield, 2002 |
Be the first to experience Avant-garde Architecture of the Soviet Era, a striking new exhibition featuring the photography of William Brumfield — acclaimed scholar, author, and leading documentarian of Russian architecture. This special evening offers a rare opportunity to preview the exhibition and meet the artist in person the night before its public opening. Spanning five decades of work, Brumfield’s photographs capture Soviet avant-garde architecture from the 1920s and 1930s across a vast landscape — from Moscow to Siberia and the Russian Far East — preserving visionary structures from a transformative era. Enjoy live music in the galleries by The Dust of Suns Trio, delicious bites by Crave Catering, and an inspiring night of art and conversation. Remarks by William Brumfield, TMORA’s Executive Director, and Curator will take place at 8:00 PM. Beverages will be available for purchase. Advance registration is encouraged. Friday, June 13 | 7:30 – 9:30 PM Tickets: Free – $19 The Museum of Russian Art 5500 Stevens Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55419 |
Past 2025 Events
Mid Mod Marvel: Masterfully Maintained Modernism – Thursday, June 5, 2025; 5:30-7:30pm.
Photo by Akshay Singh
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Join Docomomo US/MN to tour a Wilbert G. Peterson home that was built as the Charles H. & Shirley Hokanson residence in 1955-1956. This house is classic MCM, and has been so thoughtfully updated while retaining many original features including the tongue-and-groove wood vaulted ceiling, kitchen cabinetry, and brick fireplaces. The current owners have completely reimagined the home + landscaping, and have been excellent stewards of this gem. The Rutland Lake Harriet Park addition started being developed in the 1920s, but mass developers of the time likely skipped over areas of potential drainage to the pond that was once in Pershing Field Park. This architect-designed home is in a collection of 5 modern homes that were built on what were deemed as “challenging lots”. The house is located in the Fulton neighborhood of Southwest Minneapolis, one block from Pershing Field Park and less than a half-mile from Minnehaha Creek. In-Person (self-guided) Tour: Thursday, June 5, 2025; 5:30-7:30pm |
Modernism in Iowa: Docomomo US Travel Tour – Friday, May 30 - Sunday, June 1, 2025; Des Moines, Iowa.
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Join Docomomo US on a Travel Tour of Modernist sites throughout Des Moines, Iowa, May 30–June 1. From the progressive campus designs at Drake University to the diverse collection of art and architecture at the Des Moines Art Center and notable Frank Lloyd Wright creations in the surrounding suburbs, the transformation of this Midwest capital city from a small river settlement to a vibrant cultural center offers a surprisingly rich and varied tour of Modernism in the Midwest. Modernism in Iowa is presented in collaboration with the Iowa Architectural Foundation. About the Iowa Architectural Foundation: The Iowa Architectural Foundation (IAF) is a group of passionate volunteers working to inspire an appreciation for architecture and design in everyone through education and outreach. As a non-profit, the IAF brings architects and designers, educators and students, and architecture enthusiasts together to improve the quality of life in the state of Iowa through architecture and design. |
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: Making Room: Women's Histories from the Northwest Architectural Archives. Exhibit Open Through May 30.
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For more than 100 years, women have trained and worked as architects in Minnesota, yet their achievements remain largely unknown. Drawn from the collections of the Northwest Architectural Archives, this exhibit shines a light on the talented and determined women who made room for themselves in a field once reserved exclusively for men. Curated by Cheryll Fong, Jane King Hession, and Kimberly Long Loken Exhibit design by Darren Terpstra What: Making Room: Women’s Histories from the Northwest Architectural Archives When: Monday, Feb. 17 through Friday, May 30, 2025 (Weekdays only) Hours: Open during library hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday; and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday) Where: Elmer L. Andersen Library, first floor gallery | Parking & directions |
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The Docomomo US/MN Guide to Doors Open Minneapolis – May 17-18, 2025
McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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In partnership with Rethos, Docomomo US/MN is excited to share our guide to Doors Open Minneapolis. Our itinerary features six modern sites to visit during the weekend long event this Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18, 2025. Discover Minnesota Modernism: Minneapolis has some notable examples of modern architecture, showcasing the global movement that emerged in the mid-20th century. Innovative architects of this era rejected traditional styles, allowing the relationship between form and function to drive their designs. Key characteristics to look for: – Clean lines and simplified forms – Minimal ornamentation – Honest expression of materials – Integration of natural light – Connection to the landscape Docomomo US/MN Top Picks: Check out our six selections and more about what makes these modern sites a meaningful part of Minneapolis’s cultural heritage in our guide to Doors Open Minneapolis! |
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: Launch of The Luminary Society, Presented by Rethos. Saturday, May 17, 2025; 6:30-9:30pm. IDS Tower.
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Slip into your most glamorous mid-century attire and join Rethos for the sparkling launch of The Luminary Society: An Exclusive Key to Extraordinary Spaces – an evening that blends 1970s elegance with high-design nostalgia, all from the most iconic address in Minneapolis: Windows at Marquette, atop the IDS Center. Sponsored by the Marquette Hotel, this Mid-Century Modern-themed soiree evokes the spirit of Mary Richards herself – bold, stylish, and ready to take on the city. Enjoy inspired refreshments, elevated hors d’oeuvres, and rich storytelling from the city’s highest perch as we explore the skyline and the legacy of IDS architect Philip Johnson, whose complicated brilliance helped define a generation of design. Tickets: $115-$175 |
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: MNSAH 2025 Annual Meeting – Saturday Morning, May 10, 2025; 9:30am-Noon. MN Humanities Center.
A Studio House, Margaret Wilder 1936. Courtesy Northwest Architectural Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries
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The Minnesota Society of Architectural Historians (MNSAH) welcomes community members to the 2025 Annual Meeting. This year’s annual meeting presentation features Cheryll Fong, who will speak about the current exhibit, Making Room, that she curated for Northwest Architectural Archives (NAA) along with Jane King Hession, Kimberly Long Loken, and exhibit designer Darren Terpstra. Saturday, May 10, 2025, 9:30 am-12:00 pm Minnesota Humanities Center 987 Ivy Avenue East Saint Paul, MN 55106 9:30am – Breakfast 10:30am – Annual Meeting 11:00am – Keynote Presentation 12:00pm – Adjourn Cost: $30 for MNSAH members; $40 for non-members |
Going, Going, Gone! Close Encounters. Saturday May 3, 2025; Noon-2pm
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The Close Architects Office is For SaleJoin Docomomo US/MN on Saturday, May 3, 2025 for an opportunity to see a piece of MN MCM history in-person and up-close!
Designed by architects Winston and Elizabeth Close as their purpose-built office in 1952, the building is a perfect Mid-Century Modern statement: functional and efficient, yet warm and welcoming. The South Studio Addition was built in 1972. The office building is on the market for the first time in 2025. The office will be open for self-guided tours on Saturday, May 3, 2025 – Eventbrite registration is required to attend. To prevent crowding in the small office, guests must choose an entry time upon registration. |
Weaving Studio Open House with Laura Ackerman-Shaw. Friday, April 25; 5:30-7pm.
Kip Beardsley Studio, Saint Paul.
Loom at Kip Beardsley Studio
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Docomomo US/MN and Laura Ackeman-Shaw welcome members and friends for refreshments and Open House at Kip Beardsley Studio in the Lowertown Lofts Artist Cooperative in Saint Paul. Kip Beardsley is a Minnesota-based textile artist who draws inspiration from classic Modernist designs. Known as The Gentleman Weaver, Beardsley’s designs explore the beauty and meaning bestowed by handmade textiles and the value that a slow, human-scale design and production process brings to custom sweaters, scarves, table linens, and clerical vestments. Date + Time: Friday, April 25, 2025. 5:30 - 7:00 pm Location: Kip Beardsley Studio 255 Kellogg Blvd E, Studio 407 Saint Paul, MN 55101 Tickets: FREE (registration required) |
Book Launch and Presentation – Timeless Tapestries of Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman.
Thursday, April 24; 5-7pm. Textile Center, Minneapolis. In-Person or Online.
Book Cover. Photograph by Dan Chavkin. Courtesy of Pointed Leaf Press, from Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman: California Mid-Century Designers © 2025 Laura Ackerman-Shaw.
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Evelyn + Jerome Ackerman created a variety of home decor that became synonymous with the California Mid-Century Modern aesthetic. Textiles became a focal point in the Ackerman’s’ ERA Industries line when Evelyn introduced her first tapestry design, Hot Bird, in 1957. From silk-screened to handwoven to hand-hooked, their wall hangings were produced by skilled craftspeople worldwide. Laura Ackerman-Shaw will discuss these pioneering textile designs, followed by a Q&A and book signing. Introducing the inaugural release of Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman: California Mid-Century Designers, a book by their daughter, Laura Ackerman-Shaw (Pointed Leaf Press), which explores the Ackermans’ unique contributions to post-war American design. Date + Time: Thursday, April 24, 2025. 5:00 - 7:00 pm Location: Textile Center 3000 University Ave SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 Ticket Options: FREE in-person or online registration (no book included), or a $75 book purchase - which includes in-person event registration. |
Reception with Laura Ackerman-Shaw. Thursday, April 24; 7:30-9pm. Prospect Park.
Launch Pad Tapestry, as pictured in LA Times Home Magazine. Ackerman Archives. Courtesy of Pointed Leaf Press, from Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman: California Mid-Century Designers © 2025 Laura Ackerman-Shaw.
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Join Docomomo US/MN for a reception celebrating Laura Ackerman-Shaw and thanking event partners from the Goldstein Museum of Design and Textile Center. Enjoy light bites, refreshments and a champagne toast! Date + Time: Thursday, April 24, 2025. 7:30 - 9:00 pm Location: The home of Peter Barile and Jon Wolles 84 Malcom Ave SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 Cost: $50 for Current Docomomo US/MN Members; $75 Non-members Become a Docomomo US/MN Member Today! |
Film Screening and Presentation – A Life and Legacy of Design: Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman.
Wednesday, April 23; 5:30-7:30pm. Goldstein Museum of Design, Saint Paul. In-Person or Online.
In Tandem Movie Poster. Photograph by Dorothy Siegel. Courtesy of filmmakers Katie Nartonis and Margaret Halkin.
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Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman were preeminent designers who made major contributions to the California Mid-Century Modern aesthetic. Both accomplished artists in their own right, they produced ceramics, textiles, mosaics, woodcarvings, and hardware. Their company Jenev, established in 1953, evolved into ERA Industries as they developed products used by the leading architects and interior designers of the time. Join Docomomo US/MN and Laura Ackerman-Shaw at the Goldstein Museum of Design, for an evening that focuses on the Ackermans’ legacy, design process, business evolution, current licensing collaborations and growing up in the family business. The evening will include a film screening of In Tandem: The Life and Work of Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman. Date + Time: Wednesday, April 23, 2025. 5:30 - 7:30 pm Location: Goldstein Museum of Design, University of Minnesota, College of Design Auditorium and Atrium 33 McNeal Hall 1985 Buford Ave Saint Paul, MN, 55108 Tickets: FREE in-person or livestream (registration required) |
Mid Mod Marvel: Graffunder Rewind! – Sunday, April 13, 2025; Noon-2pm. Como Park, Saint Paul.
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Join Docomomo US/MN to tour a Carl Graffunder home that was built as the Bob Eddy Residence in 1951. This house is classic Graffunder, with massive window walls on the walk-out, southern face, blending the indoors & outdoors. Currently occupied by the third owners, the house retains wonderful original details while incorporating thoughtful updates suited for today’s living. The house is located in the Como Park neighborhood of St. Paul, perched above the Nebraska Woods off of Lexington Parkway. In-Person (self-guided) Tour: Sunday, April 13, 2025; Noon-2pm General admission tickets: $7 Docomomo US/MN members: FREE (registration is required). |
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: MNSAH Presents: Works in Progress. Thursday, March 27; 7-8:30pm CDT via Zoom
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Works in Progress The Minnesota Society of Architectural Historians (MNSAH) invites you to attend Works in Progress on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Presentations include– Minnesota Modern Masters Interviews: Committee Chair Gary Reetz will introduce excerpts from Minnesota Modern Masters video interviews with Mohammed Lawal and Quin Scott of LSE Architects, and James Garrett Jr. and Nathan Johnson of 4RM+ULA. Resisting Assimilation: Lakota versus Settler Spatialities at Standing Rock, 1882-1890: Architecture historian Kate Solomonson will share her new research on the cultural landscape of the Standing Rock Agency in Dakota Territory during the 1880s, a time when the Lakota contended with intensifying pressure to assimilate to settler culture. Kate will discuss how architectural and spatial strategies played a significant role in the Lakota’s unified efforts to block implementation of the Dawes Act, even as they were resisting and adapting to changing conditions in diverse ways. |
Online Lecture – Mid-Century Modern Design Duo: Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman.
Wednesday, March 26; 10:30–11:45am CDT via Zoom
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For 50 years, Los Angeles–based Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman played a key role in shaping the California Mid-Century Modern aesthetic. Epitomizing the designer-craftsman ethos, they bridged fine art and studio craft traditions while scaling production for broader interior design markets. In this presentation, Laura Ackerman-Shaw discusses the Ackermans’ design legacy, inspirations, processes, business evolution, and current licensing collaborations. Docomomo US/MN is pleased to present this online lecture in conjunction with the University of Minnesota College of Design. Online Lecture – March 26, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am CDT |
Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman in the Jenev Studio. Photograph by Milton Lipton. Courtesy of Pointed Leaf Press, from Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman: California Mid-Century Designers © 2025 Laura Ackerman-Shaw.
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Mid Mod Marvel: One Owner Wonder! – Tuesday, March 25, 2025; 4:30-6:30pm. University Grove, St. Paul.
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Join Docomomo US/MN to tour a Joe Michels home that is a true One Owner Wonder. With gorgeous redwood details throughout, the home is in wonderful, original condition and has never been sold since it was built for the original owners in 1965. The house is located in University Grove, a neighborhood in Falcon Heights (adjacent to the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul Campus) known for its 103 homes individually designed by architects. In-Person (self-guided) Tour: Tuesday, March 25, 2025; 4:30 - 6:30pm |
Preserving the Recent Past 4 – BOSTON – March 18-22, 2025
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In 1995, Preserving the Recent Past – the first national conference to examine the evaluation and preservation of twentieth-century resources – was held in Chicago, Illinois. It was during this event that a US chapter of Docomomo International held its charter meeting. In honor of our 30th anniversary, Docomomo US is partnering with the Historic Preservation Education Foundation (HPEF) to host Preserving the Recent Past 4 (PRP4) in 2025. This event will be in lieu of the National Symposium. PRP4 offers a national forum to share the latest strategies for identifying, protecting, and conserving significant structures and sites from the recent past. Docomomo US and its local New England chapter will take part in the paper selection process and will take the lead in organizing the unique tours we are known for. And we wouldn't miss a chance to throw a party! Plus, don't miss two special Docomomo US events happening alongside the conference. On Tuesday March 18 (the day before PRP begins), we will get a special tour of the Philips Exeter campus, now closed to the public, including Louis Kahn's iconic library. Then on Thursday evening, March 20, join us for a reception and tour of two striking Modernist churches, Paul Rudolph's First Church of Boston, and its neighbor across the street, the First Lutheran Church, designed by Pietro Belluschi. |
Road Trip to Clear Lake: Ashera by Tom Olson – Going, Going, Gone! – Open Saturday February 22; Noon-2pm
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Join Docomomo US/MN for for a road trip to Clear Lake, MN to visit Ashera – the personal home of architect Tom Olson and textile artist Merle Sykora. The house is located about an hour northwest from Minneapolis, either via I-94 or US Hwy 10. Transportation is on your own – or with a friend or two! In-Person (self-guided) Tour: Saturday, February 22, 2025; Noon-2pm This is a FREE event, but registration is required! Address will be provided in the Eventbrite registration. |
Check back to this page for upcoming events presented by Docomomo US/MN and partner organizations!
