UPCOMING EVENTS
Mod Mixer 2026 – The Docomomo US/MN 15th Anniversary Party! Thursday, June 18, 2026; 6-8pm.
Danish Teak Classics, Minneapolis.
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Please join Docomomo US/MN for a Mod Mixer celebrating our 15th Anniversary as a chapter. Come wish us a happy birthday, and check out all the fun furnishings that Danish Teak Classics have to offer! Guests will also have the opportunity to tour the DTC warehouse space that is full of classic MCM pieces awaiting their refurbishment and new life! Plus – something exciting for the first 75 attendees: a 15th anniversary collectible! And it wouldn’t be a Mod Mixer without a raffle – Docomomo US/MN Members at the event will receive one free raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets will be sold for $5 each, or 5 for $20. Come raise a glass, and enjoy chef-prepared nibbles, both savory and sweet. Added bonus! A15% discount on all items in the Danish Teak Classics showroom during the Mod Mixer. Free to attend – please RSVP via Eventbrite! |
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Lost Chairs. A Talk by Eric Vogel. Presented by Docomomo US/MN and the Goldstein Museum of Design. Saturday, June 20, 2026; 3-4pm.
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Docomomo US/MN and the Goldstein Museum of Design are pleased to present a free public talk by architectural historian Eric Vogel in conjunction with the exhibition Illusive Objects, on view through July 2, 2026. Organized by the Museum of Wisconsin Art, the recent exhibition, Frank Lloyd Wright: Modern Chair Design marked a reexamination of Wright’s contributions to furniture design and brought a selection of his lost and unbuilt chairs to life through contemporary fabrication. Original drawings, archival materials, and historical photographs supported the first-ever realizations of designs for projects such as the A.D. German Warehouse in Richland Center, Wisconsin, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. Their presentation alongside historical works treated fabrication not as replication, but as an active investigation into Wright’s process, philosophy, and evolving material language. Saturday, June 20, 2026; 3pm to 4pm Goldstein Museum of Design 10 McNeal Hall 1985 Buford Ave St. Paul, MN 55108 |
Check back to this page for upcoming events presented by Docomomo US/MN and partner organizations! And be sure to subscribe to the Docomomo US/MN email newsletters for event announcements!
Recorded past events are available on the Docomomo US/MN Vimeo Channel.
Recorded past events are available on the Docomomo US/MN Vimeo Channel.
Past Events
Mid Mod Marvel: Northwestern National Life Building, designed by Minoru Yamasaki. In-Person, Guided Tours – Thursday, June 4, 2026; 4:30-6:45pm.
Photo Courtesy Morgan Sheff
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Join Docomomo US/MN to tour the Northwestern National Life Building designed by Minoru Yamasaki, built in 1965. The Northwestern National Life Building was constructed to replace the Northwestern National Life Insurance Company Home Office near Loring Park, which had become too small for the number of employees in the company. The building features an 85 foot portico that serves as the visual terminus for the Nicollet Mall. Yamasaki's touches also included reflective pools and landscaping, and he claimed he was designing "a park with a building in it". Local developer Chad Tepley of CDT Realty purchased the building and is planning a 165-room boutique hotel with rooftop bar, restaurants, and public spaces intended for cultural events. Tepley is currently in the process of getting the property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which could unlock tax credits for the project. He expects a summer of 2028 opening. This is an In-Person Guided Tour! Thursday, June 4, 2026; 4:30pm - 6:30pm Guests must choose a tour time upon registration. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes before entry time: 4:30pm 5:15pm 6:00pm |
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT – Elizabeth Scheu Close: A Life in Modern Architecture, Presented by UMN Libraries. Exhibit Open Through May 22, 2026.
About the exhibition:
Elizabeth “Lisl” Scheu Close, FAIA (1912–2011) was Minnesota’s first modern architect. Born in Vienna, Austria, and educated at MIT, Lisl was in the forefront of practicing women architects nationally and internationally. During her prolific career, she designed more than 250 modern residences, as well as numerous state-of-the-art hospitals, laboratories, and other commercial buildings in Minnesota and beyond.
In 1938, with her husband, architect Winston Close (1906–1997), she cofounded the first firm in the state dedicated to Modern design. For the next fifty years, she designed buildings that were efficient, durable, and “fit the modern style of living.” Lisl was the first woman to receive AIA Minnesota’s highest honor, the Gold Medal, awarded in recognition of a lifetime of significant contributions to architecture. She remains a role model for women in the profession today.
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Exhibit details:
What: Elizabeth Scheu Close: A Life in Modern Architecture Where: Elmer L. Andersen Library – 222 21st Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55455 When: Monday, Feb. 23 through Friday, May 22, 2026 (weekdays only) Hours: Open during library hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
Mid Mod Marvel: Techbuilt House. Wednesday, May 20, 2026; 4-6pm. Arden Hills, Minn.
Photo Courtesy Homecoming Photography / Re/Max Results and the Liz Johnson Group
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Join Docomomo US/MN to tour a MN Techbuilt House by Carl Koch built in 1956. Techbuilt homes were designed by New England architect Carl Koch to help alleviate the post WWII housing shortage by developing a way to quickly and easily assemble the houses using pre-made components. The parts were interchangeable to give the buyer a house that met their needs and taste and that worked for the specific site. Tucked into a unique lake-community neighborhood in Arden Hills, the house features original Geneva metal cabinets, and an open floor plan. The home offers association beach access to Lake Johnanna, and is currently for sale. In-Person (self-guided) Tour: Wednesday, May 20, 2026; 4-6pm. |
Modern on the Mall: Architecture at the University of Minnesota. A Walking Tour Presented by Rethos and Docomomo US/MN. Tuesday, May 5, 2026; 1-2:30pm.
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See the University of Minnesota in a new way—explore its modern architecture on a guided walking tour. Part of the City Stories Festival. Explore the bold modern architecture that reshaped the University of Minnesota campus. Join Modernism expert Bobak Ha’Eri and Docomomo US/MN for a 90-minute guided walking tour along the East Bank campus, highlighting the striking buildings and design ideas that define this era of campus development. From innovative materials to new ways of thinking about space, this tour reveals how modernism transformed both the physical landscape and the academic experience at the University. |
Modernism on the Move: Mankato + St. Peter – Bus Tour Presented by Docomomo US/MN.
Saturday, May 2, 2026; 8am-6pm.
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Join Docomomo US/MN for a day celebrating + showcasing Modernism in Southern Minnesota! Saturday, May 2, 2026. 8am-6pm. Leave the driving to us! Docomomo US/MN excited to host our inaugural regional bus tour, departing the Twin Cities to visit destinations in St. Peter & Mankato. Get ready for an action-packed day, touring seven mid-century homes and one Modernist church. Tickets include coffee and Cardigan Donuts on the ride south, boxed lunches from St. Peter Co-op, plus refreshments and light bites at the final tour stop, and snacks & trivia on the journey back. |
Mid Mod Marvel: Modestly Modified. Thursday, April 23, 2026; 4:30-6:30pm. Saint Louis Park.
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Join Docomomo US/MN to tour a Modernist home, the Aldersgate Methodist Parsonage, built in 1959 across from Minnehaha Creek. This mid-century parsonage residence took shape for the pastor of the former Aldersgate Church in St Louis Park. This dark gray rambler features oak wood floors, two fireplaces, and an open floor plan created as part of a remodel, designed in 2018 by architect Dale Mulfinger. An overhaul of the majority of the west-facing second floor now provides modern finishes, appliances and updated bathrooms, yet honors the heritage of the home with flat panel cabinets, re-used kitchen knobs, and original trim woodwork. In-Person (self-guided) Tour: Thursday, April 23, 2026; 4:30pm - 6:30pm General admission tickets: $10 Docomomo US/MN members: FREE (registration is required). |
How Mid-Century Commercial Architecture Helped Transform Golden Valley. Thursday, April 9, 2026; 7pm at the Golden Valley Historical Society.
General Mills Headquarters, Golden Valley, Minn; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (1958)
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Docomomo US/MN is collaborating with the Golden Valley Historical Society (GVHS) on Thursday, April 9 for a presentation about the development of midcentury commercial architecture in Golden Valley and how the arrival of commerce and industry helped transform Golden Valley from village to city to a formidable first-ring suburb of the Twin Cities. Along with photos and well-researched anecdotes, guest speaker Bobak Ha'Eri, creator of the award-winning Minnesota Modern Registry, will introduce you to the companies, issues, and unique perspectives that drove post-war commercial development of this city. Thursday, April 9, 2026; 7pm Free Event – No Registration Required Golden Valley Historical Society 6731 Golden Valley Rd Golden Valley, MN 55427 |
Going, Going, Gone! The Emmett Butler House in Saint Paul, 1935. Sunday, March 29, 2026; Noon–2pm.
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Join Docomomo US/MN to tour the Emmett Butler House, built in 1935 by the Steel Projects Construction Company with with Saint Paul-based architects Raphael Heime, Eugene Land, and Walter J. MacLeith. The architecture is a rare blend of art-moderne design, technological innovation, and ornamental detail. This “all metal house” is an historically-intact showcase of the design fashions and advanced products of its time. Emmett Butler, a member of the prominent family of builders who built the state capitol, was the first owner. The Emmett Butler House is located in the Cables Stonebridge subdivision of the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood of Saint Paul, just steps from the Mississippi River. FREE Tour – Registration is required! Sunday, March 29, 2026; Noon-2pm |
Mid Mod Marvel: Alcoa "Care-Free" House, 1958. Thursday, March 19, 2026; 4-6pm. Saint Louis Park, Minn.
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Join Docomomo US/MN to tour the Alcoa “Care-Free” House in St. Louis Park. Originally built in 1958 as a prototype for the Aluminum Company of America, this remarkable residence was created as a forward-thinking prototype celebrating innovative materials and open-concept design. Rich redwood walls and ceilings are beautifully paired with vibrant textured aluminum panels, while two sides of the home are wrapped in expansive sliding glass doors and floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the interior with natural light. In-Person (self-guided) Tour: Thursday, March 19, 2026; 4:00pm - 6:00pm General admission tickets: $10 Docomomo US/MN members: FREE (registration is required). |
19th International Docomomo Conference. March 17–22, 2026; Los Angeles, USA.
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Multiple Moderns: Climate, Community, CreativityThe biennial International Docomomo Conference is headed stateside for only the second time since the founding of Docomomo, bringing together members and colleagues from around the world, for an in-depth exploration of global issues and new ideas about the future built environment, as it relates to the Modern Movement.
Attendees can look forward to exciting venues, rigorous academic sessions, networking opportunities, social events, and the Docomomo tours you know and love. |
Mid Mod Marvel: Magnificent Moderne. Sunday, March 1, 2026; Noon-2pm. Lake Phalen, Saint Paul.
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Join Docomomo US/MN to tour a Modernist home, the P.G. Seaholm House, built in 1947 on the shores of Lake Phalen. This Streamline Moderne, an architectural style that is relatively rare in Minnesota, is striking and unique. It showcases a two-story bay that envelopes the staircase which is illuminated by a wall of glass block. This feature helps flood this home with natural light, and is one of the several interior highlights. In-Person (self-guided) Tour: Sunday, March 1, 2026; 12:00pm - 2:00pm General admission tickets: $10 Docomomo US/MN members: FREE (registration is required). |
Members-Only Pop-Up Tour: Mid-Century Modern on Summit Avenue. Presented by Docomomo US/MN in Partnership with MNSAH. Thursday, February 26, 2026; 4:30pm-6:30pm.
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Join Docomomo US/MN and the Minnesota Society of Architectural Historians (MNSAH) for a look inside one of the only Mid-Century Modern houses on Saint Paul's historic Summit Avenue. Members-Only Tour! This tour is FREE for current members of Docomomo US/MN and MNSAH. Registration is required! In-Person (self-guided) Tour: Thursday, February 26, 2026; 4:30pm - 6:30pm |
Winter Film Screening– E.1027: Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea – January 29, 2026; 5:30pm. FilmNorth, Saint Paul.
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Film Screening and Conversation Thursday, January 29, 2026 | FilmNorth, St. Paul Docomomo US/MN is pleased to present a special evening honoring one of modernism’s most visionary and complex figures, Eileen Gray. E.1027: Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea is a visually rich and thought-provoking documentary that invites viewers into Gray’s creative world and the story of her groundbreaking house on the French Riviera. More than an architectural film, it is a meditation on authorship, gender, power, and the lasting impact of modern design. These themes closely align with Docomomo’s mission to document, advocate for, and conserve the Modern Movement. Directed by Beatrice Minger and Christoph Schaub, this 2024 Swiss documentary reexamines Gray’s legacy and restores rightful attention to her radical vision and enduring influence. |
Modernist Monuments: Minneapolis Post-War Places of Worship. Monday, January 26, 2026; 7pm.
St. John’s Episcopal Church, with Linden Hills History Study Group.
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Presentation by Bobak Ha'Eri, of Docomomo US/MNMinneapolis became a hotbed of modernist religious architecture in the years after World War II. With illustrated slides, Bobak Ha'Eri will explain the rise of modernism, its arrival in Minnesota, and how it expressed itself through places of worship across the city. Mr. Ha'Eri is a board member of Docomomo US/MN where he created and researches the award-winning Minnesota Modern Registry, and is an expert on the history of Modernism in Minnesota.
Suggested donation is $5 for non-members of Linden Hills History Study Group. Everyone is welcome. For more information visit our website: www.lindenhillshistory.org call (612) 799-5141 or email [email protected] Monday January 26, 2026, 7:00 p.m. St. John’s Episcopal Church 4201 Sheridan Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55410 |
Mid Mod Marvel: Positively Pristine Polivka. Sunday, January 25, 2026; 11am-1pm. Plymouth, Minnesota.
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Join Docomomo US/MN to tour a pristine time capsule, the John & Mary Jane Burger House, a home built in 1956 by architect John Polivka. This California coastal-style home sits on the shores of Gleason Lake, with direct access to the Luce Line State Trail. Low, sprawling, converging gable rooflines and deep overhanging eaves sit on a concrete masonry unit foundation, sited and oriented to maximize lake views and privacy. The interior has vaulted wooden ceilings and central limestone fireplaces. The current owner grew up visiting the home, and purchased it from the second owners in 2022. The house is furnished with impressive, period-appropriate Danish teak pieces, in addition to mid-century furnishings by notable designers that have been brought back to life with vibrant upholsteries. The art and objects in the house have also been painstakingly selected to accentuate the original character of the home. The John & Mary Jane Burger House is located off 9th Avenue North in Plymouth, close to the Wayzata border. In-Person (self-guided) Tour: Sunday, January 25, 2026; 11am-1pm Guests must choose an entry time upon registration: 11:00am 11:40am 12:20pm General admission tickets: $10 Docomomo US/MN members: FREE (registration is required). |
REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT – Frank Lloyd Wright: Modern Chair Design. Exhibit on-view through Jan 25, 2026. Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend, WI.
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Frank Lloyd Wright: Modern Chair Design is a visionary exhibition that reconsiders the Wisconsin-born architect’s innovative and often overlooked contributions to furniture design. While Wright is celebrated for his buildings and his role in shaping an American architectural vision, he also designed more than two hundred chairs over the course of his seventy-year career. This exhibition presents forty of Wright’s most significant domestic pieces—several on view for the first time—together with working sketches and archival photographs.
About the Exhibition (open through January 25, 2026) – Frank Lloyd Wright: Modern Chair Design examines Wright’s lesser-known but deeply thoughtful approach to furniture. Through original pieces, models, drawings, and new scholarship, the exhibition reveals how Wright used chair design to articulate ideas about structure, spatial rhythm, and modern life. |
