Drinking in History: Twin Cities Architecture

Join historian and Rethos Executive Director Dr. Heidi Swank for a dive into Minnesota’s midcentury modern era—when glass walls, concrete forms, and government programs reshaped how (and where) we lived. From Ralph Rapson’s iconic designs to the rise of the rambler, we’ll explore how architecture met policy in a postwar boom that excluded many even as it built for the future. With stories of redlining, prefab housing, and the loss of neighborhoods like Rondo, this talk reveals the beauty—and complexity—of modernism in Minnesota. Come for the design, stay for the history over a pint.

Tickets are $10 with registration, $15 at the door. Snacks will be provided and beverages are available for purchase.

You may also like the following events from Rethos: Places Reimagined:

• Next month, 4th June, 01:00 pm, Minnesota Main Streets State Conference 2025 in Duluth