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All the United States Minnesota Minneapolis Minneapolis Manhole Covers

Minneapolis Manhole Covers

Downtown Minneapolis mixed art and function by turning some of their sewer covers into works of art.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
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Minneapolis Manhole Covers   J Wynia on Flickr
Minneapolis Manhole Covers   J Wynia on Flickr
Minneapolis Manhole Covers   sewerhistory.org
Minneapolis Manhole Covers   sewerhistory.org
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
  Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Most visitors to new cities don't come home raving about the locations manhole covers, but the city of Minneapolis has made their their underfoot sewer covers a point of artistic pride with designs that celebrate the area's art, history, and wildlife.

Beginning in the early 1980's the city of Minneapolis began asking artists to design iconic new manhole covers for the city. They chose 11 artists to create illustrations for the ubiquitous urban sight, and each of the chosen creators provided a different take. From David Atkinson's whimsical summer grill design to Stuart D. Kippler's introspective geography marker, each of the cover's turned what was once a mundane city feature into a unique piece of art.  

Later on in 1990, the city renovated the popular Nicollet Mall and tapped artist Kate Burke to create designs for manhole covers that would be spread across a 13 block area of downtown Minneapolis. She took inspiration from the states many official accouterment and across 11 different designs, Burke created sculpted images of regional icons like the Minnesota state fish (the Walleye), the state fruit (Honeycrisp Apple), and the state bird (Loon). The detailed pieces of steel each feature tableaus of their subject that make most municipal equipment look lazy in comparison. Some of the covers even feature small hidden details such as a worm in the state apple, or a pheasant erupting from the bronzed image of the state grain (Wild Rice).        

Locals and tourists alike have a tendency to literally pass over the unique manhole covers these days, but for those willing to hunt them down they can act as a one-of-a -kind connect the dots of urban art.  

Related Tags

Industrial Public Public Works Art

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

awchampion, Dr Alan P Newman, sponsford, Collector of Experiences

  • awchampion
  • Dr Alan P Newman
  • sponsford
  • Collector of Experiences

Published

June 13, 2014

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Sources
  • http://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2013/07/minneapolis-sense-itself-revealed-artist-designed-manhole-covers
  • http://katekburke.com/section/143737_Manhole_Covers.html
  • http://web.archive.org/web/20021225083344/www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/citywork/city-coordinator/arts/man-cov.html
Minneapolis Manhole Covers
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55401
United States
44.983334, -93.26667

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