Most people, when they think of great architecture, imagine tall skyscrapers or extravagant churches. But here in Minnesota, we like to keep things humble. There’s one quiet spot in an unassuming northern Minnesota that has a secret hidden up its sleeve. It may not have flying buttresses or stained-glass windows, but it does have a unique claim to fame. Read on to learn about the humble gas station that is actually an architectural wonder.
The R. W. Lindholm Service Station is located at 202 Cloquet Ave., Cloquet, MN 55720.
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On first glance, it looks like a normal gas station. The design is somewhat unusual, but it wouldn’t turn any heads.
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On second glance, you might notice that the station was designed by the famed architecture Frank Lloyd Wright. There’s even a sign with his name on it outside.
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It also features some of Wright’s most famous design elements, such as the cantilevered canopy.
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The station was designed for former owner Ray Lindholm in 1956 and built two years later. The intent was to beautify gas stations on the assumption that they would soon become social centers across America.
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While that vision did not come to pass, the gas station is still a unique contribution by one of the world’s most famous architects. It’s the only Wright gas station design, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
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It still operates as a gas station today, and it even offers a unique view of the quiet streets of Cloquet.
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Have you ever been to this gas station? Did you know Minnesota was home to a Frank Lloyd Wright gas station? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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Address: 202 Cloquet Ave., Cloquet, MN 55720
