Join the Party Saturday, November 21st
The Cass Gilbert Society will host a celebration to honor this nationally recognized architect whose buildings are an important part of Minnesota history.
The 150th Birthday Celebration for Cass Gilbert will begin at 2pm on Saturday, November 21, 2009 with a free tour of the Minnesota State Capitol. Guides from the Minnesota State Historical Society will focus on the Cass Gilbert story and the architectural details of the capitol. These free tours, which begin at 2pm, require reservations by calling 651-296-2881. A LEGO(TM) model of the capitol will be on display to delight visitors young and old.
An exhibit highlighting 50 years of buildings designed by Cass Gilbert will be on display in the North Corridor of the capitol building and continue to be available for public view for two weeks following the celebration.
Festivities will include a birthday cake that will be served in the capitol’s Rathskeller at 3:30pm. This event is free an open to the public.
Gilbert’s first residence in St. Paul was built on Ashland Avenue for his mother. Soon his commissions included churches, office buildings, railroad stations and commercial buildings in Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and Montana. He designed several homes along Summit Avenue, including the Lightner House at 318 Summit, pictured below.
In 1895 Cass Gilbert was selected to design the new state capitol in Minnesota. This job enhanced his career and brought him national recognition. In 1899, he won the commission for the U.S. Custom House in New York. The same year he opened his New York office and moved to New York.
Gilbert would go on to design many buildings in New York. In 1913, he completed the Woolworth Building in New York City. It would stand as the world’s tallest building for over a decade. His work was recognized throughout the United States. Cass Gilbert’s last building was the U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C.
The Cass Gilbert Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1998 to preserve and enhance the nation’s cultural heritage by advancing scholarship and appreciation of Cass Gilbert’s contribution to American architecture. Membership in the society is open to all. To join go to www.cassgilbertsociety.org.
For more information contact: Cindy Stephani 612/719-8419
www.cassgilbertsociety.org
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