MINNEAPOLIS WALKING TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Under the Canopy: Walking Nicollet Mall’s Living History
A guided, roughly 90-minute walk from the Voya Financial Building to 12th Street that traces Nicollet Mall’s reinvention as Minneapolis’s commercial spine and the nation’s first transit mall.
Under the Canopy: Walking Nicollet Mall’s Living History.
Nicollet Avenue has anchored Minneapolis commerce for more than a century. In the 1960s eight blocks were closed to automobiles and redesigned by landscape architect Lawrence Halprin to create Nicollet Mall; the pedestrian-focused corridor has been updated twice since—expanded in 1990 and renovated in 2017–18—and remains lined by landmark buildings, everyday storefronts and heavy pedestrian traffic. This walking tour traces the Mall’s redevelopment and the histories of the 15 buildings and public spaces that face it, beginning beneath the canopy of the Voya Financial Building and proceeding the Mall’s full length to 12th Street.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Mid‑Century Reinvention and a New Model of Transit
In the 1960s Nicollet was transformed to compete with suburban malls; the Mall’s Halprin design and its role as the nation’s first transit mall have been influential and were later revisited in renovations in 1990 and again in 2017–18.
Fifteen Buildings Facing One Street
The tour examines 15 buildings and spaces that front the Mall—stops include the IDS Crystal Court, the old Dayton’s footprint, the Loring Greenway and Westminster Presbyterian Church—each telling a piece of the downtown story.
Begin Under the Voya Canopy, Walk to 12th Street
Guides assemble under the Voya Financial Building canopy at Washington Avenue and Nicollet Mall, then walk the Mall’s entire length to 12th Street; participants can return to the start on a free bus.
What the day feels like
What the Walk Feels Like
An expert-led, outdoor stroll through downtown Minneapolis that moves at an urban walking pace: expect narrative stops at storefronts, plazas and landmark interiors as your guide places each site in the Mall’s longer commercial and urban-design story.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this walk suits—and what the provided information says about limits or requirements.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Meet under the canopy of the Voya Financial Building at 20 S Marquette Ave; the listing gives a duration of about 1.5 hours for the tour.
No specific gear requirements are listed in the supplied information; because the tour is outdoors, plan for comfortable walking and weather-appropriate clothing.
The walk finishes at 12th Street; participants can take a free bus back to the starting point according to the itinerary.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Where is the meeting point?
The tour meets at 20 S Marquette Ave, under the canopy of the Voya Financial Building (corner of Washington Ave. and Nicollet Mall).
How long is the tour?
The listing gives a duration of 1.5 hours; the descriptive text also notes the tour takes about two hours.
Is the route accessible?
The tour is described as taking place in a peaceful, accessible outdoor setting; detailed accessibility accommodations are not specified in the provided information.
Will I need to arrange transportation back to the start?
No—after walking to 12th Street participants can take a free bus back to the starting point, per the itinerary.
What will we see on the tour?
Guides investigate the histories of the Mall itself and of 15 buildings and spaces facing it, including the IDS Crystal Court, Dayton’s, the Loring Greenway and Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Who operates this walking tour?
The tour is operated by Preserve Minneapolis.