Exhibits at the Weisman Art Museum

This October, the Twin Cities will host the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual conference. A field session of this conference will highlight the historic preservation efforts at the University of Minnesota. In conjunction with this conference, the Weisman Art Museum will present an exhibition of original architectural drawings from the 1880s focusing on some of the earliest University buildings located in the historic knoll area that were designed by Minnesota architect Leroy S. Buffington.

Regent John S. Pillsbury led University of Minnesota campus development during the 1880s and 1890s. During this time, Buffington designed the campus landmarks Pillsbury Hall (1889), Nicholson Hall (1890), and Burton Hall (1894). Buffington's relationship with Pillsbury began with the Pillsbury A Mill (1881) commission and other buildings designed for Pillsbury and family members. The exhibition will display 28 drawings from the L.S. Buffington Collection at the Northwest Architectural Archive. They illustrate the range of Buffington's work for the University and the Pillsburys, including many drawn by his draftsman, Harvey Ellis. Historic photographs from the Minnesota Historical Society accompany many of the drawings.

Click here for information about the Twin Cities 2007 National Preservation Conference, October 2-6, 2007.