U. S. Post Office at Minneapolis 1883

This is R.H. Atkinson’s rendering of the U.S. Post Office in Minneapolis, created with etching, engraving, and drypoint. Notice the towers that flank the facade, an architectural gesture harking back to the medieval era. Towers are potent symbols, historically representing power and protection, but also serving as a vantage point. We can see iterations of these throughout the ages, from the ziggurats of ancient Mesopotamia, to the gatehouses of medieval castles and cathedrals. The need to establish a line of sight, both literally and figuratively, persists across cultures. The towers stand as steadfast sentinels, and subconsciously reassure us of the presence of authority and stability, and the promise of communication far and wide. The symbolic evolution of towers— from lookouts to cultural symbols—illustrates our collective, recurring desire for a place from which to survey and connect.