Minneapolis 1857

"Minneapolis" is a striking early photograph by Benjamin Franklin Upton, capturing the nascent city in 1857. The daguerreotype, now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, showcases a sprawling, agrarian landscape with simple wooden structures scattered across a wide, dusty expanse. The vantage point offers a panoramic view, highlighting the modest scale of early Minneapolis and its proximity to nature. The image provides a glimpse into the city's formative years, revealing a community still deeply connected to its rural roots. Upton's work, an important document of early American urban development, exemplifies the artistic potential of early photography in capturing the evolving character of a city.