The construction of Olson Memorial Highway, Minneapolis’s “first Superhighway,” devastated a thriving Black and Jewish cultural corridor along 6th Avenue N, in a pattern often repeated across the country. Before the project began in the 1930s, this bustling neighborhood included dozens of shops, restaurants, synagogues, churches, music venues, and other gathering places. Researchers and advocates will share some of the history of this vibrant community and discuss a community-led effort to reclaim the highway and restore 6th Ave. N.
Image title: Businesses on Sixth Avenue North, 1930s
Image courtesy of Hennepin County Digital Libraries