Thirty years ago, me and millions of other little preteen girls all
over the USA sat down every Saturday night in front of our
TV’s and watched Mary Tyler Moore throw her hat up in the air
in downtown Minneapolis in a triumphant gesture of independence.
Mary Tyler Moore show put Minneapolis on the pop-culture map,
and now cable re-runs keep the 1970’s career woman, Mary
Richards, alive and well. Many visitors to Minneapolis come
looking for Mary Richards sites.
Donaldson’s Department Store, seen in the opening credits,
is long gone. However, there is now a life size bronze statue
standing at the "spot".
In May 2002, Nick at Nite’s TV Land spent $150,000 to have
the statue of Mary Richards created by artist Gwendolyn
Gillen. The statue has been donated to the City of
Minneapolis, and TV Land has provided funds for its upkeep.
It is located on Nicollet Mall, between 7th and 8th Streets.
For more information about the statue dedication Click here.
To claim credit for this "find" -- there is a brass plaque on the
building behind the statue. This plaque tells what this building
used to be. Geo-mail or E-Mail me ~~ centris(at)gmail(dot)com ~~
with what the building was and what happened to it. ** Extra credit
points for tossing your hat in the air while you are there.
......(please note that the answer is not Daytons or Marshall
Fields or Carsons or Donaldsons or Fredricks or Macys! PLEASE STOP
SENDING ME THESE GUESSES!!!)
Other MTM sites that might be of interest to the Minneapolis
visitor….
Coordinates provided by rickrich (Thanks)
- 2104 Kenwood Parkway (44 57.670 -93 18.680) - This is
the turn-of-the-century Victorian house that Mary Richards’
studio apartment was supposedly located in. Please enjoy looking at
this house only from the public street. It is private
property.
- 1525 South 4th Street (44 58.253 -93 14.949) - This is
the high-rise building that Mary Richards supposedly moved to in
Season Six. It is currently known as Riverside Plaza. It is
actually low-income housing owned by the Minneapolis Community
Development Agency. (*only visit during daylight hours*)
- 710 Marquette Avenue (44 58.576 -93 16.267) - This is
the famous balcony restaurant overlooking the Crystal Court of the
IDS Tower where Mary had lunch in the credits. The restaurant is
called Basil’s, and the staff accommodates requests for what
is called "The Mary Tyler Moore Table" when possible. The Crystal
Court below the restaurant has the escalator Mary rode. (you can
see the scene from below the balcony - no need to go in)
- Logan Avenue and Franklin Avenue South - This is the
park where Mary Richards is seen walking in the opening credits. It
is known as Lake of the Isles.
- 801 Nicollet Mall (44 58.548 -93 16.374) - The fictional
Snyder Building, where WJM-TV was supposedly located. The building
was actually Midwest Federal Savings and Loan. The building is now
known as Midwest Plaza. The WJM windows shown in exterior shots on
the show are on the east side of the building.
