Collection on the Nicollet Mall

In October, 1984, the street known as "Nicollet Avenue" between 10th St. S and W Grant St. was officially designated as "Nicollet Mall." The name was changed to reflect the street's redesign of the 1960s, which converted the bustling downtown street into a curving eight-block shopping promenade.

Planning for the Nicollet Mall began in the late 1950s at a time when many downtown businesses were relocating to the suburbs and retail sales were on the decline. In 1955, a group of downtown property and business owners, retailers, and consultants formed the Downtown Council in order to respond to these changes and to strengthen the downtown community. The council's goals included creating more attractive urban spaces and places and specifically stated that there should be a pedestrian mall on Nicollet Avenue. Studies were conducted and it was suggested that a transit mall would be the best option for Minneapolis. In 1961, landscape architect Lawrence Halprin and transportation consultants Barton-Aschman Associates were hired to design the Mall. Construction began in 1965 and was completed in 1968.

In June 1987, BRW Construction was chosen to update the Nicollet Mall, which was showing its age with broken sidewalks and deteriorating fixtures. The structural overhaul straightened Halprin's curvilinear street path, and introduced new materials, lighting, signage, and art to the space. The Nicollet Mall Implementation Board was formed in 1987 to oversee the Mall's renovation project. The project was completed in 1991 and the board dissolved.