The Institute is maintained by the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts,
incorporated in 1883 for the purpose of promoting a knowledge and love of
art in the community. The purpose of the Society found its first
expression in a school of art, established in 1886 and for many years
carried on in rooms in the building of the Public Library. Since
November, 1916, the School has occupied its own building, the Julia
Morrison Memorial Building, situated in the same Park as the Institute.
From its inception, however, the members of the Society of Fine Arts had
purposed establishing, in addition to the art school, a museum of art. In
1911 this hope suddenly began to take the shape of reality. In January of
that year, Clinton Morrison offered as a gift to the Society the ten acre
tract of land at Twenty-fourth Street between Stevens and Third Avenues,
valued at $250,000, as a site for museum and school buildings, provided
$500,000 should be secured for the erection of the museum. Immediately
upon the announcement of Mr. Morrison’s generous offer, William Hood
Dunwoody, then President of the Society, promised $100,000 for the
building fund. At a dinner held on January 10, 1911, approximately
$250,000 additional was pledged by other public-spirited citizens, and by
the end of the month the entire sum for building had been obtained.
Plans for a building which could be constructed in successive units, to
occupy eventually the entire tract, were prepared by McKim, Mead & White
of New York. In August, 1912, the construction work was begun on the main
unit, and late in 1914 the building was completed. The Institute was
opened to the public on January 7, 1915.
The present museum is about 325 feet long and 100 feet deep, and comprises
approximately one-seventh of the entire plan. The total cost was
$537,000. The construction is of brick, concrete, and steel, with a
facade of white granite. The classical design of the building is
considered exceptionally beautiful in its proportions and in the
refinement of its details. There are two main exhibition floors. The
First Floor contains sixteen exhibition halls and galleries, as well as
the entrance hall, information office, check room, library and
print-study. The Second Floor comprises thirteen galleries, ten of which
are devoted to permanent exhibitions, one to exhibitions of prints, and
two to transient exhibitions. On the Ground Floor are located the
administration offices, the Trustees’ room, toilets, women’s rest room,
lunch room, class room, shipping room and store rooms.
For the purchase of works of art, the Society has the income from
$1,000,000, the munificent bequest of William Hood Dunwoody, who died
February 8, 1914. This fund can be used only for the purchase of works of
art. For the maintenance of the Institute, the Society is dependent upon
membership dues and upon a city tax levy of one-eighth of a mill.