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St. Paul, Minn.

January 11, 2011 6:58 AM

Minnesota history: The rise of 3M

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Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company — Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, Arcade and Bush, St. Paul. Photograph Collection ca. 1938
Image Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

The old 3M headquarters complex in East St. Paul is beginning to breathe new life. The St. Paul Port Authority, which purchased the 46-acre campus two years ago, expects a commercial bakery to open on the site by the summer.

HealthEast already runs an ambulance service on another part of the property. And Ironton Asset Fund, a St. Paul-based real estate development company, is looking for ways to preserve and re-purpose four of the historic buildings on the campus.

3M moved its operations to Maplewood in the 1960s.

MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer talked about the history of the company and its old St. Paul headquarters with St. John's University historian Annette Atkins.

Editor's note: The original version of this story incorrectly stated the year the St. Paul Port Authority completed its acquisition of the property. It was 2009, not 2011.

Gallery

4 of 4

3M Manufacturing Company — Manufacture of cellulose tape, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul. Photograph Collection 1931.
Image Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

1 of 4

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company — Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, Arcade and Bush, St. Paul. Photograph Collection ca. 1938
Image Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

2 of 4

3M plant explosion — 3M plant explosion, 1951, St. Paul. Photographer: Minneapolis Star Journal Tribune.
Image Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

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