Pillsbury A Mill
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Pillsbury A-Mill
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The mill in 2005, a hydroelectric station in the foreground
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| Location | 116 3rd Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN |
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| Coordinates | 44°59′2.18″N 93°15′9.59″W / 44.9839389°N 93.2526639°WCoordinates: 44°59′2.18″N 93°15′9.59″W / 44.9839389°N 93.2526639°W |
| Built | 1881 |
| Architect | Leroy Buffington |
| Part of | Saint Anthony Falls Historic District (#71000438) |
| NRHP Reference # | 66000402 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | November 13, 1966 |
| Designated CP | March 11, 1971 |
The Pillsbury A-Mill, situated along Saint Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, held the title of largest flour mill in the world for 40 years. Completed in 1881, it was owned by Pillsbury and operated two of the most powerful direct-drive waterwheels ever built, each generating 1,200 horsepower (895 kW). The mill still stands today on the east side of the Mississippi River and has been converted into resident artist lofts.
In 1879, after five years of secret planning, Charles Alfred Pillsbury announced to the public that he would build the largest and most advanced mill the world had ever seen. He had traveled to mills all over the world, searching for the best technique for milling flour on a large scale. Despite the convention of the time, Pillsbury decided that he wanted his new mill to be designed by an architect in order to make the building visually appealing. Architect LeRoy S. Buffington, with the loose advice of several engineers, carried out the design. Construction started in 1880 and was finished in 1881 under a contractor named George McMullen. The mill was built to put out 5,000 barrels a day when at a time when a 500-barrel mill was considered large. For some years the mill was not run at its intended capacity. Part of the building was used as a warehouse and other purposes.
Due to vibrations of milling machines and poor design in 1905 the mill was fortified and certain sections were rebuilt. To this day, the walls bow inward 22 inches (560 mm) on the top. Unlike other similarly large mills in the area, most notably the Washburn A Mill, the Pillsbury A Mill never exploded or caught fire. As a result, it still contains its original wood frame.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 and is a National Historic Landmark.
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