8 Things You'll Remember If You Grew Up In Minneapolis In The 1980s
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Courtney Blake
Author
What do you consider the ‘Golden Age’ of Minneapolis? The city when it was at its highest point of flour milling? Today? Those who grew up in Minneapolis in the 1980s may just believe that this decade was the most incredible time in the entire city. Whether or not growing up in the ’80s was totally cool, here are 8 things you’ll definitely remember if you were here during this decade.
In the 1980s, Minneapolis' Block-E was notorious as a loud and rambunctious area full of bars and beggars. This city block has only recently been transformed into The Mayo Clinic Square, a medical center that specializes in sports injuries, but the memories of a Block-E's past remain.
Prince was a pioneer in the creation of what is now known as the "Minneapolis Sound." This subgenre of funk rock combines flairs of synth-pop with a new wave feel, quick rhythms, less bass, and more drums than traditional funk. The unique sound gave us our own musical identity and spawned a whole new genre. As if we needed another reason to love Prince?
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Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton's family once owned the Dayton's chain of department stores. First opened in 1902 by George Draper Dayton, this corporation grew massively throughout the decades before acquiring several other businesses and being renamed Target Corporation. The Dayton's original store was later rebranded as a Marshall Field's and a Macy's, but now remains vacant, leaving behind a ghost of the former-favorite shopping center.
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Saint Paul native Herb Brooks helped the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team take down the Soviet Union in 1980. Many of the team's players were Minnesotan, and this epic win went down in history as a true 'Miracle On Ice.'
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The Replacements are considered pioneers of alternative rock, and lead singer Paul Westerberg was born and raised right here in Minneapolis! The Replacements became incredibly popular in the 1980s, leading everyone to wish they could be as cool as this Minneapolis musician.
Sure, Minnesota was the only state to hand over their electoral college votes for Walter Mondale in 1984, but his legacy in Minnesota - especially in Minneapolis - has only continued. Even if you weren't old enough to vote in the 80s, you definitely knew how important Mondale's campaign was.
Whether or not you love baseball, it's impossible not to get excited when your home team wins! Although the current Minnesota Twins team might not have the chops they did 30 years ago, we still love 'em. If only they could be as rad as the fellas in 1987...
Zubaz were invented in Minnesota in 1989 and popularized by former Governor Jesse Ventura. In retrospect, these flashy, wide-legged, elastic waistband pants were a pretty terrible fashion choice... but in the late 80s and 90s, Minneapolitans couldn't get enough of them.
What do you miss about growing up in Minneapolis? Tell us about your memories!
Are you ready to for some more nostalgia? Read about these 6 Retro Places In Minneapolis That Will Take You Back In Time.
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