Located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts stands as a historic flagship for dance developed by Artspace Projects, Inc. Though the center ceased all operations in May 2024 due to financial challenges, its rich architectural legacy remains a major fixture of the Twin Cities. You can admire the complex's notable structures, including the Hennepin Center for the Arts and the historic Goodale Theater. Originally built in 1910 as the Samuel S.
Shubert Theater, the building boasts a Classical Revival façade featuring glazed terra cotta details, bas-relief columns, and arched windows designed by William Albert Swasey. Over the decades, it transformed into a movie house, burlesque theater, and church before being saved from demolition. In February 1999, the 5.8-million-pound theater made history by moving several blocks on rubber tires, earning a Guinness World Record. Inside, the campus connects via the U.S.
Bank Atrium—featuring a unique Labanotation wall art piece inspired by Rites of Spring—and includes the Target Education Studio with sprung maple floors. Both the Goodale Theater and the Hennepin Center for the Arts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, showcasing remarkable architectural preservation in Minneapolis.
What to see at Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts
- National Register of Historic Places designations for Goodale Theater and Hennepin Center for the Arts
- Classical Revival façade by William Albert Swasey featuring glazed terra cotta details
- Guinness World Record setter for moving a 5.8-million-pound building on rubber tires in 1999
- U.S. Bank Atrium featuring Labanotation wall art inspired by Rites of Spring
- Target Education Studio equipped with sprung maple floors and interactive videoconferencing
Visiting tips
Keep in mind that the Cowles Center ceased all operations and closed the Goodale Theater in 2024 due to financial challenges, so plan to appreciate this historic architectural site from the outside while exploring downtown.
How long: 1 hour · Best time: Daytime
How to get there & what’s nearby
Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts is easy to reach on Minneapolis’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Gethsemane Episcopal Church and State Theatre. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Minneapolis travel guide.
See the full Minneapolis travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.