Hawthorne Transportation Center

The first intercity bus station in Minneapolis was the Union Bus Depot, which opened by 1921 at 29 North 7th Street.[3][6] In 1922, this station served the following eight bus operators: Buffalo-Minneapolis Bus Line, New Era Transportation Co., Minnesota Transportation Co., Inter-State Transportation Co., Jefferson Highway Transportation Co., Rochester Bus Line, Twin City Motor Bus Co., and Boulevard Transportation Co.[7]

On February 26, 1937, a new bus station opened at 1st Avenue North and 7th Street, built by Northland Greyhound. The $500,000 terminal was designed by Lang & Raughland and was regarded as the most modernistic in the nation.[4] The blue-glazed brick and white trimmed building could accommodate up to 25 buses at a time.[8] The station at First Avenue would remain the primary point of departure until 1968, by which time the shine had worn off. On September 21, Central Greyhound opened a new station at 9th Street and Hawthorne Avenue. The new facility was considered bright and airy compared to its' predecessor, with space for 14 buses, a restaurant, newsstand and giftcourt.[5] The $2 million station served Greyhound, Jefferson Transportation Co., Thoreson Bus Line, Twin City Rapid Transit Company, and Zephyr Lines, Inc.[9]

In the late 1990s, planning began on a replacement station to occupy the same site, at 950 Hawthorne Avenue. To accomplish this, a temporary station was opened in August 1998 at 11th and Hawthorne while construction took place on the new station.[10] Other locations, such as in the Midway area were studied, however the location in downtown Minneapolis was considered ideal. The city of Minneapolis bought the property in order to build the terminal and a 975 space parking garage. The facility would pay for itself through the leases with intercity bus companies and the parking garage.[10]

The 17,500 square foot station was designed by Symmes, Maini & McKee Associates to hold 8 buses, a 102-seat waiting area and a family center with play equipment.[11] The bus facility cost $2 million, while the associated 975 space parking structure cost $31 million. Skyways across Hawthorne Avenue connect the facility to the Minneapolis Skyway System.[11] A Greyhound sign salvaged from the 1937 station was put up at the new terminal to welcome the 34 daily buses the station saw upon opening.[12] The station began welcoming passengers on November 16, 2000.[1]