Dwan, John, Office Building
About this property
The John Dwan Office Building, located at 201 Waterfront Drive in Two Harbors, Minnesota, United States, is a historical building in which the 3M Company was founded and which now holds the 3M Birthplace Museum. The building was the location where John Dwan, a Two Harbors attorney drew up the incorporation papers for the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (now 3M) in 1902. The new company's vision was to mine and process corundum that the founders believed was plentiful on Lake Superior's north shore. The company nearly went bankrupt, because the mineral they were mining was useless as an abrasive and the high humidity at Lake Superior wreaked havoc with their adhesive process. Nevertheless, the company survived by receiving financial support from Lucius Pond Ordway, moving to Saint Paul, and changing its focus to manufacturing of abrasives with imported materials. The 3M Birthplace Museum, also known as the 3M Museum run by the Lake County Historical Society, features exhibits on the company's beginnings as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, its early products such as sandpaper and Scotch Tape, and its later innovations such as Post-it Notes and Scotchgard. The museum also includes a recreated attorney's office from the early 1900s, a history of the company with photos, artifacts, and documents, and a laboratory exhibit. It also features a recreation display of an early lab, typical of 3M research and development work. Visitors can also do hands-on interactive programs and learn about the latest technology applications. The 3M Company has provided over $100,000 in grants for renovation work to the building.
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was Dwan, John, Office Building listed on the National Register?
Dwan, John, Office Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 10, 1992.
What type of historic resource is Dwan, John, Office Building?
Dwan, John, Office Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Dwan, John, Office Building?
The period of significance for Dwan, John, Office Building is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Dwan, John, Office Building?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Dwan, John, Office Building will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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