During the first few weeks in November, residents and visitors to the Mill District will start noticing some new signage on 16 different properties, along 2nd Street, 3rd Avenue, and Washington Avenue.
The purpose of the DMNA Historic Signage Project is to create and install signage that highlights the history behind buildings, and potentially other architecture in the downtown community. We believe the signage will enhance the pedestrian experience for residents and visitors, increase the sense of community in our neighborhoods, honor our past, and create a legacy for the future.
The DMNA modeled its project after a similar project in the North Loop neighborhood. The DMNA Historic Signage Committee received guidance on our project from volunteers from the North Loop Neighborhood Association. We appreciate and want to recognize their help!
The DMNA is starting with 16 buildings in the Mill District but will expand to other areas in the Downtown East and Downtown West neighborhoods in the future. Each of the historic signs includes a QR code that when scanned will take you to a page on the DMNA website with more history about the building. (On or around November 8, after the historic signage has been installed on all of the buildings, we will activate the building history webpages on the DMNA website.)
A video created by Peter Zenner from ZenMation showcases each of the properties the DMNA Historic Signage Committee produced signage for this year. You can view the video via the link below:
A BIG THANK YOU to committee members Dianne Walsh, Randy Manthey, Christine Anderson, Rana Geving, and Lisa Olson. They have been working very hard on this project over the last six months.
For more information about the project and an interactive map with all of the buildings on it, please visit the DMNA website: https://www.thedmna.org/historic-signage/