Blizzard warnings in Northwest Minnesota, winter weather advisories across the state

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Around the world, tech giants are investing billions of dollars in building so-called "smart cities." Google's parent company Alphabet has plans to develop a 12-acre slice of Toronto while Microsoft founder Bill Gates bought 25,000 acres in the Arizona desert for a future city. 

Fifty years ago there was a similar effort in Aitkin County in northern Minnesota. Plans for the city included technological innovations like self-driving cars, renewable power and advanced recycling plants. 


Alas, this city never came to be. Many residents in the area didn't want it. The price tag was gargantuan: $10 billion in 1960s money. And its most prominent booster, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, lost his presidential bid against Richard Nixon. 

 detailing the history of the Minnesota Experimental City opens Friday at St. Anthony Main Theatre in Minneapolis. The 

 organized the screening event. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with the director and producer Chad Freidrichs.

Click on the audio player above to hear their conversation.

How a futuristic dome city was nearly built in northern Minnesota

How a far-sighted Minnesota scientist pointed America toward the future

Arts and Culture

Science

Shows

Morning Edition

NewsPartners

Cathy Wurzer

Author

Max Nesterak

Fifty years ago, plans for the city in Aitkin county included technological innovations like self-driving cars, renewable power and advanced recycling plants.

Around the world, tech giants are investing billions of dollars in building so-called "smart cities." Google's parent company Alphabet has plans to develop a 12-acre slice of Toronto while Microsoft founder Bill Gates bought 25,000 acres in the Arizona desert for a future city. Fifty years ago there was a similar effort in Aitkin county in northern Minnesota. Plans for the city included technological innovations like self-driving cars, renewable power, and advanced recycling plants.

Minnesota was way ahead of Google in planning a smart city

A sketch of Athelstan Spilhaus' Experimental City plan.

Minnesota was way ahead of Google in planning a smart city

Go Deeper.

Like this?