A Visionary Plan for Urban Innovation
In the 1960s, Athelstan Spilhaus, a futurist and engineer, envisioned an ambitious solution to urban decay: the Minnesota Experimental City. This self-sustaining urban center promised to eliminate pollution, integrate cutting-edge technology, and house 250,000 residents.
Revolutionary Features
Spilhaus’s city proposed underground waste transport, driverless mass transit, and home computer terminals—a precursor to the internet. The project required $10 billion (1967 dollars), with most funding from private sources. It gained support from NASA engineers, civil rights leaders, and even Vice President Hubert Humphrey.
Local Resistance and Political Struggles
By 1971, the project was close to becoming reality, with a site chosen in Aitkin County, Minnesota. However, local opposition and dwindling legislative support led to the project’s cancellation in 1973. Rising economic challenges and political shifts further derailed the dream.
A Legacy of Innovation
Though never built, the Minnesota Experimental City inspired future urban planning concepts. Today’s experiments in sustainable cities reflect Spilhaus’s visionary ideas, proving the enduring relevance of his dream for a better urban future.
In the 1960s, futurist Athelstan Spilhaus envisioned the Minnesota Experimental City, a pollution-free urban project embracing cutting-edge technology. Backed by NASA engineers and civil rights leaders, the city aimed to revolutionize urban life for 250,000 residents.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/ml943dQTjC
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