The building has been credited as “the first skyscraper west of the Mississippi,” but it is at least the second; the Alico Building in Waco, Texas was completed in 1911. However, the Tower remained the tallest building in Minneapolis until the IDS Center reached the same height during construction circa 1972.
Foshay Tower is the namesake of Wilbur Foshay, a businessman who bought and sold utilties companies in order to build his fortune. When the building was completed, he held a large ceremony featuring music by John Philip Sousa. Foshay even pursuaded him to create a special march that was only played for the opening of the Tower.
Because the building was designed to echo the Washington Monument, the sides of the building slope slightly inward. Each floor of the Foshay Tower is slightly smaller than the one below it.
The Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.