Foshay Tower

The W Hotel in Minneapolis, better known to locals as Foshay Tower, is nicknamed "the first skyscraper west of the Mississippi". Although this nickname isn't exactly 100% true, the Foshay Tower did remain the tallest building in Minneapolis from 1929 until 1972 when the IDS Center was constructed.

This building was modeled after the Washington Monument and was the dream of Wilbur Foshay, an entrepreneur and art student. Foshay Tower was completed just before the stock market crash of 1929 and was constructed to house Foshay's business as well as his residence. This building was added to the NRHP (National Register of Historic Places) as an example of Art Deco architecture in 1978.

The 27th and 28th floor of the building was where Foshay intended his home to be. They carried a three bedroom, three bathroom suit with a library, fireplace, and Italian marble walls with glass ceilings. Although Foshay was never able to take residence in this new home, Minnesotans and guests from all over the world are able to visit the 28th floor where the W Hotel now has its sky-high Prohibition bar.

In my opinion, the most unique thing about the Foshay Tower is that even if you don't know where it is or what the building looks like, it is impossible to miss while looking at the Minneapolis skyline. The building has FOSHAY written in lighted letters that rise 10 feet in height on all four sides just below the top of the edifice.
(http://www.starwoodhotels.com)