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While the home he built for Lindhom pre-station defies search, the gas station is a still regular stop for architecture pilgrims as well as locals on E. It turned 50 last week, to a 50s-inspired promotion complete with attendants, classic cars and 1958-priced gas.

Noted features include a peaked copper roof and an upstairs waiting room that Wright saw as an urban gathering center. The waiting room exists, but was and is rarely used. Wright’s original plan also included udder-like pumps to be pulled from the ceiling to fill cars “like mother’s milk.” State law prohibited it.

A bit of a money pit like some other FLW designs, it may soon go out of private hands in the interest of preservation.

Wright himself never saw it in person, as he was busily working on the Guggenheim and died shortly after the station started working.

See the original documents and photos of 1958 building process, and get a bit more backstory.

Photos: MPR, City of Cloquet and Lisa Baumann of Pine Journal