History of City Buildings

City Hall, Police Station & Fire Station

Hopkins has always had a core business district, and in the center of that early business district was Hopkins City Hall at 8th Avenue N and Mainstreet. Completed in 1912, it housed the city's police and jail in the rear portions, and city offices, a library and meeting room upstairs. The fire station was on the main level, and the firefighters used horse-drawn rigs. The building was remodeled in 1940 to accommodate more fire trucks.

The original City Hall building located at 8th Avenue N and Mainstreet

That fire station was torn down in 1965 after a new City Hall, Police Station and Fire Station were built at 1010 1st St. S In 2004, a new Fire Station was built on 17th Avenue The Police Department was expanded and remodeled in 2005.

Public Works Facility

In the summer of 1982, the City and its Public Works Department accomplished the challenge of building a city garage on a small area, using as many of the existing structures as possible, doing it within a $475,000 budget, and doing it without disrupting city services. The Public Works facility was expanded and remodeled in 2004.

Hopkins Pavilion

Adjacent to the Public Works facilities is the Hopkins Pavilion, which was built with money from a 1989 park bond referendum. The facility opened in December 1991. It is now one of the premier facilities of its kind in the Twin Cities area, and is used for soccer, lacrosse, inline roller hockey, skating and ice hockey.

Hopkins Activity Center

The Hopkins Activity Center, a multipurpose community facility, opened in January 1981 at the site of the former South Junior High School. A variety of programs for people of all ages are offered at the Activity Center. It was renovated in 1990, and the facility includes a gymnasium, meeting rooms and a kitchen. The Hopkins Historical Society, which was started more than 24 years ago, also is located in the Activity Center.

Hopkins Center for the Arts

The Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, opened in November 1997. The Arts Center stands as a focal point for arts, culture and entertainment in the Hopkins community, the Twin Cities metro area and the region. It is a community-gathering place where young and old can enjoy high quality, multi-disciplinary cultural arts programs and community activities. The Arts Center includes a theater, a visual arts gallery, multipurpose spaces for rehearsals, community activities and small performances, a visual arts classroom, a dance studio and kitchen facilities for serving catered food.