PHOTO GALLERY

          Minneapolis Meditation Group Meeting Locations

Nov. 1927 - Feb. 1929:

Radisson Hotel, on 7th Street west of Nicollet Avenue in downtown Minneapolis (Most services were held here at the "Center" in the Gold Room. We probably met here longer than through February 1929 but good records were not kept during the years of The Great Depression so we're not sure). We also met here from January - March 1939.

April 1932 - Aug. 1932:

Plymouth Bldg., at 6th and Hennipin in downtown Minneapolis (Most services were held here at the "Center" in room 717 during this time period. We probably started meeting here prior to April 1932).

April 1932 - April 1940:

2201 E. Lake of the Isles Blvd, Minneapolis (Midweek services as well as "Inner Group" meetings were held at this home of a devotee. We probably started meeting here prior to April 1932). 

June 1932 - Dec. 1934:

2201 Girard Ave. So., Minneapolis (Midweek services were held in this home of a devotee). 

Oct. 1932 - June 1933:

Metropolitan National Bank Bldg., SE corner of 6th St. and Marquette Ave., Minneapolis (Most services were held here at the "Center" in room 615). p

July 1933 - Dec. 1938: 

Lumber Exchange Bldg., NE corner of 5th St. and Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis (Most services were held here at the "Center" during this time period. We met in rooms 433-434 and in Pioneer Hall on ground floor).

Jan. 1935 - Dec. 1935: 

2121 Bryant Ave. So., Minneapolis (Midweek services were held in this home of a devotee). 

June 1937 - Dec. 1937:

4006 West 44th Street, Minneapolis (Midweek services were held in this home of a devotee).

April 1939 - Feb. 1940:

West Hotel, NW corner of 5th St. and Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis (Most services were held here at the "Center." We met in the Colonial Room). 

March 1940 - March 1965:   

YMCA Bldg., 36 So. 9th St., Minneapolis (Most services were held here at the "Center." We met in room 302 where a temporary altar was set up for each service). 

Jan. 1952 - June 1958:

316 Stonebridge Blvd, St. Paul (Midweek meditation services were held in this home of a devotee). 

The Minneapolis Meditation Group did not hold services from about April 1965 through February 1976. 

March 1976 - July 1976:

Newman Center, 1701 University Avenue, Minneapolis (The first few meetings of the re-formed Minneapolis Meditation Group were held in a meeting room here). 

July 1976 - Oct. 1978:   

1915 West 49th Street, Minneapolis (We set up a temporary chapel for each service in the first floor living room of this residence, which was the home of a local devotee).  

Aug. 1976 - Oct. 1979:  

2224 Dayton Avenue, St. Paul (We set up a temporary chapel for each service in the first floor dining room of this residence, which was the home of a local devotee).  

Aug. 1979 - Oct. 1980:  

3629 17th Ave. So., Minneapolis (We set up a temporary chapel for each service in the first floor dining room of this residence, which was rented by a local devotee).  
Chapel area at 3629 17th Ave. So.  

July 1980 - Oct. 1989:   

5104 Chowen Ave. So., Minneapolis (Our chapel was permanently set up in the first floor living room of this residence, the home of a local devotee).  
Chapel area at 5104 Chowen Ave. So. for the All-Day Christmas Meditation, December 19, 1981. 

Sept. 1988 - Nov. 1988:

1624 Harmon Place, Minneapolis (We set up a temporary chapel for each service in a dance studio on the second floor of this building).  

Dec. 1988 - Oct. 1989:  

1614 Harmon Place, Minneapolis (We set up a temporary chapel for each service in the waiting area of an office on the second floor of this office building). 

Nov. 1989 - Aug. 1990:  

Nakomis Wellness Center, 4201 East 54th Street, Minneapolis (We set up a temporary chapel for each service in the waiting area of an office in the basement of this building).  
Chapel area at Nakomis Wellness Center. 

Sept. 1990 - May 1994:  

4017 Aldrich Ave. So., Minneapolis (Our altar was permanently set up on the second floor of this residence, which we rented from a local devotee).
Altar at 4017 Aldrich Ave. So. for Paramahansa Yogananda's birthday service, January 5, 1993.
Birthday cake for Paramahansa Yogananda's birthday service, January 5, 1993.

June 1994 - Nov. 1996:  

4248 Park Glen Road, St. Louis Park (We set up a temporary chapel for each service in a conference room within this office building).  
Altar at 4248 Park Glen Road for Janmashtami service, August 29, 1994.
Bookroom in closet in back of chapel at 4248 Park Glen Road.
Left side of chapel  at 4248 Park Glen Road.  About 32 chairs were put up for each service.
Right side of chapel  at 4248 Park Glen Road.

Dec. 1996 - April 2001: 

4524 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park (Our chapel was permanently set up in the second floor of this office building). 

We had to do quite a bit of remodeling ourselves before we could hold our first service at this location. The remodeling "Temple Days of Service" in November 1996 included removing walls and doors, installing doors, painting, installing light fixtures, and other work. Numerous other devotees not caught on film also helped - many, many thanks and God's blessings to you all!

Here is our completed Sunday School and bookroom areas just before Christmas 1996.

Our new chapel at 4524 Excelsior Blvd. was dedicated during a service on March 2, 1997. Here is a view from the front and back of the chapel.

We decided that the front wall of the building needed a new coat of paint. Here it is before painting by group members on June 7, 1997 and after.

Sunday School activities were wonderful at this location. The children learned much and had a lot of fun!

We had monthly potlucks here which always is an enjoyable time of spiritual fellowship. 

Picnics at nearby at Oak Hill Park were a wonderful way to both kick of the summer vacation and begin the new school year in fall.  Here several devotees socialize during the September 13, 1998 picnic, which also included a rousing game of kick ball. No matter where we picnicked at the Oak Hill Park such as this site on September 6, 1999, Master was with us.

May 2001 - Present:

3306 5th Street NE, Minneapolis (We currently meet in our own chapel on the first floor of this office building). The location has a wonderful picnic area outside our chapel and Columbia Park Golf Course is across the street. 

We temporarily met in our social room on the 2nd floor from May through October 2001 while the remodeling of our new 1st floor chapel was in progress.  Rick and Art were hired to install the new cabinets in the social room before we had our first service. 

The remodeling of the 1st floor chapel took longer to complete than expected.  Here's a view of the future chapel following the tearing down of two brick walls and prior to any of the final remodeling. This is a view of the foyer prior to opening a hole in another brick wall for the store room door and after it was opened (viewed from the front of the chapel; the studs for the new chapel wall are visible). 

Once the remodeling was completed in early October, Minneapolis Meditation Group members joined forces for a "Temple Day of Service" on October 14, 2001 to get the new chapel, foyer, and book room ready for our first service. Windows needed to be cleaned both inside and out, pictures hung on the wall, history exhibit and book room set up, and more. May the blessings of God and Guru be with all of you for your devoted service. 

Our first service in the new chapel was held on October 21, 2001 and this is the entrance that greets newcomers. 

During the next few months after moving into our new chapel we purchased beautiful new bookshelves which greatly beautified our foyer and entryway, bookroom area, as well as the history exhibit area. These pictures were taken on April 10, 2002.  

We have monthly potlucks in our social room on the second floor such as this one in April 2002.