Stop 24: International Harvester Building – 704 1st Avenue N.
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The three-story International Harvester Building was constructed in 1904, in the utilitarian style of the day. It is characterized by masonry exterior bearing walls and large window openings to provide daylight deep into the structure. The interior structure consists of heavy timber, capable of supporting the large machinery that was housed on each floor. A freight elevator provided access to all floors.
Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the reaper, founded the International Harvester Company in Chicago in the early 1850s.
With the bonanza farms of the Red River Valley producing huge quantities of wheat for the Minneapolis market, the International Harvester Company decided to establish a branch in Fargo. Their first building in 1879 was two stories high, including office space and three warehouses. Located near the Northern Pacific tracks, the branch was able to supply mowers, reapers, corn harvesters, rakes, corn huskers and corn shredders to North Dakota and western Minnesota.
This 1904 building was renovated in 1996 to house the Plains Art Museum, which maintains the premier collection of regional art, as well as hosting touring exhibits.