Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery

The Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery is the oldest existing cemetery in Minneapolis. Since the first burial in 1853, the cemetery has become the final resting place for many who shaped history, from territorial pioneers to military veterans who served in wars ranging from the War of 1812 to World War I. It's also the resting place for many of the citys early African-American residents, and for those with ties to the abolitionist movement. Several thousand immigrants, primarily from Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, are buried here, as are many of their children, and in fact, more than half of the cemeterys 20,000 residents are children.

A duplex coating allowed this fence to be restored to its original color with the advantage of the added life cycle and low maintenance galvanizing affords.

On June 2, 2002, Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1928, the Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery's decorative steel fence and gates line the cemetery at the busy intersection of Lake Street and Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis, MN. Over the years the fence had fallen into disrepair and was in desperate need of renovation. The harsh Minnesota winters had taken its toll on the fence having been battered by snow plows and the use of corrosive deicers on Cedar and Lake over several generations. Historical preservation was of high importance. Reusing the original fence created constraints and challenges to the project. The goal was to replace as little of the original elements as possible. This, along with keeping the cemetery secure during the renovation, required a concentrated effort to quickly return the fence following dismantling. Also, the long lengths of delicate fence sections required careful handling through all steps of the process.

Galvanizing the renovated fence, which would be subjected to corrosive salt deicers and possible vandalism in this urban setting, along with a protective duplex coating was deemed to be the appropriate system to achieve the longest service life. This process, in comparison to other coating systems available, will greatly reduce future maintenance issues. This fence not only protects the cemetery from vandalism but also is the historical cornerstone of the community. It was of high importance that the original material be preserved and reused restoring the fence to its previous condition. A duplex coating allowed this fence to be restored to its original color with the advantage of the added life cycle and low maintenance galvanizing affords. Friends of the Cemetery, a non-profit group, began the "Adopt-A-Picket" campaign in order to raise funds for the restoration.

Sustainability and historical preservation, along with funding constraints made the reuse of all acceptable existing material a major goal. It was determined that nearly all of the existing fencing could be reused. Although there was significant corrosion requiring minor components to be remanufactured, the fabricator was able to make optimum use of the existing structure. Hot-dip galvanizing was the coating of choice as it would greatly reduce future maintenance issues other "paint only" systems would afford with minimal environmental impact and would offer the maximum service life, preserving this historically significant treasure for generations to come.