The Lumber Exchange building is a Minneapolis landmark rooted in history. As the epicenter of Minnesota’s lumber trade operations, the Lumber Exchange building was a major contributor to the economic development of the state.At the time of its construction in 1885, the Lumber Exchange Building was one of the most grandiose and expensive buildings in Minneapolis. The Lumber Exchange Building was the first skyscraper built in Minneapolis and remains the oldest building downtown. Designed with the old-world elegance and charm of the Romanesque revival, the building boasts grand arch entries, romantic chandeliers, lofty vault ceilings and dazzling marble floors.