[2][3] Cappelen was initially employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad and in 1886 became a City of Minneapolis bridge engineer.

He was elected a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers on April 3, 1895.

[1] Cappelen was responsible for the design of many public works buildings in Minneapolis, for example the Prospect Park Water Tower,[4] the Kenwood Park Water Tower,[5] and the Cappelen Memorial Bridge, which is named in honor of him.

[2][7] As a memorial to his life and career, the city council decided immediately after Cappelen's death to name the bridge in his honor.

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