Originally the headquarters of the eponymous Minneapolis Brewing Company, the building ceased operating as a brewery in 1975.

"[1] German immigrant John Orth built a brewery on the current site of Marshall St. and 13th Ave. NE in 1850.

[3] Completed in July 1892 at a cost of $500,000 ($17 million in 2023), the L-shaped brewery was designed by Frederick Wolff and William Lehle.

[11] Various redevelopment plans, including a duty-free foreign trade zone, a luxury hotel, a Shakespearian theater, and an aquarium were put forward.

[12][6] By 1986, the Minneapolis Community Development Agency concluded that the ability to redevelop the building "were not optimistic" due to vandalism and degradation over the years of inoccupancy, and demolition was considered the best option.

City council member Tony Scallon called voting for the purchase the "biggest political mistake I ever made."

[13] In 1995, the Guthrie Theater considered developing the property into offices and a scene shop, but financial considerations caused them to back out within a few months.

The Wagon Shed and Shops has become the Pierre Bottineau Branch of Hennepin County Library; the Bottling House, including the 1969 addition, now serves as a space for artist studios.