Description

Commissioned by Wells Fargo, this scaled-down replica of the Northwestern National Bank Weatherball is just a fraction of the size of the original. Installed in 1949, the Weatherball weighed 78 tons and stood 12 stories tall at 367 feet above street level. The ball at the top was 10 feet in diameter and contained colored lights that forecast the weather which could be seen from 15 miles away by ground and 95 miles away by air. The Weatherball became a local landmark and the symbol of Northwestern National Bank, appearing in radio ads and commercials and even earning its own jingle: When the Weatherball is glowing red, Warmer weather's just ahead. When the Weatherball is shining white, Colder weather is in sight. When the Weatherball is wearing green, No weather changes are foreseen. Colors blinking by night and day Say precipitation's on the way. Though it survived, the Weatherball was turned off after the Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day Fire of 1982. It was removed before the Northwestern National Bank Building was demolished in 1984 and donated to the MN State Fair, where it remained in storage for any years. Unfortunately, due to deterioration, the original Weatherball was recycled in 2000 and today lives on in the memories of locals.