Overview

The Olson House was the home of influential political leader Floyd B. Olson. 

• Location: 1914 49th Street West
• Neighborhood: Lynnhurst

Historic profile

The Olson House was the home of influential political leader Floyd B. Olson. He lived here for over a decade with his wife, Ada, and their daughter, Patricia.

The house is a 1.5-story bungalow, which was popular in the 1920s. It has a gable roof and is clad in red brick and stucco. Various political meetings were held in the finished basement.

Floyd was a Hennepin County attorney for 10 years. He organized the reform movement in the 1920s into the Farmer-Labor party. He served three terms as Minnesota governor from 1930 until his death from cancer in 1936. 

He fought for reforms that protected farmers and workers. During the Great Depression, he temporarily suspended mortgage payments. He approved several bills supporting workers unions and fair negotiation practices. He had an informal political alliance with Franklin D. Roosevelt and created policies that reflected the New Deal. He supported the conservation of natural resources. He also created a statewide pension program and a graduated income tax. He advocated for public ownership to prevent unemployment and increase the wealth of residents. He is buried in Lakewood Cemetery.