Overview

The Hafstad House is an outstanding example of the Eastlake Style of architecture.  

• Location: 159 Arthur Avenue Southeast 
• Neighborhood: Prospect Park 

Historic profile

The Hafstad House is an outstanding example of the Eastlake Style of architecture. Eastlake Style houses use a lot of decorative ornament. This late 1800s style celebrates craftsmanship, honesty, and simplicity.  

Jacob Hafstad was a fireman in the Minneapolis Fire Department in the 1890s. He pulled the permit to build the house in 1894. It is not known if an architect prepared the design. The house is sited on the top of a hill with a view toward the Mississippi River.  

Although the siding has been replaced, the house retains many of its original details. The porch and balcony railings exhibit a stick-and-ball pattern. This pattern continues under the eaves of both features. The porch and balcony also have turned wood column supports. Decorative wood carvings fill the pediment above the front stairs and the main gable. The gables also have lacy bargeboard in the ends. The top story on the front elevation has a Palladian window in one gable and a bull's eye window in the other. These elaborate details provide architectural charm.