Episode 126: 18:53 Working Tools Series - Masonic Visionaries episode artwork

EPISODE · May 28, 2026 · 8 MIN

Episode 126: 18:53 Working Tools Series - Masonic Visionaries

from Minnesota Masonic Histories and Mysteries · host John Schwietz

How did Minneapolis secure its crown as one of America’s greatest park cities? It started with two men. This week, we profile Charles M. Loring—the "Father of Minneapolis Parks"—and Theodore Wirth, the legendary superintendent who designed them. From saving the Chain of Lakes to inventing modern urban recreation, we track the timeline, brilliant engineering, and legacy of the duo who turned a treeless prairie into a world-class network of interconnected green spaces. Brothers Charles M. Loring and Theodore Wirth were members of Hennepin Lodge No. 4 (Masonic Temple on 6th and Hennepin). 

How did Minneapolis secure its crown as one of America’s greatest park cities? It started with two men. This week, we profile Charles M. Loring—the "Father of Minneapolis Parks"—and Theodore Wirth, the legendary superintendent who designed them. From saving the Chain of Lakes to inventing modern urban recreation, we track the timeline, brilliant engineering, and legacy of the duo who turned a treeless prairie into a world-class network of interconnected green spaces. Brothers Char...

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Episode 126: 18:53 Working Tools Series - Masonic Visionaries

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This episode was published on May 28, 2026.

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How did Minneapolis secure its crown as one of America’s greatest park cities? It started with two men. This week, we profile Charles M. Loring—the "Father of Minneapolis Parks"—and Theodore Wirth, the legendary superintendent who designed them....

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