State Theater

Ely, United States

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

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Built in 1936 by prominent Upper Midwest theater architects Liebenberg and Kaplan, the State Theater in Ely, Minnesota exemplifies Streamline Moderne design at the height of Hollywood's golden age. The theater closed in 2008 during the Great Recession and fell into disrepair before restoration efforts began in 2014, culminating in its reopening in December 2019. Now operating as both a cinema and live event venue with an adjoining second theater and concessions area, the building also houses a one-bedroom apartment above the lobby available for short-term rental. The State Theater was recognized on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015 as a notable example of the architects' prolific small-town commissions.