Wirth Building

Duluth, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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Heritage registerNational Register of Historic Places↗

Built in 1886 in downtown Duluth, Minnesota, the Wirth Building is a commercial structure in the Richardsonian Romanesque style and the city's first example of that architectural mode. Designed by architect Oliver G. Traphagen—working in partnership with George Wirth, one of Minnesota's most prominent architects—the building was commissioned by Max Wirth to house his pharmacy business. The attribution between the two partners remains uncertain, as the design represented a stylistic departure for both. Shortly after completion, Wirth returned to Bavaria while Traphagen remained in Duluth, where he established himself as the city's leading architect. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 for its architectural significance and its role as a pivotal early work in Traphagen's career.