1890
State YWCA holds convention in Minneapolis. Minneapolis women stress a need for meeting place, especially during the lunch hour.
1891
The first YWCA Minneapolis is established on a second-story flat above a store on 45 South 8th Street. A lunchroom and rest areas are provided.
1892
The YWCA moves to 4th Street South to a location on the second floor, above a store.
1893
The YWCA relocates to 808 Nicollet Mall. The first floor contains a gymnasium and a dressing room. The women's vigorous exercise is halted when a burly Minneapolis policeman comes to the door to see what is shaking the building.
1898
The Traveler's Aid program begins. Traveler's Aid employees go to the train stations to meet and help women coming to Minneapolis from rural areas. YWCA moves to 521 1st Avenue South. Facilities include a gymnasium. The membership total is 738. The cafeteria serves between 500-700 people daily.
1900
W.S. Benton secretly buys a plot of land on South 7th Street to donate to the YWCA.
1903
The YWCA moves to the first Minneapolis building owned and operated by women, at 89 South 7th Street. The building is open 24 hours a day.
1911
Mrs. W.S. Benton, YWCA President, raises $10,000 to build a swimming pool. She does this despite the public opinion that "the girls could do very well without one."
1918
Mr. Fredrick W. Lyman donates his summer home on Lake Minnetonka, along with all the furniture in the house, to the YWCA. The camp is named "Elizabeth Lyman Lodge" after Mr. Lyman's late wife.
1929
YWCA opens at 1130 Nicollet Avenue. Annual membership dues are $1.00 for adults and $.50 for children, and 25 transient rooms were available for $1.00 a day.
1942
The first African-American member is elected to the board of YWCA Minneapolis.
1945
The YWCA offers the first racially integrated pool in the Twin Cities.
1970
The YWCA begins providing pregnancy prevention programming for teens.
1970
The YWCA holds a three-day seminar at Lyman Lodge with the purpose of combating racism.
1973
The camping program ends and Lyman Lodge becomes a year-round program and retreat center.
1973
The estate of Ruth Hawkins gives $100,000 to the YWCA. The Ruth Hawkins Center (North Commons) opens in North Minneapolis and focuses on eliminating racism through programs that bring the community together.
