More About This Project

Background: This Greek Revival house was built by Pierre Bottineau circa 1854 and was one of the first houses erected by white settlers in the Osseo area. Its mixture of construction techniques provides rare insight into the experimental nature of balloon frame construction used during the early settlement of Minnesota.

Project: MacDonald & Mack Architects collaborated with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Three Rivers Park District to relocate the house to the Elm Creek Park Reserve and restore it to its original configuration and period-appropriate appearance. Work also included stabilizing the balloon frame structure and providing heat, electricity, and lighting to facilitate its new use as an interpretive site depicting the life of Pierre Bottineau and early settlers in the Maple Grove area.