Thomas Lowry

Biography

Thomas Lowry, born in 1843, built an enterprise that reshaped the Twin Cities, knitting them together with a streetcar system that transformed the rhythm of daily life. Beginning with a modest horsecar line, he guided its growth into an electric network that carried workers, shoppers, and neighbors across the growing metropolis.

Lowry believed that transportation was a service to the whole community, and he gave generously to parks, schools, and civic aims, helping to make Minneapolis a more connected and hopeful place to live. His legacy endures in the boulevards and neighborhoods that still honor his name.