The magnificent Metropolitan Opera House sits alongside the Great Northern Railway line on full display to visitors arriving in Grand Forks. The land was donated by railroad tycoon, James J. Hill. It was built in 1890 at a cost of $91,000, and financed by 38 of the City’s founders. The auditorium could seat almost 900 people and included a stage and orchestra pit, a fly loft and a large lobby. The premiere production was the opera, “Martha”, performed by the Emma Abbott Opera Company which was considered the most important touring company at that time. The dedication speech was given by ND Governor, John Miller who noted the importance of such a building to enhance and promote the social and cultural welfare of the community.
The three-story building stood as a grand symbol of optimism for a booming frontier town and was once described as the finest theatre between Minneapolis and Seattle. Perhaps better known for his civic and institutional buildings, it is believed that this is the only theatre ever designed by architect, Warren B. Dunnell . It is a good example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. The round arched entrance and windows, the rough-faced squared stone work and the masonry walls epitomize Richardsonian Romanesque construction. Builders used Roman style brick, which is twelve inches long instead of the standard nine inches, and the column capitals are hand carved, each with a different motif.
Its location alongside the railroad provided a convenient point to load and unload sets and props for a variety of productions. In addition to operas, the Met hosted comedies, burlesque, magic shows and university lectures and even graduations. In 1910 it was adapted to a movie theatre. Then in 1940 much of the original theatre structure was removed and the building was converted to an entertainment center with a bowling alley café and bar, and apartments upstairs. The building was badly damaged in the 1997 flood, but saved through the efforts of many locals and historic preservationists, and was later converted to a brew pub.