Dowling's Rich History
Dowling School was established in 1920 by the Minneapolis Board of Education and located in a church at 1805 North Dupont Avenue. There were 17 students when it opened. Previous to this time, children with disabilities were not allowed to attend public schools. In 1924 the current Dowling School site, 3900 West River Parkway, opened and served 124 students.
The school was named in honor of Michael Dowling (1866-1921), who was a prominent Minnesotan in spite of his disabilities.
In 1936, a new wing was built to provide space for the Physical Therapy department and to add a swimming pool. It was a WPA (Works Progress Administration) project.
The pool was dedicated by President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt on October 9, 1936. The pool is still used today by Dowling students.
The school continued to grow to meet the needs of the disability community in the Twin Cities: In 1961-62 nine classrooms and the auditorium was built. The Ramps playground was built in 1978, and renovated in 2015 with adapted playground equipment. The Agriculture building was added in the late 1970s.
In 1980 the Mainstream Program began with Howe, Hiawatha and Anderson Schools. In 1987-1988 school year, Dowling became the Dowling Urban Environmental Learning Center, a fully inclusive magnet program that served students grades K-4. Grade 5 was added in 1988, Grade 6 in 1989.
In 1993 the Gymnasium was added. The cafeteria was renovated during the 2013-14 school year. The stunning mural was created by a former Dowling parent and is surrounded by tiles made by Dowling students.
Dowling became the Dowling Elementary Community School in 2021-2022 school year and serves parts of Seward, Longfellow, Cooper, Howe and Hiawatha neighborhoods.
In 2023 a new accessible playground was installed on the Fields playground.
Who was Michael Dowling?
Michael Dowling was an educator and legislator who succeeded in having the first bill passed providing state aid for handicapped children in 1919. Being handicapped himself, Mr. Dowling realized the importance of equal access to education for all people.
The land for Dowling School was actually donated in 1920 by William Henry Eustis, a former Minneapolis mayor, and realtor.
From a Sept. 2002 article in the Star Tribune:
And Michael Dowling went from school principal, bank president, and mayor of Olivia to speaker of the Minnesota House, a national Republican leader, and organizer of the Philippines' educational system -- all despite having lost both legs, his left arm and the fingers of his right hand in an 1880 snowstorm when he was 14.
As a young man, Dowling went to the county welfare board and promised never to be a ward of the state if the county would provide him with artificial limbs and send him to college. After World War I, he traveled to military hospitals to talk with veterans who had lost limbs, urging them not to think their lives were over.
In "The Things We Know Best," the 1976 local history edited by Minnesota poet Joe Paddock, a woman who knew Dowling said he laughed off his handicaps. His favorite story was about the Minneapolis bellhop who, at his request, helped him get ready for bed one night. "Take off my leg," Dowling said, and the bellhop did. Then the other leg, then the arm. "Now, take my head off," he said, and the frantic bellhop ran from the room.
Click here to see a silent film about Michael Dowling. This film, digitized by the Minnesota Historical Society, was first shown at a meeting of the American Medical Association in 1918.
100 Year Celebration
Dowling celebrated 100 years in 2024. Dowling was honored to welcome civic leaders, former principals, students and families. Below you can find the research done by a committee of current and retired staff about the history of Michael Dowling and our beloved school.
