Baseball-size hail hit Minneapolis. Here's what it did to a 130-year-old landmark.
On August 11, 2023, a late-afternoon storm dropped hail up to 3 inches across Minneapolis and Golden Valley. NOAA logged 13 hail reports within 3 miles of the Scottish Rite Temple at Dupont and Franklin, the largest 3.00" about a mile away. Two weeks later our drone found dents in the building's copper, and a full 3D measurement put the roof at 35,083 square feet across 236 separate facets.
Why does this building matter so much?
If you've driven down Franklin Avenue, you've seen it. The red sandstone towers at Dupont and Franklin were built in 1894 as Fowler Methodist Episcopal Church, designed by Warren H. Hayes, one of the era's best-known church architects, and finished by Harry Wild Jones. Since 1915 it has been the home of the Minneapolis Scottish Rite, one of Minnesota's best-known Masonic bodies.
It's on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Minneapolis landmark. For generations of Minnesota Freemasons, this is where the big nights happen.
Own or manage a building people care about? Get it documented before the next storm →
| Time (CDT) | Distance | Hail |
|---|---|---|
| 5:19 pm | 1.8 mi | 1.75" (golf ball) |
| 5:20 pm | 0.6 mi | 2.10" (hen egg) |
| 5:23 pm | 1.0 mi | 3.00" (baseball) |
| 5:24 pm | 2.7 mi | 2.50" (tennis ball) |
| 5:32 pm | 0.8 mi | 1.75" (golf ball) |
| 5:33 pm | 0.2 mi | 1.75" (golf ball) |
| 5:36 pm | 2.0 mi | 1.50" (ping-pong ball) |
| 5:37 pm | 1.1 mi | 1.50" (ping-pong ball) |
| 5:37 pm | 1.1 mi | 2.50" (tennis ball) |
| 5:44 pm | 1.6 mi | 2.00" (hen egg) |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center local storm reports. Distance is measured from the Temple. Hail also fell between reporting points.
How big was the hail on August 11, 2023?
NOAA recorded hail from 1 to 3 inches across south and north Minneapolis and Golden Valley between about 5:16 and 5:50 pm. Near Lowry Hill and the Wedge, reports included 3.00", 2.50", 2.10" and 1.75". Golden Valley had 2-inch hail.
It was a Friday happy-hour storm. The sky went dark enough inside the 494/694 loop that streetlights came on. In just over half an hour, NOAA logged 13 hail reports within 3 miles of this building.
Were you in Minneapolis or Golden Valley that day? See every Twin Cities storm we track →
Can hail really dent copper?
Yes. Copper is soft, so hail leaves round dents in it, like a dented car hood. Copper doesn't crack the way shingles do, but dents in caps, coping, gutters and domes can trap water and weaken seams. On a historic building, the fix is usually custom fabrication by hand, not an off-the-shelf part.
Look closely at the copper
This is the copper cap that runs up the stone gable. From the street it looks fine. From 10 feet away, the drone shows dozens of round dents in rows, the pattern hail leaves on soft metal.
That's why we don't stop at ground-level photos. On a building with towers, turrets and 35/12 cones, most of the roof can't be seen from anywhere but the air.
Wondering what's on top of your building? Book a drone inspection →
What does a thorough inspection actually look like?
Most roof reports are a handful of photos and a guess. On this building we built a full 3D model, measured every facet, pitch and edge, and turned it into a report the owner could hand to anyone: an architect, a bidder or an adjuster.
Measurements from the 3D model report for this property. Pitches range from flat to 52/12. About 44% of the roof is 11/12, and 37% is flat.
Want this level of detail on your property? Request an inspection report →
What would it cost to put this roof back?
We inspected this building; the Scottish Rite did not hire us for repairs, and this isn't a Repair King project. There's no final bid. Using the measurements and typical copper pricing, here's a rough range for replacing the parts of the roof we documented. These are typical ranges, not a price for this building.
Rough replacement range for the steep roof and copper. Flat sections not included.
| Component | Rough range |
|---|---|
| Steep-slope shingle roof: tear-off and replace 221 squares, mostly 11/12–12/12, turrets up to 35/12 | $221K – $332K |
| Custom-bent copper half-round gutters and downspouts 1,340 ft of eaves at about $110–$160/ft | $147K – $214K |
| Copper flashing and step flashing 1,511 ft around walls, dormers and turrets at about $40–$75/ft | $60K – $113K |
| Copper ridge, hip caps and gable coping (dented) part of 2,069 ft of hips and ridges | $75K – $150K |
| Copper standing-seam dome hand-formed, curved panels | $60K – $150K |
| Height, steep-pitch and safety charges: lifts, scaffolding, fall protection, landmark permits about 15–25% on a building like this | $85K – $240K |
| Rough total, steep roof + copper | $649K – $1.20M |
| Flat sections, only if hail damage is confirmed there 130 squares of ballasted flat roof | + $117K – $182K |
What drives the price: height and access, steep pitches, turrets and cones, hand-bent copper, and landmark review on any exterior change. A bid needs a site visit and a finished inspection.
A building your size? Hail can cost more than you'd guess. Get yours documented →
Isn't it too late to check for damage from 2023?
For hail, plan on one year from the storm date. Many Minnesota policies limit hail claims to one year (Minn. Stat. § 65A.26), and the general limit is two years (§ 65A.01). Check the "Suit Against Us" section of your policy. For the August 11, 2023 storm, that window has already closed for most policies.
That's the point of this story. Big storms keep coming. Twin Cities hail hit again in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Documenting your roof now gives you a baseline, so after the next storm you can show what changed.
What should I do now?
- Inspect: drone and hands-on photos of every slope.
- Document: 3D measurements and a written photo report.
- Explain options: repair, replace, or wait and watch.
- Complete work: if and when you're ready.
Book a free roof inspection
No cost, no pressure. You get photos of everything we find.
Hail, copper and landmark roofs: straight answers
How big was the hail in Minneapolis on August 11, 2023?
NOAA recorded hail from 1 to 3 inches across south and north Minneapolis and Golden Valley between about 5:16 and 5:50 pm. Near Lowry Hill and the Wedge, reports included 3.00", 2.50", 2.10" and 1.75". Golden Valley had 2-inch hail.
Can hail damage copper?
Yes. Copper is soft, so hail leaves round dents in it, like a dented car hood. Copper doesn't crack the way shingles do, but dents in caps, coping, gutters and domes can trap water and weaken seams. On a historic building, the fix is usually custom fabrication by hand, not an off-the-shelf part.
How long do I have to deal with hail damage in Minnesota?
For hail, plan on one year from the storm date. Many Minnesota policies limit hail claims to one year (Minn. Stat. § 65A.26), and the general limit is two years (§ 65A.01). Check the "Suit Against Us" section of your policy. For the August 11, 2023 storm, that window has already closed for most policies.
What does a thorough commercial roof inspection include?
At Repair King it includes drone photos of every slope and detail, close-ups of metal and flashings, a 3D model with measurements for every facet, pitch and edge, and a written photo report. The owner gets documentation they can use for planning, bids, or an insurance conversation.
Does Repair King inspect churches, lodges and historic buildings?
Yes. We inspect steep slate, shingle, copper and flat roofs on churches, lodges, apartment buildings and commercial properties across the Twin Cities. Book an inspection and we'll give you photos of everything we find.
Repair King documents storm damage and does the construction work. Minnesota law doesn't allow contractors to negotiate insurance claims; claim decisions are between you and your insurer. MN License BC695228.
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