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Looking across the Stone Arch Bridge from the top of the Mill City Museum.
Hot and steamy is the best description for Minneapolis in the summer. There’s plenty of water. The Twin Cities sidle up to the great Mississippi River by design and the river front teems with industry past and present. Discover riverside Minneapolis and a powerful history preserved in shadowy remnants at the water’s edge.
St. Anthony Falls Locks, Mississippi River
St. Anthony Falls is the only true waterfall on the Mississippi. For centuries Indians speared fish and built villages along the shore.
“St. Anthony Falls is a sacred place that was created by Mother Earth as a teaching place.” ~ Dave Larsen, Former Tribal Chair, Lower Sioux Indian Community
Early tourists came to marvel at the power of the falls. Industrious engineers envisioned deep tubes of water powering great engines and soon a building boom was on. Between 1880 to 1920 Minneapolis became the “flour milling capitol of the world.” Central to the Midwest, grain trains emptied their bounty as General Mills, Pillsbury,and Betty Crocker became household words.
Mill City Museum sign, Minneapolis
Flour dust can create a dangerous fog. Try as they did to filter the flammable grindings, the mills burst into flames several times before being permanently closed. A phoenix has risen as the best of the remains have been re-purposed into a waterfront park with the graceful Stone Arch Bridge and the towering Mill City Museum.
Riverfront entrance to Mill City Museum, Minneapolis
The pedestrian / bike trail on top of the Stone Arch Bridge is a people magnet. Over 2,100 feet long, it’s built of native granite and limestone. There are 23 arches spanning the river just below St. Anthony Falls. Bicyclists, Segway tours, and families with strollers, slid past all of us enjoying a welcome, cooling breeze.
Looking across the Mississippi you can just spy the old Pillsbury Factory Building.
Riverfront trail near Stone Arches Bridge
Just past west side hotels and condos there’s a small parking lot. Walking down the ramp, I ended up at the water’s edge to find a warren of ruins and trails – the remains of the old mill. It’s a mysterious place, well worth taking the time to explore.
Riverfront Mill Trail, Minneapolis
For being on the edge of such a large city the area is quiet except for the distant shush of the St. Anthony Waterfall. The craftsmanship in stone was mesmerizing.
Decades of masonry craftsmanship remain.
Twisted metal pieces jutted into the sky. Grass and wildflowers flowed wherever they could. The trail makes a refreshing stop before dinner or a visit to the Mill Museum at the top of the trail as you discover Minneapolis.
The Stone Arch Bridge, Minneapolis
If you go:
Riverfront Historical District Map
Stone Arch Bridge – History and things to do
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Proudly a member of the Weekend Wanderlust, The Weekend Travel Inspiration and the Weekly Postcard Linkup. Check out the fine weekly travel stories.
I’d never expect to find ruins like that in the middle of a big city like Minneapolis! It’s great to see how they’ve repurposed an industrial area to benefit city residents.
It’s a cool (literally too) area to explore. I’m just mesmerized by ruins, especially when stumbling on them accidently.
This looks like a great walk – and a great way to see a particular side of the city. If Minneapolis was the “flour milling capital,” you’d think you’d find some great bakeries there – is that so? Do dish :-).
Oh, I wish I’d had time to research bakeries. Did have some memorable meals. More coming about it.
I lived in the Minneapolis area for more than 30 years. As we were relocating, the Mill City area had just begun its conversion to trendy, with new blocks of condos between the Stone Arch park and the imposing Guthrie (which was controversial, very very controversial) Theatre. We love this location and were we ever to return, would definitely consider living on the riverfront, either right here or up a few streets to the Warehouse District, or even perhaps on Nicollet Island above the falls. Such a great town! Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
Thank you, Betsy. I ventured to Nicollet Island too late in the day to really grasp how cool it is. Truly Minneapolis is a great town. More about my brief visit to come.
Beautiful bridge and photos. I visited Minneapolis as a child but haven’t been back since. If/when I move back to the U.S. my husband and I would like to try to reach all 50 states so I’d be back through then. 🙂
That’s a tall order and I don’t think many Americans can claim to have visited all the States. So much to see though and experience. I hope you accomplish it one day.
What a perfect read for a holiday morning! Thanks!!
Thanks, Elizabeth. Glad to fuel your wanderlust!
I am Australian and have only visited NYC in the States. I love the last photo of the stone bridge. I look forward to seeing more of Minneapolis. 🙂
The Stone Bridge is gorgeous from any angle. I hope you get to visit one day, Jan.
As a baker, I never considered how dangerous flour dust could be. It’s strange to think that the ingredient which brings me so many delightful things like cookies and cakes could also burst into flames and destroy a mill. This walk looks so interesting. I like exploring ruins, and you so rarely get to do that in the USA. This is probably one of the best things to visit in Minneapolis, and I’ll have to remember it if I get up there. Thanks for linking up with #WkendTravelInspiration.
Thanks, Michele, I think the quantities of flour they were grinding and the proximity to engines was part of the problem. It didn’t hurt the industry for all that did it? Cool that you’re a baker and I hope you get to poke around Minneapolis one day.
Love the panorama shot of the city. While we’ve never been, we hope to make it to the city to see some of the sites and take in a baseball game. Thanks for sharing!
The huge new stadium is stunning. I hope you get there and really explore all Minneapolis has to offer.
The Mill City Museum and the nearby Guthrie Theater were definite highlights of our visit to Minneapolis-St. Paul. I was really impressed with the design of the museum, and the old mill was really something to see, especially when you consider the impact on American industry. The area is really pretty, too. Thanks for sharing! Checking in from #WeekendWanderlust.
Thanks, Rob Rob, I couldn’t fit everything I discovered in Minneapolis in one post. Will be focusing on the Mill City Museum and more in future posts.
I’ve never been in Minneapolis but from all I read it’s not the kind of city I’d make a special effort to see. I’m sure there are many attractions, but the overall appearance doesn’t seem that appealing. Please don’t feel bad, Elaine, it’s not you. In fact, your pictures are very beautiful, especially the panoramic one of the Stone Arch Bridge. Thanks for joining me for #TheWeeklyPostcard this week.
I can see your perspective but I was charmed by all I saw in Minneapolis over 2 short days. More to come that might change your mind! Thanks though.