Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis
Jason M.'s article Six amazing waterfalls to see around the world brought another to my mind.
Minnehaha Creek begins at Gray's Bay on Lake Minnetonka in the western Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. It twists and turns as it meanders through suburbia until it is flanked by the one-way streets of a parkway beginning east of Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. Finally, the creek enters Minnehaha Park in southeast Minneapolis.
The heart of the park centers on the majestic Minnehaha Falls. Tumbling over a rocky precipice, you can take in the view at either a footbridge that crosses the creek at the top of the falls or from a nearby viewing area. You can also walk down and look up at the falls from below. When it is really pouring, it is easy to feel spray borne by the wind caress your face. You even used to be able to follow the creek all the way down to where it empties into the Mississippi. Alas, due to an extensive redo of the park that is no longer possible. One final word about the falls: It is susceptible to being reduced to a trickle when the dam on Grays Bay is closed during droughts in order to keep Lake Minnetonka from dropping too low.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote an epic poem entitled The Song of Hiawatha. A statue of Hiawatha carrying his sweetheart Minnehaha across the creek stands on a tiny island just above the falls.
On the west side of the falls are three historic buildings. The first is the house of John H. Stevens, the first settler of Minneapolis whose house was later moved to the park. A statue of Mr. Stevens, its bronze metal turned green with age, stands in front. Nearby another statue (similarly weathered) of another noted local historical figure, Gunnar Wennerberg, is located. Across from these statues is a plaque honoring Minneapolis Park Police officer Mark T. Bedard, who died in the line of duty.
Across a park road named Minnehaha Avenue from all this is the historic Minnehaha ("Princess") Depot. This place (a great favorite of the author) was built by the Milwaukee Road railroad in 1875. Before the Twin City streetcar system built tracks into the park visitors passed through the depot literally by the train load! The depot was donated to the Minnesota Historical Society in 1964 and is staffed by volunteers of the Minnesota Transportation Museum Sundays and holidays from Memorial to Labor Day. Today the rusty old Milwaukee rails still stretch from the depot on out of the park to the north, crossing the creek on a fine old stone bridge. The tracks pass the third historic building on the park's west side, a 2/3 scale replica of Henry Longfellow's home.
Also in the park are numerous signs that both direct visitors and provide interpretation of sights like the depot and the falls, statues of Longfellow and Native American chief Little Crow, a large picnic pavilion, and a small bandshell. The pavilion also has a small eatery named the Sea Salt. Finally, there is a wooden hut across from the pavilion that rents bikes and other pedal-powered vehicles in-season. And speaking of seasons, the parks' numerous leafy trees provide grottoes of shade in the warmer months and fine leaf viewing in the fall.
Parking costs $.75 an hour if you don't have a Minneapolis Parks permit. You can also get to the park by Metro Transit light rail trains that call at the 50th Street/Hiawatha Station across Hiawatha Avenue nearby. It can also be easily reached via bike, rollerblades, etc. Minneapolis is known for its trail system. If you ever are in the Mill City and the weather is decent, head on down to Minnehaha Park! You will be glad you did.
Both photos by Richard H.