Minneapolis' rich history

Minnesota's largest city, Minneapolis lies on the10% of the total flour and grist output of the
Mississippi and is next to the State capitol ofUnited States.
St-Paul. The combined cities are often referred toNever a city to sit on its laurels, Minneapolis razed
as Minneapolis-St. Paul forming the 15th largest40% of its buildings comprising 25 blocks during a
metropolitan area in the US. The city offervent urban renewal from the early 1950s to
Minneapolis has a long and distinguished history,the mid 1960s. That renewal has continued and
based on water and primarily influenced by the St.the city is now a modern metropolis with a rich
Anthony Falls.history, and is home to five Fortune 500
Prior to the arrival of early European settlers incompanies.
1680, Dakota Sioux had free reign over the landsKnown as the 'city of lakes' many of the leisure
now known as Minneapolis. However for 140activities in the area are water-based, with 6% of
years there was little development in the area, itthe area covered in lakes. It boasts a thriving art
was not until the construction of Fort Snelling inand music culture, and one of the city's
1825 that the area saw any significant expansion.claims-to-fame is that internationally renowned
Under pressure from the relentless inflow ofrock musician Prince studied at the Minneapolis
settlers, the Sioux sold their land forging the wayDance Theatre. Professional sports are also well
for the incorporation of the city of Minneapolis inrepresented in the city with the NFL's Vikings,
1867. Five years later settlers began arriving frombaseball's major league Twins, NBA's
Chicago via the newly built railroad, helping toTimberwolves and the WNBA's Lynx all based
bolster the settlement's numbers.there.
The Saint Anthony Falls, the only natural waterfallGetting around downtown Minneapolis is made
on the Mississippi, formed the hub of the city.easier by the Skyways, which consist of seven
Here the timber mills and flour mills flourished andmiles of walkways linking eighty blocks.
by 1871, Minnesota boasted many thrivingRestaurants, retailers and the occasional lobby of
businesses including iron works, other mills fora downtown hotel in Minneapolis are all connected
cotton and paper, and a large railway factory.via this second floor walkway.
Grain grown by farmers on the Great Plains foundAdam Singleton is an online freelance journalist
its way to the city's many mills by rail, and byfrom Scotland. His hobbies include travelling and
1905 the Minneapolis was responsible for almosthiking.