| Minneapolis has a large park system | | | | after a heavy rain. Photographs of the |
| consisting of ten square miles (26 km2) of | | | | waterfall from the 1800s show a much wider, |
| land and water that is interlinked in many | | | | curtain like character to the falls. When the |
| places. The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway circles | | | | falls is dry, the older, much-broader ledge |
| through the city and brings together many of | | | | can be observed. If there were sufficient |
| the bigger park areas including land along | | | | interest and funding, some remedial work |
| the Mississippi River, many of the city's | | | | could theoretically restore the 19th century |
| lakes, and other scenic areas of the city. | | | | appearance of the falls. |
| The route has a parkway for cars (not a | | | | |
| freeway—literally just a roadway | | | | Due to the extremely cold temperatures in the |
| through park land, though the number of stops | | | | area during the winter months, the falls |
| is reduced), a bikeway for riders, and a | | | | often freeze, creating a dramatic cascade of |
| walkway for pedestrians all running in | | | | ice that can last well into the spring. If |
| roughly parallel paths along the 50-mile | | | | there is a rain shortage in the autumn, the |
| route. It is the first natural scenic byway | | | | falls may virtually dry up. In the summer, |
| totally located in a major urban | | | | especially in the rainy months of June and |
| area(dubious; discuss) . Additional routes in | | | | July, the flow can be surprisingly forceful. |
| the Minneapolis park system crisscross the | | | | |
| city, and the number of bikeways and walkways | | | | Today, the falls are located near the |
| continues to grow. They also interconnect | | | | entrance of Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis. |
| with neighboring cities. One of the most | | | | The park is divided into two main portions, |
| famous parks in Minneapolis is Minnehaha | | | | an upper section above the falls which is |
| Park, where Minnehaha Falls is located. A | | | | kept trimmed and maintained like many other |
| number of cultural heritage events take place | | | | city parks, and the lower section which is |
| there every year. Prospect Park is the home | | | | largely left in a natural state. Minnehaha |
| of the 1913 water tower, a Minneapolis icon. | | | | Park is a popular site for cultural |
| | | | festivities and weddings. |
| There are several freshwater lakes across the | | | | |
| southern part of the city. The most | | | | Some historic structures are located in the |
| significant grouping is the western "Chain of | | | | park. |
| Lakes" consisting of Lake Harriet, Lake | | | | |
| Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, and Cedar Lake. | | | | The home of John H. Stevens, built in 1849 or |
| Lake Nokomis and Lake Hiawatha lie farther to | | | | 1850 near St. Anthony Falls was moved to |
| the east. | | | | Minnehaha Park in 1896. According to the |
| | | | Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the |
| Minnehaha Creek is a short tributary of the | | | | home has the distinction of being the first |
| Mississippi River located in Hennepin County, | | | | wood-frame dwelling built west of the |
| Minnesota that extends from Lake Minnetonka | | | | Mississippi. It was in this home that the |
| in the west and flows east for 22 miles (35 | | | | name Minneapolis was suggested, and the |
| km). Including Lake Minnetonka, the watershed | | | | government of Hennepin County was organized. |
| for the creek covers 181 square miles (469 | | | | In 1896 over 10,000 school children helped |
| km2). Much of the stream flows through south | | | | pull the house to Minnehaha park and in 1982, |
| Minneapolis. The creek might have been | | | | the home was situated in its current |
| unremarkable except for the 53 foot (16 m) | | | | location. |
| Minnehaha Falls located near its confluence | | | | |
| with the Mississippi. The site is not far | | | | A small train station officially named |
| from Fort Snelling, one of the earliest white | | | | Minnehaha Depot but also known as "the |
| settlements in the region. | | | | Princess Depot" was built in 1875; it was a |
| | | | stop on the Milwaukee Road railroad and |
| While the name is often translated as | | | | provided easy access to the park from Fort |
| "Laughing Water", the correct translation is | | | | Snelling, downtown Minneapolis, and downtown |
| "waterfall". The name comes from the Dakota | | | | St. Paul. The depot handled as many as 39 |
| language elements mni, meaning water, and | | | | round trips per day; it was once integrated |
| haha, meaning waterfall. The "Laughing Water" | | | | into the region's streetcar system. In 1964, |
| translation comes from Mary Eastman's book | | | | title was transferred to the Minnesota |
| Dacotah, published in 1849. Early reports | | | | Historical Society. The Minnesota |
| from white visitors called the spot Brown's | | | | Transportation Museum has assisted in the |
| Falls, named for United States Army commander | | | | restoration of the building. The depot is |
| Jacob Brown. | | | | open on Sundays from 1:30 to 4:30. A modern |
| | | | light rail station currently serves the park. |
| The falls became a tourist destination, | | | | |
| especially after the publication of The Song | | | | |
| of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. | | | | A building known as the Longfellow House is |
| However, Longfellow never visited the falls | | | | also on the park grounds and provides some |
| himself. He was inspired by the stories of | | | | history of the park. It houses a small |
| Mary Eastman and Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and | | | | collection of historical photographs and is |
| images of the falls. | | | | the main informational site for the Grand |
| | | | Rounds Scenic Byway, a 50-mile automobile, |
| In geologic time, the site of Minnehaha Falls | | | | bicycle, and pedestrian parkway that circles |
| is linked historically to Saint Anthony | | | | through the city. It was built in 1906 for |
| Falls, which is several miles upriver on the | | | | Robert F. (Fish) Jones, who owned and |
| Mississippi. Around 10,000 years ago, the St. | | | | operated a zoo, the Longfellow Gardens and |
| Anthony Falls were located near the site | | | | Zoo, and recreational train on the site. The |
| where Minnehaha Creek entered the river. As | | | | home is a 2/3 scale replica of Longfellow's |
| erosion brought the falls upriver, they | | | | home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jones |
| passed Minnehaha Creek, causing a new | | | | donated the Gardens to the Park Board in |
| waterfall to form. The story actually becomes | | | | 1924. |
| even more complex because the Mississippi | | | | |
| eventually abandoned the portion of St. | | | | Statues on the grounds commemorate several |
| Anthony Falls that was then nearest to | | | | notable figures including John H. Stevens, |
| Minnehaha. The lower portion of Minnehaha | | | | Gunnar Wennerberg, Hiawatha and Minnehaha, |
| Creek now flows through a wide and deep | | | | Little Crow, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. |
| channel once belonging to the larger river. | | | | The main Minnesota Veterans Home is also |
| | | | located in the area. |