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