Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Encyclopedia
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area protects a 72 miles (115.9 km) and 54000 acres (21,853 ha) corridor along the Mississippi River
from the cities of Dayton
and Ramsey
, Minnesota
to just downstream of Hastings, Minnesota
. This includes the stretch of Mississippi River which flows through Minneapolis
and St. Paul, Minnesota
. This stretch of the upper Mississippi River includes natural, historical, recreational, cultural, scenic, scientific, and economic resources of national significance. This is the only national park dedicated exclusively to the Mississippi River. It is located in parts of Anoka
, Dakota
, Hennepin
, Ramsey
, and Washington
counties, all within the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a long name and therefore is frequently referred to as MNRRA (often pronounced like "minnra") or MISS (the four letter code assigned to the park by the National Park Service).
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS) was established in 1988 as a new unique type of National Park known as a partnership park. Unlike traditional national parks, MISS is not a major land owner and therefore does not have control over land use. MISS works with dozens of "partners" (local, state, and federal governments, non-profits, businesses, educational institutions, and individuals) who own land along the river or who have an interest in the Mississippi River to achieve the National Park Service's mission to protect and preserve for future generations.
Some of the most prominent attractions within the park include the St. Anthony Falls
Historic District (including Mill City Museum
, the Guthrie Theater
, the Stone Arch Bridge, and Mill Ruins Park
), the Historic Fort Snelling and the adjacent Fort Snelling State Park
, and Minnehaha Falls
. There are many additional attractions, trails, and programs all within the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area.
The Mississippi River Visitor Center, located inside the Science Museum of Minnesota
, is staffed by National Park Rangers who are available daily to help people who want to experience the Mississippi River.
Each year, the rangers manage community activities such as interpretive sessions, bike rides, and movies, that help to educate the local community about the natural and human history of the area.
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
from the cities of Dayton
Dayton, Minnesota
Dayton is a city in Hennepin and Wright counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 4,671 at the 2010 census. Dayton is mainly in Hennepin County, but a part of the city extends into Wright County as well. It is the northernmost city in Hennepin County.The city of Dayton, platted...
and Ramsey
Ramsey, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,510 people, 5,906 households, and 5,102 families residing in the city. The population density was 642.9 people per square mile . There were 5,946 housing units at an average density of 206.5 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
to just downstream of Hastings, Minnesota
Hastings, Minnesota
Hastings is a city in Dakota counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota, near the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. The population was 22,172 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dakota County. The bulk of Hastings is in Dakota County; only a small part of the city extends...
. This includes the stretch of Mississippi River which flows through Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
and St. Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. This stretch of the upper Mississippi River includes natural, historical, recreational, cultural, scenic, scientific, and economic resources of national significance. This is the only national park dedicated exclusively to the Mississippi River. It is located in parts of Anoka
Anoka County, Minnesota
Anoka County is the fourth-most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the counties of Isanti on the north, Chisago and Washington on the east, Hennepin and Ramsey on the south, Sherburne on the west, and the Mississippi River on the southwest.As of 2010, Anoka...
, Dakota
Dakota County, Minnesota
Dakota County is the third most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers on the north, and the state of Wisconsin on the east. Dakota County comprises the southeast portion of seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul, the thirteenth...
, Hennepin
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. As of 2010 the population was 1,152,425. Its county seat is Minneapolis. It is by far the most populous county in Minnesota; more than one in five Minnesotans live...
, Ramsey
Ramsey County, Minnesota
Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849. As of 2010, the population was 508,640. Its county seat is St. Paul, which is also Minnesota's state capital. The county is named for Alexander Ramsey , the first governor of the Minnesota Territory...
, and Washington
Washington County, Minnesota
Washington County is a county established in 1849 in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 238,136. Its county seat is Stillwater.-History:...
counties, all within the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a long name and therefore is frequently referred to as MNRRA (often pronounced like "minnra") or MISS (the four letter code assigned to the park by the National Park Service).
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS) was established in 1988 as a new unique type of National Park known as a partnership park. Unlike traditional national parks, MISS is not a major land owner and therefore does not have control over land use. MISS works with dozens of "partners" (local, state, and federal governments, non-profits, businesses, educational institutions, and individuals) who own land along the river or who have an interest in the Mississippi River to achieve the National Park Service's mission to protect and preserve for future generations.
Some of the most prominent attractions within the park include the St. Anthony Falls
Saint Anthony Falls
Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located northeast of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the only natural major waterfall on the Upper Mississippi River. The natural falls was replaced by a concrete overflow spillway after it partially collapsed in 1869...
Historic District (including Mill City Museum
Mill City Museum
Mill City Museum is a Minnesota Historical Society museum in Minneapolis. It opened in 2003, built in the ruins of the Washburn "A" Mill next to Mill Ruins Park on the banks of the Mississippi River...
, the Guthrie Theater
Guthrie Theater
The Guthrie Theater is a center for theater performance, production, education, and professional training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the result of the desire of Sir Tyrone Guthrie, Oliver Rea, and Peter Zeisler to create a resident acting company that would produce and perform the classics in...
, the Stone Arch Bridge, and Mill Ruins Park
Mill Ruins Park
Mill Ruins Park is a park in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, standing on the west side of Saint Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River. The park interprets the history of flour milling in Minneapolis and shows the ruins of several flour mills that were abandoned.The park is the...
), the Historic Fort Snelling and the adjacent Fort Snelling State Park
Fort Snelling State Park
Fort Snelling State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. Its most notable feature is the historic Fort Snelling, which dates from 1820. The fort itself is operated by the Minnesota Historical Society and requires a separate entrance fee...
, and Minnehaha Falls
Minnehaha Falls
Minnehaha Creek is a tributary of the Mississippi River located in Hennepin County, Minnesota that extends from Lake Minnetonka in the west and flows east for 22 miles through several suburbs west of Minneapolis and then through south Minneapolis. Including Lake Minnetonka, the watershed for the...
. There are many additional attractions, trails, and programs all within the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area.
The Mississippi River Visitor Center, located inside the Science Museum of Minnesota
Science Museum of Minnesota
The Science Museum of Minnesota is an American museum focused on topics in technology, natural history, physical science and mathematics education. Founded in 1907 and located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the 501 nonprofit institution is staffed by over 500 employees and over 1,600 volunteers...
, is staffed by National Park Rangers who are available daily to help people who want to experience the Mississippi River.
Each year, the rangers manage community activities such as interpretive sessions, bike rides, and movies, that help to educate the local community about the natural and human history of the area.
Places to visit
The park's website lists the following locations or features as partner sites.| Partner Site | River Mile River mile In the United States, a River mile is a measure of distance in miles along a river from its mouth. River mile numbers begin at zero and increase further upstream. The corresponding metric unit using kilometers is the River kilometer... |
Management Level | Managing Body | Area | Date Opened to Public | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akin Riverside Park http://www.ci.anoka.mn.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B6DFA3A0E-5496-4331-B8C6-02B5DCFBC3F7%7D&DE=%7BD44A9132-029F-4BF2-B1B5-68DCF56D6259%7D | 45°11′41"N 93°23′28"W |
City | City of Anoka Anoka, Minnesota At the 2000 census, there were 18,076 people, 7,262 households and 4,408 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,709.0 per square mile . There were 7,398 housing units at an average density of 1,108.7 per square mile... Parks & Recreation |
Interprets Anoka city history just above the mouth of the Rum River Rum River The Rum River is a slow, meandering channel that connects Minnesota's Mille Lacs Lake with the Mississippi River. It runs for through the farming communities of Onamia, Milaca, Princeton, Cambridge, and Isanti before ending at the Twin Cities suburb of Anoka, roughly 20 miles northwest of downtown... . The 1914 Windego Park Auditorium/Open Air Theater Windego Park Auditorium/Open Air Theater Windego Park Auditorium/Open Air Theater is an amphitheater in Anoka, Minnesota, located on the Rum River. The theater was built in 1914 and was spurred by the City Beautiful movement, as well as Anoka citizens' interest in outdoor entertainment and recreation. Its main organizer, Thaddeus P... is on the NRHP National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation... . |
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| Ard Godfrey House http://www.womansclub.org/club/scripts/section/section.asp?NS=AGH | 44°59′19"N 93°15′24"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board, The Woman's Club of Minneapolis |
1979 | Built 1849, the oldest wood-frame Framing (construction) Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping... house in Minneapolis. |
|
| Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts Banfill Tavern Banfill Tavern, also known as the Locke House, is a building in Fridley, Minnesota listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1847 in the Greek Revival style, with architectural features such as six-over-six pane double-hung windows, a tripartite formal entry consisting of... http://www.banfill-locke.org/ |
45°5′20"N 93°16′34"W |
County/Non-profit | Anoka County Anoka County, Minnesota Anoka County is the fourth-most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the counties of Isanti on the north, Chisago and Washington on the east, Hennepin and Ramsey on the south, Sherburne on the west, and the Mississippi River on the southwest.As of 2010, Anoka... Parks, Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts |
1988 | Supports local artists with exhibits and classes in a renovated 1847 inn. Located in Manomin County Park. | |
| Battle Creek Regional Park | 44°56′27"N 93°0′17"W |
County | Ramsey County Ramsey County, Minnesota Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849. As of 2010, the population was 508,640. Its county seat is St. Paul, which is also Minnesota's state capital. The county is named for Alexander Ramsey , the first governor of the Minnesota Territory... Parks and Recreation |
1,840 | 1925 | Park comprises three parcels, including a ravine where Dakotas won a battle against Ojibwe intent on attacking Kaposia Kaposia Kaposia was a seasonal American Indian settlement, also known as "Little Crow's village," after a long line of tribe Chiefs named Little Crow.-History:The settlement was within the limits of the modern city of South St... village in 1842. |
| Boom Island Park http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=264 | 854.8 44°59′37"N 93°16′9"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
1987 | Once the site of log boom Log boom A log boom is a barrier placed in a river, designed to collect and or contain floating logs timbered from nearby forests sometimes called a fence or bag. The term is also used as a place where logs were collected into booms, as at the mouth of a river... s to sort lumber to the owning sawmill, this former island features a marina, riverboat tours, and an ornamental lighthouse. |
|
| 44°55′6"N 93°6′44"W |
City | St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city... Parks and Recreation |
N/A | 2007 | Kiln Kiln A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials... ruins and shale Shale Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments of other minerals, especially quartz and calcite. The ratio of clay to other minerals is variable. Shale is characterized by breaks along thin laminae or parallel layering... quarries Quarry A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement... remain from a brickmaking company that operated from 1894 to the 1970s. Fossil collecting Fossil collecting Fossil collecting is the collection of fossils for scientific study, hobby, or profit. Fossil collecting, as practiced by amateurs, is the predecessor of modern paleontology and many still collect fossils and study fossils as amateurs... and ice climbing Ice climbing Ice climbing, as the term indicates, is the activity of ascending inclined ice formations. Usually, ice climbing refers to roped and protected climbing of features such as icefalls, frozen waterfalls, and cliffs and rock slabs covered with ice refrozen from flows of water. For the purposes of... are allowed in the quarries with a permit. Part of Lilydale Regional Park. |
|
| Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary The Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary is a city park located in the Mississippi River corridor in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. Situated just east of the city’s downtown district, the sanctuary includes towering limestone and sandstone bluffs, spring-fed wetlands, abundant bird life and dramatic... |
44°57′11"N 93°4′29"W |
City | St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city... Parks and Recreation |
29 | 2005 | Rehabilitated from a former trainyard and industrial site. Includes Wakan Tipi/Carver's Cave Carver's Cave Within Indian Mounds Park in St. Paul, Minnesota is a plaque memorializing Carver's Cave. The following is the exact text from the plaque:Repeated attempts were made by French and British Explorers to discover a northwest passage... . |
| Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park (East) http://www.anokacountyparks.com/parks/coon_rapids_dam_regional_park/about.html | 865–867.7 45°8′55"N 93°18′28"W |
County | Anoka County Anoka County, Minnesota Anoka County is the fourth-most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the counties of Isanti on the north, Chisago and Washington on the east, Hennepin and Ramsey on the south, Sherburne on the west, and the Mississippi River on the southwest.As of 2010, Anoka... Parks |
446 | 1994 | Features pedestrians and non-motorized traffic access to the 1913 Coon Rapids Dam, plus river and lake fishing and a visitor center. |
| Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park (West) http://www.threeriversparks.org/parks/coon-rapids-dam.aspx | 865–867.7 45°8′41"N 93°19′14"W |
Park district | Three Rivers Park District Three Rivers Park District Three Rivers Park District is a "special park district" serving the suburban areas of the Twin Cities metro including suburban Hennepin, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Ramsey counties... |
160 | 1969 | Features pedestrians and non-motorized traffic access to the 1913 Coon Rapids Dam, plus a visitor center. |
| Crosby Farm Regional Park http://www.ci.stpaul.mn.us/Facilities.aspx?page=detail&RID=26 | 842.3–845.4 44°53′53"N 93°9′47"W |
City | St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city... Parks and Recreation |
736 | 1962 | Restored bottomland hardwood forest Bottomland hardwood forest The Bottomland hardwood forest is a type of deciduous hardwood forest found in broad lowland floodplains along large rivers and lakes. They are occasionally flooded, which builds up the alluvial soils required for the Gum, Oak and Bald Cypress trees that typically grow in this type of biome... and wetlands that were farmed from 1858 to 1962. |
| Father Hennepin Bluffs Park http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=273 | 44°58′54"N 93°14′57"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
8 | 1979 | Father Louis Hennepin Louis Hennepin Father Louis Hennepin, O.F.M. baptized Antoine, was a Catholic priest and missionary of the Franciscan Recollect order and an explorer of the interior of North America.... , the first European to describe St. Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located northeast of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the only natural major waterfall on the Upper Mississippi River. The natural falls was replaced by a concrete overflow spillway after it partially collapsed in 1869... , saw them from this site in 1680. |
| First Bridge Park http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=434 | 44°59′4"N 93°15′52"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
22 | 2001 | Interpretive signage and public art beneath the Hennepin Avenue Bridge Hennepin Avenue Bridge The Hennepin Avenue Bridge is the structure that carries Hennepin County State Aid Highway 52, Hennepin Avenue, across the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota at Nicollet Island. Officially, it is the Father Louis Hennepin Bridge, in honor of the 17th-century explorer Louis Hennepin, who... commemorate the site of the first permanent bridge crossing the Mississippi, built in 1855. |
| Fort Snelling State Park Fort Snelling State Park Fort Snelling State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. Its most notable feature is the historic Fort Snelling, which dates from 1820. The fort itself is operated by the Minnesota Historical Society and requires a separate entrance fee... http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/fort_snelling/index.html |
843.9 44°52′15"N 93°11′47"W |
State | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the U.S. state of Minnesota charged with conserving and managing the state's natural resources. The agency maintains areas such as state parks, state forests, recreational trails, and recreation areas as well as managing minerals,... |
2,931 | 1961 | Includes Pike Island Pike Island Pike Island is an island at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers in the southwestern part of St. Paul in the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minnesota. It is a portion of the 100,000 acres of land purchased from the Mdewakanton Sioux Indians by Zebulon Pike in September 1805,... and bottomland hardwood forest Bottomland hardwood forest The Bottomland hardwood forest is a type of deciduous hardwood forest found in broad lowland floodplains along large rivers and lakes. They are occasionally flooded, which builds up the alluvial soils required for the Gum, Oak and Bald Cypress trees that typically grow in this type of biome... at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota River Minnesota River The Minnesota River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles long, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It drains a watershed of nearly , in Minnesota and about in South Dakota and Iowa.... s. |
| Fountain Cave | 45°5′20"N 93°16′34"W |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | A historical marker shows the former location of a sandstone cave Cave A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study... , site of the first building in St. Paul (Pierre Parrant Pierre Parrant Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant is recognized as being the first person of European descent to live within the borders of what would eventually become the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota... 's tavern) and later a tourist attraction. The cave was ruined by sewage Sewage Sewage is water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community. Also known as wastewater, it is more than 99% water and is characterized by volume or rate of flow, physical condition, chemical constituents and the bacteriological organisms that it contains... and the entrance was sealed in 1960 during road construction. |
| Gluek Park http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=254 | 45°5′20"N 93°16′34"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
1994 | Established on the site of the 1857 Gluek Brewery following its demolition in 1970. | |
| Gold Medal Park Gold Medal Park Gold Medal Park is a park next to the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Designed by landscape architect Tom Oslund, the park is owned by the city of Minneapolis and opened in May 2007. It takes its inspiration from the Dakota Indians burial mounds that are found through Minnesota... http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/riverfront_east_rfp_home.asp |
45°5′20"N 93°16′34"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
2007 | Selected as the future site of a memorial to the victims of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse. | |
| Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/sna01101/index.html | 821 44°52′15"N 93°11′47"W |
State | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the U.S. state of Minnesota charged with conserving and managing the state's natural resources. The agency maintains areas such as state parks, state forests, recreational trails, and recreation areas as well as managing minerals,... |
237 | 1998 | Preserves a sandy prairie Prairie Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type... with dune Dune In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind... s and blowouts Blowout (geology) Blowouts are sandy depressions in a sand dune ecosystem caused by the removal of sediments by wind.Blowouts occur in partially vegetated dunefields or sandhills. A blowout forms when a patch of protective vegetation is lost, allowing strong winds to "blow out" sand and form a depression... on river terraces. |
| Grey Cloud Island | 821–825 45°5′20"N 93°16′34"W |
City | Grey Cloud Island Township | 2,000 | N/A | An island named after Grey Cloud Woman, a 19th century Mdewakanton Mdewakanton Mdewakantonwan are one of the sub-tribes of the Isanti Dakota . Their historic home is Mille Lacs Lake in central Minnesota, which in the Dakota language was called mde wakan .As part of the Santee Sioux, their ancestors had migrated from the Southeast of the present-day United States, where the... . The 1846 Grey Cloud Lime Kiln is on the NRHP National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation... . |
| Harriet Island Regional Park http://mn-stpaul.civicplus.com/facilities.aspx?search=1&CID=1&pagenum=3&RID=39&Page=detail | 839.5–840.5 44°53′53"N 93°9′47"W |
City | St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city... Parks and Recreation |
1900 | Named for educator Harriet Bishop Harriet Bishop Harriet Bishop was an American educator, writer, suffragist, and temperance activist. Born in Panton, Vermont, she moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1847... and now connected to shore, this former island has long been the site of public amenities and festivals. The Harriet Island Pavilion Harriet Island Pavilion The Harriet Island Pavilion, currently known as the Clarence W. Wigington Pavilion, is a park pavilion on Harriet Island just across the Mississippi River from downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was designed by Clarence W. Wigington, the nation's first black municipal architect, and renamed for... is on the NRHP National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation... . |
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| Hidden Falls Regional Park http://www.stpaul.gov/facilities.aspx?pagenum=18&RID=42&Page=detail | 845.4–847.4 44°53′53"N 93°9′47"W |
City | St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city... Parks and Recreation |
134 | 1887 | One of St. Paul's original parks, designed by Horace Cleveland Horace Cleveland Horace William Shaler Cleveland was a noted American landscape architect, sometimes considered second only to Frederick Law Olmsted... . Features a spring-fed waterfall in a stone channel built by the Works Progress Administration Works Progress Administration The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects... . |
| Historic Fort Snelling http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/hfs/ | 845.5 45°5′20"N 93°16′34"W |
State | Minnesota Historical Society Minnesota Historical Society The Minnesota Historical Society is a private, non-profit educational and cultural institution dedicated to preserving the history of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was founded by the territorial legislature in 1849, almost a decade before statehood. The Society is named in the Minnesota... |
Begun as a wilderness outpost in 1819 at the strategic confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota River Minnesota River The Minnesota River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles long, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It drains a watershed of nearly , in Minnesota and about in South Dakota and Iowa.... s, and staffed by the U.S. Army United States Army The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services... through World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... , when it served as a major processing center for new servicemen. Now a National Historic Landmark National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance... . |
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| Indian Mounds Regional Park http://mn-stpaul.civicplus.com/facilities.aspx?search=1&CID=1&pagenum=3&RID=53&Page=detail | 44°56′48"N 93°3′39"W |
City | St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city... Parks and Recreation |
79 | 1893 | Preserves six 2,000-year-old burial mounds Tumulus A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn... from the Hopewell tradition. |
| Islands of Peace County Park http://www.anokacountyparks.com/parks/islands_of_peace_county_park/about.html | 861 45°4′35"N 93°16′27"W |
County | Anoka County Anoka County, Minnesota Anoka County is the fourth-most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the counties of Isanti on the north, Chisago and Washington on the east, Hennepin and Ramsey on the south, Sherburne on the west, and the Mississippi River on the southwest.As of 2010, Anoka... Parks |
22 | Comprises three islands, one connected to the east bank by a bridge, the other two accessible only by water. Part of Riverfront Regional Park. | |
| John H. Stevens House Museum John Harrington Stevens House The John Harrington Stevens House was the first authorized house on the west bank of the Mississippi River in what would become Minneapolis in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was built in 1850 at Saint Anthony Falls by John H. Stevens on the site where the Minneapolis Post Office now sits... http://www.johnhstevenshouse.org/ |
44°54′50"N 93°12′34"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
1985 | Built in 1850, the home of John H. Stevens John H. Stevens John Harrington Stevens was the first authorized resident on the west bank of the Mississippi River in what would become Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was granted permission to occupy the site, then part of the Fort Snelling military reservation, in exchange for providing ferry service to St. Anthony... was the first wood-frame Framing (construction) Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping... house west of the Mississippi and the political and social hub of the young Minneapolis. Originally near St. Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located northeast of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the only natural major waterfall on the Upper Mississippi River. The natural falls was replaced by a concrete overflow spillway after it partially collapsed in 1869... , it has been moved to Minnehaha Park. |
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| Kaposia Indian Site Kaposia Kaposia was a seasonal American Indian settlement, also known as "Little Crow's village," after a long line of tribe Chiefs named Little Crow.-History:The settlement was within the limits of the modern city of South St... |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | A seasonal Mdewakanton Mdewakanton Mdewakantonwan are one of the sub-tribes of the Isanti Dakota . Their historic home is Mille Lacs Lake in central Minnesota, which in the Dakota language was called mde wakan .As part of the Santee Sioux, their ancestors had migrated from the Southeast of the present-day United States, where the... Dakota village was situated below present-day Indian Mounds Regional Park until resettlement following the 1853 Treaty of Mendota Treaty of Mendota The Treaty of Mendota was signed in Mendota, Minnesota on August 5, 1851 between the United States federal government and the Sioux tribes of Minnesota .... . |
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| Kaposia Landing http://www.southstpaul.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B8E6E9ACE-29EB-4586-A336-CC2C8E067C49%7D | 834.8–835.7 44°54′20"N 93°2′48"W |
City | South St. Paul South St. Paul, Minnesota South St. Paul is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, immediately south and southeast of the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is also southeast of West St. Paul, Minnesota. The population was 20,160 at the 2010 census. It is notable as one of the historic major meat packing cities in the United... Parks & Recreation |
87 | 2008 | Developed over a reclaimed construction landfill Landfill A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment... . Includes an off-leash dog park Dog park A dog park is a facility set aside for dogs to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under the supervision of their owners... . |
| Kaposia Park | 44°54′22"N 93°3′43"W |
City | South St. Paul South St. Paul, Minnesota South St. Paul is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, immediately south and southeast of the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is also southeast of West St. Paul, Minnesota. The population was 20,160 at the 2010 census. It is notable as one of the historic major meat packing cities in the United... Parks & Recreation |
85 | Features recreational amenities, including a disc golf Disc golf Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000... course. |
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| Lake Rebecca Park http://mn-stpaul.civicplus.com/facilities.aspx?search=1&CID=1&pagenum=3&RID=39&Page=detail | 44°53′53"N 93°9′47"W |
City | Hastings Hastings, Minnesota Hastings is a city in Dakota counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota, near the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. The population was 22,172 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dakota County. The bulk of Hastings is in Dakota County; only a small part of the city extends... Parks and Recreation |
215 | 1995 | Formerly called Hastings River Flats Park, and adjacent to Lock and Dam No. 2 Lock and Dam No. 2 Lock and Dam No. 2 is located along the Upper Mississippi River near Hastings, Minnesota and was originally built in 1907. The eastern dam portion is 722 feet wide and has 19 tainter gates. A hydroelectric station that produces about 4.4 megawatts is owned by the city of Hastings, while the 110... . |
| Lambert's Landing http://www.stpaul.gov/facilities.aspx?pagenum=18&RID=42&Page=detail | 44°56′43"N 93°5′11"W |
City | St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city... Parks and Recreation |
1937 | Historic site of St. Paul's major steamboat Steamboat A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels... landing, the head of navigation on the Mississippi. |
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| Leonard H. Neiman Sports Complex http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=439 | 44°53′31"N 93°11′29"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
2003 | Public sports fields developed on the extended grounds of Fort Snelling. | |
| Lilydale Regional Park http://www.stpaul.gov/facilities.aspx?search=1&CID=1&pagenum=3&RID=61&Page=detail | 841.3–843 44°55′1"N 93°7′30"W |
City | St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city... Parks and Recreation |
384 | 1971 | A former townsite now reverted to floodplain forest. |
| Lock and Dam No. 1 Lock and Dam No. 1, Mississippi River Ford Dam, officially known as Lock and Dam No. 1 is on the Upper Mississippi River and is located between Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota just north of the confluence of the Mississippi with the Minnesota River... http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/navigation/default.asp?pageid=145&subpageid=146 |
847.6 44°55′11"N 93°12′14"W |
Federal | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers United States Army Corps of Engineers The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency... |
N/A | 1917 | Tours are offered of the lock Lock (water transport) A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is... and dam Dam A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are... that extended the head of navigation to Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... . |
| Lock and Dam No. 2 Lock and Dam No. 2 Lock and Dam No. 2 is located along the Upper Mississippi River near Hastings, Minnesota and was originally built in 1907. The eastern dam portion is 722 feet wide and has 19 tainter gates. A hydroelectric station that produces about 4.4 megawatts is owned by the city of Hastings, while the 110... http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/navigation/default.asp?pageid=145&subpageid=161 |
815.2 44°45′33"N 92°52′9"W |
Federal | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers United States Army Corps of Engineers The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency... |
N/A | 1930 | Visitors can watch from an observation deck as river traffic passes through this lock Lock (water transport) A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is... adjacent to Hastings Hastings, Minnesota Hastings is a city in Dakota counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota, near the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. The population was 22,172 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dakota County. The bulk of Hastings is in Dakota County; only a small part of the city extends... . |
| Longfellow House Hospitality Center Longfellow House The Longfellow House in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, is a 2/3 scale replica of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's home in Cambridge, Massachusetts... http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=271 |
44°54′57"N 93°12′49"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
2001 | Built in 1907, this 2/3 scale replica of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's house Longfellow National Historic Site The Longfellow House–Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, also known as the Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House and, until December 2010, Longfellow National Historic Site, is a historic site located at 105 Brattle Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For almost fifty years, it was the... in Massachusetts now serves as the information center for Minnehaha Park and the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway Grand Rounds Scenic Byway The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway is a linked series of park areas in Minneapolis, Minnesota that takes a roughly circular path through the city. The corridors include roads for automobile traffic plus paths for pedestrians and bicycles, and extend slightly into neighboring cities... . |
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| Manomin County Park http://www.anokacountyparks.com/parks/manomin_county_park/about.html | 862 45°5′20"N 93°16′34"W |
County | Anoka County Anoka County, Minnesota Anoka County is the fourth-most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the counties of Isanti on the north, Chisago and Washington on the east, Hennepin and Ramsey on the south, Sherburne on the west, and the Mississippi River on the southwest.As of 2010, Anoka... Parks |
15 | 1967 | Includes the mouth of Rice Creek Rice Creek (Minnesota) Rice Creek is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the northern suburbs of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota in the United States... and the historic Banfill Tavern Banfill Tavern Banfill Tavern, also known as the Locke House, is a building in Fridley, Minnesota listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1847 in the Greek Revival style, with architectural features such as six-over-six pane double-hung windows, a tripartite formal entry consisting of... , now an art center. Named for the former Manomin County Manomin County, Minnesota Manomin County was a county in Minnesota that existed separately for about one year from 1857 to 1858. The land shifted hands among three other counties for the next decade. When it was formed, it was the smallest county in the United States at roughly 18 square miles... . |
| Marshall Terrace Park http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=395 | 45°1′4"N 93°16′20"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
1914 | Offers recreational amenities in a quiet neighborhood park. | |
| Meeker Island Lock and Dam Historic Site Meeker Island Lock and Dam The Meeker Island Lock and Dam was the first lock and dam facility built on the Upper Mississippi River. After a construction period lasting eight years, the site was only in operation for five years from 1907 to 1912 when the growing interest in hydroelectric power led to design and construction... |
850.2 44°57′14"N 93°12′24"W |
City | St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city... Parks and Recreation |
2007 | The first lock Lock (water transport) A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is... and dam Dam A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are... on the Mississippi only operated from 1907–1912, when it was submerged by Lock and Dam No. 1. The NRHP National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation... -listed remnants are visible from a riverside path during low water. |
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| Mill City Museum Mill City Museum Mill City Museum is a Minnesota Historical Society museum in Minneapolis. It opened in 2003, built in the ruins of the Washburn "A" Mill next to Mill Ruins Park on the banks of the Mississippi River... http://www.millcitymuseum.org/ |
44°58′43"N 93°15′25"W |
State | Minnesota Historical Society Minnesota Historical Society The Minnesota Historical Society is a private, non-profit educational and cultural institution dedicated to preserving the history of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was founded by the territorial legislature in 1849, almost a decade before statehood. The Society is named in the Minnesota... |
2003 | Features exhibits on the milling history of Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... , within the ruins of the Washburn A Mill, a National Historic Landmark National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance... built in 1880. |
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| Mill Ruins Park Mill Ruins Park Mill Ruins Park is a park in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, standing on the west side of Saint Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River. The park interprets the history of flour milling in Minneapolis and shows the ruins of several flour mills that were abandoned.The park is the... http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=413 |
44°58′49"N 93°15′29"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
2001 | Contains the excavated remains of the tailraces and canals that powered the 19th Century milling industry that spurred the development of Minneapolis. | |
| Minnehaha Regional Park http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=252 | 847–847.6 44°54′44"N 93°12′36"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
193 | 1889 | Surrounds Minnehaha Falls Minnehaha Falls Minnehaha Creek is a tributary of the Mississippi River located in Hennepin County, Minnesota that extends from Lake Minnetonka in the west and flows east for 22 miles through several suburbs west of Minneapolis and then through south Minneapolis. Including Lake Minnetonka, the watershed for the... and contains several sculptures and historic structures. |
| Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a 14,000 acre National Wildlife Refuge in central Minnesota. There are eight refuge units strung along of the Minnesota River. Located just south of the city of Minneapolis, this is one of only four American national wildlife refuges in an urban... http://www.fws.gov/midwest/MinnesotaValley/ |
N/A 44°51′35"N 93°12′59"W |
Federal | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service United States Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats... |
14,000 | 1976 | Several units strung along the lower Minnesota River Minnesota River The Minnesota River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles long, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It drains a watershed of nearly , in Minnesota and about in South Dakota and Iowa.... provide natural habitat and outdoor recreation. |
| Mississippi Gorge Regional Park http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=453 | 44°56′10"N 93°12′2"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board, St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city... Parks and Recreation |
Provides hiking and biking paths along the only gorge on the Mississippi. | ||
| Mississippi River Visitor Center http://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/mrvcabou.htm | 839.7 44°56′34"N 93°5′55"W |
Federal | National Park Service National Park Service The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations... |
2003 | MNRRA's main visitor center Visitor center A visitor center or centre , visitor information center, tourist information center, is a physical location that provides tourist information to the visitors who tour the place or area locally... , located in the lobby of the Science Museum of Minnesota Science Museum of Minnesota The Science Museum of Minnesota is an American museum focused on topics in technology, natural history, physical science and mathematics education. Founded in 1907 and located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the 501 nonprofit institution is staffed by over 500 employees and over 1,600 volunteers... . |
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| Nicollet Island Park http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=265 | 44°59′10"N 93°15′37"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
1946 | Located on historic Nicollet Island Nicollet Island Nicollet Island is an island in the Mississippi River just north of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, named for cartographer, Joseph Nicollet. DeLaSalle High School and the Nicollet Island Inn are located there, as well as three multi-family residential buildings and twenty-two restored... , with a rental facility in a renovated 1893 factory and views of the 1858 dam above St. Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located northeast of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the only natural major waterfall on the Upper Mississippi River. The natural falls was replaced by a concrete overflow spillway after it partially collapsed in 1869... . |
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| North Mississippi Regional Park North Mississippi Regional Park North Mississippi Regional Park is a joint effort of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Three Rivers Park District and lies within the larger Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The park, located near the northern border of Minneapolis, Minnesota, borders the western... http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=419 |
858–860.5 45°2′37"N 93°16′58"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
1954 | Features a visitor center operated by Three Rivers Park District Three Rivers Park District Three Rivers Park District is a "special park district" serving the suburban areas of the Twin Cities metro including suburban Hennepin, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Ramsey counties... . |
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| Peninsula Point Two Rivers Historical Park http://www.ci.anoka.mn.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B6DFA3A0E-5496-4331-B8C6-02B5DCFBC3F7%7D&DE=%7BCC6DC618-D393-4E65-B2B2-2A291B2988A0%7D | 45°11′35"N 93°23′38"W |
City | City of Anoka Anoka, Minnesota At the 2000 census, there were 18,076 people, 7,262 households and 4,408 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,709.0 per square mile . There were 7,398 housing units at an average density of 1,108.7 per square mile... Parks & Recreation |
1995 | Features interpretive signage, park amenities, and a state champion green ash tree at the mouth of the Rum River Rum River The Rum River is a slow, meandering channel that connects Minnesota's Mille Lacs Lake with the Mississippi River. It runs for through the farming communities of Onamia, Milaca, Princeton, Cambridge, and Isanti before ending at the Twin Cities suburb of Anoka, roughly 20 miles northwest of downtown... . |
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| Pilot Knob | 44°52′51"N 93°10′2"W |
County | Dakota County Dakota County, Minnesota Dakota County is the third most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers on the north, and the state of Wisconsin on the east. Dakota County comprises the southeast portion of seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul, the thirteenth... Parks |
25 | A landmark to the Dakota and early settlers, this hill overlooks the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota River Minnesota River The Minnesota River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles long, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It drains a watershed of nearly , in Minnesota and about in South Dakota and Iowa.... s. |
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| Pine Bend Bluff Scientific and Natural Area http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/sna02030/index.html | 44°47′17"N 93°2′3"W |
State | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the U.S. state of Minnesota charged with conserving and managing the state's natural resources. The agency maintains areas such as state parks, state forests, recreational trails, and recreation areas as well as managing minerals,... |
256 | Oak forests and dry prairies on these 200 feet (61 m) bluffs form one of the largest undisturbed natural areas in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area. | |
| River Warren Falls River Warren Falls The River Warren Falls was a massive waterfall on the glacial River Warren initially located in present-day Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. The waterfall was 2700 feet across and 175 feet high.-Geologic history:... |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | – 9,400 years ago | A massive prehistoric waterfall on the Glacial River Warren Glacial River Warren right|thumb|210px|The course of the Minnesota River follows the valley carved by Glacial River WarrenGlacial River Warren or River Warren was a prehistoric river that drained Lake Agassiz in central North America between 11,700 and 9,400 years ago... slowly eroded upstream, carving the Mississippi Gorge and ultimately devolving into St. Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located northeast of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the only natural major waterfall on the Upper Mississippi River. The natural falls was replaced by a concrete overflow spillway after it partially collapsed in 1869... and Minnehaha Falls Minnehaha Falls Minnehaha Creek is a tributary of the Mississippi River located in Hennepin County, Minnesota that extends from Lake Minnetonka in the west and flows east for 22 miles through several suburbs west of Minneapolis and then through south Minneapolis. Including Lake Minnetonka, the watershed for the... . |
| Riverfront Regional Park http://www.anokacountyparks.com/parks/riverfront_regional_park/about.html | 859–860.5 45°3′39"N 93°16′53"W |
County | Anoka County Anoka County, Minnesota Anoka County is the fourth-most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the counties of Isanti on the north, Chisago and Washington on the east, Hennepin and Ramsey on the south, Sherburne on the west, and the Mississippi River on the southwest.As of 2010, Anoka... Parks |
139 | 1987 | Features riverfront paths and a rental facility in a renovated 1880s farmhouse. |
| Riverside Park http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=407 | 44°57′55"N 93°13′52"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
40 | 1884 | Site of several firsts in Minneapolis park amenities, from the first playground and basketball court in the 1900s to a full-sized soccer field and an off-leash dog park Dog park A dog park is a facility set aside for dogs to exercise and play off-leash in a controlled environment under the supervision of their owners... in recent years. |
| Science Museum of Minnesota Science Museum of Minnesota The Science Museum of Minnesota is an American museum focused on topics in technology, natural history, physical science and mathematics education. Founded in 1907 and located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the 501 nonprofit institution is staffed by over 500 employees and over 1,600 volunteers... http://www.smm.org/ |
839.7 44°56′35"N 93°5′53"W |
Non-profit | Science Museum of Minnesota | 1999 | A museum providing exhibits, education, and research on natural sciences, technology, and culture. The MNRRA visitor center is located in the lobby. | |
| Sibley House Historic Site Sibley House Historic Site The Sibley House Historic Site is the site of Henry Hastings Sibley's home, who was the regional manager of the American Fur Company and Minnesota's first governor. It is one of the 26 historical sites that are operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. Located in what is now the city of... http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/shs/ |
44°53′15"N 93°10′0"W |
State | Minnesota Historical Society Minnesota Historical Society The Minnesota Historical Society is a private, non-profit educational and cultural institution dedicated to preserving the history of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was founded by the territorial legislature in 1849, almost a decade before statehood. The Society is named in the Minnesota... |
1910 | The site includes the 1838 home of fur-trader turned first state governor Henry Hastings Sibley Henry Hastings Sibley Henry Hastings Sibley was the first Governor of the U.S. state of Minnesota.-Early life and education:... (the oldest European house in Minnesota), the 1840 home of trader Jean-Baptiste Faribault Jean-Baptiste Faribault Jean-Baptiste Faribault was a trader with the Indians and early settler in Minnesota.His father, Barthélemy Faribault, a lawyer of Paris, France, settled in Canada towards the middle of the 18th century and served as military secretary to the French army in Canada... , and an 1843 American Fur Company American Fur Company The American Fur Company was founded by John Jacob Astor in 1808. The company grew to monopolize the fur trade in the United States by 1830, and became one of the largest businesses in the country. The company was one the first great trusts in American business... store. |
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| Spring Lake Park Reserve http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/LeisureRecreation/CountyParks/Locations/SpringLake/default.htm | 815.2–823 44°44′44"N 92°58′0"W 44°45′49"N 92°55′53"W |
County | Dakota County Dakota County, Minnesota Dakota County is the third most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers on the north, and the state of Wisconsin on the east. Dakota County comprises the southeast portion of seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul, the thirteenth... Parks |
1,200 | Two separate units overlook a spring-fed lake joined to the Mississippi by dam-raised water levels. Amenities include an archery trail, community garden plots, model airplane field, and several rental facilities. | |
| St. Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located northeast of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the only natural major waterfall on the Upper Mississippi River. The natural falls was replaced by a concrete overflow spillway after it partially collapsed in 1869... |
854 44°58′54"N 93°15′26"W |
Federal | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers United States Army Corps of Engineers The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency... |
N/A | 1937 | The only waterfall on the entire Mississippi powered a major milling district from the 1860s to the 1930s. In 1937 the falls were about to erode into rapids and were stabilized with a concrete spillway. |
| St. Croix National Scenic Riverway Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway is a federally protected system of riverways located in eastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. It protects of river, including the St. Croix River , and the Namekagon River , as well as adjacent land along the rivers. The St... http://www.nps.gov/sacn/index.htm |
811.5 45°25′1"N 92°38′46"W |
Federal | National Park Service National Park Service The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations... |
92,738 | 1968 | A tributary of the Mississippi, the largely undeveloped St. Croix River on the Wisconsin–Minnesota border is protected as a separate unit of the National Park system. |
| Stone Arch Bridge http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=268 | 853.9 44°58′50"N 93°15′11"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
1994 | Built in 1883 for James J. Hill James J. Hill James Jerome Hill , was a Canadian-American railroad executive. He was the chief executive officer of a family of lines headed by the Great Northern Railway, which served a substantial area of the Upper Midwest, the northern Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest... 's Great Northern Railway, this 2100 feet (640.1 m) Historic Civil Engineering Landmark was converted to a walking and biking path in 1994. |
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| Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/navigation/default.asp?pageid=145&subpageid=144 | 854 44°58′50"N 93°15′28"W |
Federal | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers United States Army Corps of Engineers The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency... |
N/A | 1963 | Free tours are offered of the facility that finally extended navigation above St. Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located northeast of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the only natural major waterfall on the Upper Mississippi River. The natural falls was replaced by a concrete overflow spillway after it partially collapsed in 1869... . |
| Vento View Overlook | 44°55′3"N 93°6′48"W |
City | St. Paul Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city... Parks and Recreation |
N/A | 2001 | Congressman Bruce Vento Bruce Vento Bruce Frank Vento was an American politician, a Democratic-Farmer-Labor member of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 until his death in 2000... , a dedicated environmental advocate, is honored at this river valley overlook . Part of Cherokee Regional Park. |
| Vermillion River Bottoms | 795.5 | State | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the U.S. state of Minnesota charged with conserving and managing the state's natural resources. The agency maintains areas such as state parks, state forests, recreational trails, and recreation areas as well as managing minerals,... |
The lower Vermillion River Vermillion River (Minnesota) The Vermillion River meanders through Scott County and Dakota County in Minnesota, emptying into the Mississippi River just south of Hastings. 13.5 miles of it are designated as a trout stream, which is unusual for being so close to a metropolitan area.... flows through floodplain forest before emptying into the Mississippi. |
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| Water Power Park http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=500 | 44°59′3"N 93°15′17"W |
City | Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... Park & Recreation Board |
2007 | Interprets the country's first commercial hydroelectric Hydroelectricity Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy... power plant. |
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External links
- Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
- Friends of the Mississippi River (organizes volunteer restoration and education events in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area)