Viewed from the Guthrie Theater, St Anthony Falls, the small settlement that was to become the city of Minneapolis, glows in the spring sun.
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| The Falls of St. Anthony by Albert Bierstadt |
The largest falls on the Mississippi River first became known to the world in 1680 when their beauty was published in a journal by Father Louis Hennepin, an early explorer and Catholic friar of Belgian birth. Father Hennepin is also the one to write about Niagara Falls and bring them to the world's attention.
Indian tribes portaged their canoes on their trade route, the Mississippi River, and practiced their sacred ceremonies on this site from time unknown. When the white explorers discovered the area, the falls became a tourist attraction and source of power for lumber mills, then the flour mills that made Minneapolis "the flour capital of the world" from 1880 to 1930.
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| Photos by Paul deVere |
Locks and dams were added along the great river between 1937 and 1963 to make it navigable by the ships and barges carrying goods from the Midwest 2030 miles downstream to the port of New Orleans.
It's still exciting to sit in the park along the river bank and watch the huge chains of barges powered by a single towboat through the lock and take in all the beauty of Minneapolis and the great Mississippi River.
Thanks for visiting my blog today. I love reading your comments and will visit your blog in return.
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Cynthia the river looks so impressive
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing sight, such beauty.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great to watch the ships and barges pass through that lock.
ReplyDeleteCynthia
ReplyDeleteYou are to be highly commended on your most informative historical and
picturesque blogging.
I am sure many viewers who are never likely to step foot in Minnesota territory
or get to MSP learn much from your blog.
I recall going to some parkland outside Rochester on the Mississippi river side
and seeing some VERY mini like falls, plus some locks for navigational purposes.
Whatever the parkland was called (???), it was exceedingly well kept and a credit
to the park rangers etc.
Now ready to be unhitched - I'll be glad to get the bloody thing removed - ha ha.
Cheers
Colin
What a beautiful place. You know I love history!
ReplyDeleteI do so love falls, and can almost hear these running over the spillway. Very interesting history as well.
ReplyDeleteAwesome captures of the falls and I do love them! Such a beautiful place it is indeed!! Fascinating history, too!! Thanks so much for sharing, Cynthia!! Hope you enjoy a great week!!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and very interesting history. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful look at an important place
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu,
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
It's amazing how man has changed the river.
ReplyDeleteI like to watch falls, we don't have them here in our flat country, so I am always excited to hear the sound of the water.
ReplyDeletePowerful image of dams and waterfalls that the fictional Tom Sawyer would never have imagined when he was a boy growing up along the Mississippi River.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting what nature can do, along with man.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of the beautiful waterfalls and informative post ~ thanks!
ReplyDeleteHappy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol
Love those 1st and 2nd photos. It is a magnificent view then and now. Thanks for adding the story, it's fills my knowledge gap. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful view! Full to watch I am sure! :)
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are amazing! I can't even imagine standing close and watching the falls.
ReplyDeleteI love that first shot of yours. Very interesting! Looks like a fun day.
ReplyDelete