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In 1852, Ard Godfrey built a house, sawmill, and gristmill on
Joe Brown's old claim, but he and his wife Harriet abandoned the
site in 1871, as the mills at St. Anthony Falls economically
overshadowed any commercial potential of Minnehaha. The falls
became a tourist destination, especially after the publication of
The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1855.
However, Longfellow never visited the falls himself. He was
inspired by the stories of Mary Eastman and Henry Rowe Schoolcraft
and images of the falls. Beginning in 1885, the state legislature
began acquiring the land to become the first Minnesota State Park.
But in 1889, it was turned over to the city of Minneapolis for a
city park. Residents and visitors could fish, swim, picnic, and
visit the zoo, run by Robert "Fish" Jones. The park also featured a
carnival and horse-racing. Each year, 20,000 campers stayed at the
park—through the 1930s. In geologic time, the site of
Minnehaha Falls is linked historically to Saint Anthony Falls,
which is several miles upriver on the Mississippi. Around 10,000
years ago, the St. Anthony Falls were located near the site where
Minnehaha Creek entered the river. As erosion brought the falls
upriver, they passed Minnehaha Creek, causing a new waterfall to
form. The lower portion of Minnehaha Creek now flows through a wide
and deep channel once belonging to the larger river. The end of
Minnehaha Creek where it joins the Mississippi River is the lowest
surface point in the city of Minneapolis at 686 ft (209 m) above
sea level. Erosion within the last century has resulted in a falls
that is fairly narrowly channeled and vigorous, notably after a
heavy rain. Photographs of the waterfall from the 1800s (such as
the one from 1860) show a much wider, curtain like character to the
falls. When the falls is dry, the older, much-broader ledge can be
observed. If there were sufficient interest and funding, some
remedial work could theoretically restore the 19th century
appearance of the falls. Due to the extremely cold temperatures in
the area during the winter months, the falls often freeze, creating
a dramatic cascade of ice that can last well into the spring. If
there is a rain shortage in the autumn, the falls may virtually dry
up. In the summer, especially in the rainy months of June and July,
the flow can be surprisingly forceful. Today, the falls are located
near the entrance of Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis. The park is
divided into two main portions, an upper section above the falls
which is kept trimmed and maintained like many other city parks,
and the lower section which is largely left in a natural state
which is largely popular for free climbing due to the steep
terrain. Minnehaha Park is a popular site for cultural festivities
and weddings. Some historic structures are located in the park. The
home of John H. Stevens, built in 1849 or 1850 near St. Anthony
Falls was moved to Minnehaha Park in 1896. According to the
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the home has the distinction
of being the first wood-frame dwelling built west of the
Mississippi. It was in this home that the name Minneapolis was
suggested, and the government of Hennepin County was organized. In
1896 over 10,000 school children helped pull the house to Minnehaha
park and in 1982, the home was situated in its current location. A
small train station officially named Minnehaha Depot but also known
as "the Princess Depot" was built in 1875; it was a stop on the
Milwaukee Road railroad and provided easy access to the park from
Fort Snelling, downtown Minneapolis, and downtown St. Paul. The
depot handled as many as 39 round trips per day; it was once
integrated into the region's streetcar system. In 1964, title was
transferred to the Minnesota Historical Society. The Minnesota
Transportation Museum has assisted in the restoration of the
building. The depot is open on Sundays from 1:30 to 4:30. A modern
light rail station currently serves the park. A building known as
the Longfellow House is also on the park grounds and provides some
history of the park. It houses a small collection of historical
photographs and is the main informational site for the Grand Rounds
Scenic Byway, a 50-mile automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian parkway
that circles through the city. It was built in 1906 for Robert
"Fish" Jones, who owned and operated a zoo, the Longfellow
Zoological Gardens, and recreational train on the site. The home is
a 2/3 scale replica of the Longfellow National Historic Site, the
long-time home of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. Jones donated the Gardens to the Park Board in 1924.
Statues on the grounds commemorate several notable figures
including John H. Stevens, Gunnar Wennerberg, Hiawatha and
Minnehaha, Little Crow, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The main
Minnesota Veterans Home is also located in the area. Minnehaha Park
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the
Minnehaha Historic District. Minnehaha Park is also within the
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a unit of the
National Park Service. To Claim Credit for this Earth Cache Please
1. Upload Photo of you at the site. 2. Answer the following
question: What is this Unique and unusual Geological Feature
called? 3. Estimate the height of the falls from the lower
observation area and send me the info
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