July 25, 2019, Thursday - Hennepin Island Hydropower Tour with the Mill City Museum

Time: 10:30am - Noon

Location: Tours begin at the gray door on 3rd Avenue SE at Main Street (around the corner from the main entrance at 315 Main Street SE).

Hennepin Island Hydropower Tour

Future dates: August 8 and 22

Explore the history of waterpower at St. Anthony Falls, including special access to view the exterior of an operating Xcel Energy hydroelectric plant. During the early 20th century, more than two dozen mills and hydroelectric plants used the waterpower from St. Anthony Falls; today just one is left: Xcel's Hennepin Island Hydroelectric Plant.

On this tour, a Mill City Museum guide will lead participants to Hennepin Island and Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, including special access to the grounds of the power plant. Along the way, learn about the historic uses of waterpower at the falls for flour milling, sawmilling, and hydroelectricity, the role of hydroelectricity in Xcel Energy's green energy and energy efficiency initiatives, and the future of waterpower on the Minneapolis riverfront.

This tour is presented in partnership with Xcel Energy and is for ages 10 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

This tour includes about 1.5 miles of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces, as well as climbing up and down several flights of stairs. Some historic locations on this tour are not wheelchair-accessible.