Vote for Mill Ruins Park
From September 20 through October 12, 2011, local residents and people across the country are encouraged to vote for their favorite historic place from a diverse slate of 25 sites throughout the seven-county Twin Cities Area.
The winner of the public vote is guaranteed grant funds. The remainder of the $1 million in grants will be given to a number of the other sites after review by American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and an advisory committee. The committee, co-chaired by R.T. Rybak and Chris Coleman, mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, respectively, is composed of Twin Cities civic and preservation leaders.
Cast your vote for Mill Ruins Park here...
(voting results shortly after launch on 9/20/2011)
Constructed: 19th Century
Location: 103 Portland Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
About
Mill Ruins Park is located along the Mississippi River adjacent to St. Anthony Falls. The falls were the literal driving force behind the development of Minneapolis, providing power for lumber and flour mills. Minneapolis served as the Midwestern hub to transform wheat into flour and was known as the “flour capital of the world”. Although most of the mills are gone, their stone foundations and elaborate races that powered the mills survive on the Mississippi riverfront. Some of these have been exposed at Mill Ruins Park, but much more exists underground. The park is open year round, providing over 1.6 million annual visitors with access to the park and trails for recreational use, guided tours and programs, and large public events.
Need
The "Dig In!" project at Mill Ruins Park will engage people of all ages in a hands-on archaeological experience within the Milling District of St. Anthony Falls. The project will be an on-going public archaeological dig. Participants (who will be trained and supervised by professional archaeologists and field technicians) will help with excavation, documentation, and artifact processing. The project will provide people of all ages with the opportunity to actively engage in the preservation and enhancement of Minneapolis’ historic river resources.