Take Another Look at Local History Sites - Historic Fort Snelling Plank Museum and Visitor Center

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos MNHS

Nancy CassI recently visited the newly remodeled Historic Fort Snelling Plank Museum and Visitor Center. I suggest you put it on your must-do list – don’t just drive by the site that has national significance. There is so much history to learn at the site, and the new visitor center is gorgeous. We talked to Nancy Cass, Site Manager of Historic Fort Snelling, to learn more about the extensive history of the area and what you will experience during your visit. 

In the Dakota language, “bdote” means “where two waters come together.”

Q:  Why is the location of Historic Fort Snelling so significant? 

A:  Historic Fort Snelling, Minnesota’s first National Historic Landmark, is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. With 10,000 years of human history, this is a place where complex stories of many peoples converge. It is a place of major social, cultural and historical significance to all people who have inhabited the region.

Historic Fort Snelling means many things to many people. History shared by many voices is represented in new exhibits and spaces. From the homeland of the Dakota long before the Fort existed, to the memories of World War II veterans who mustered out there, Historic Fort Snelling holds meaning and memories that are at once stirring, powerful and complex.

The Fort was the site of a concentration camp for 1,600 Dakota following the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. Federal Army officers enslaved African Americans, including Dred and Harriet Scott, within the walls of the Fort in a free territory. The same Fort also launched the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment among 25,000 soldiers who fought against slavery in the Civil War.

Fort Snelling served as an induction center for more than 300,000 soldiers in World War II. It was also the home of the Military Intelligence Service Language School where Japanese Americans, many whose families were held in domestic concentration camps, used language skills to help win the war.

Plank Museum and Visitor Center

Q:  Please give us a brief history of the building that now houses the Historic Fort Snelling Plank Museum and Visitor Center.

A:  Originally built in 1904 as U.S. Army Cavalry barracks and later converted to an outpatient VA Clinic in 1946, the building had served many purposes and many people. It has been called Building K-12, Building 18A-B and a VA outpatient clinic.

Between 1904 and 1907, cavalry stables, stable guardhouses, a drill hall and barracks were constructed at Fort Snelling. Each wing of the barracks was designed to hold 85 soldiers. The Fort Snelling Quartermaster records note that the building was constructed for $60,477 with brick walls, stone foundation, slate roof and wood floors.

In the 1930s, Building 18 housed machine gun companies of the Third Infantry. These machine gun companies may have occupied the building as early as the 1920s. In the early 1940s, the building housed “companies in training.”

Military Intelligence Service Language School Students at Fort Snelling, 1945In 1944, Japanese language classes began at the Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS). According to supplements to telephone directories c. 1944 and 1945, the MISLS School Battalion Company F is located in Building 18-B and the School Battalion Company E is located in Building 18-A.

In 1946, the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs begins converting the building into an outpatient clinic.

It sat vacant since 1989. It had no power, water nor HVAC. There was water damage throughout the building, from roof leaks before MNHS reroofed the building in 2012. Wood floors were warped and ceilings had fallen. Floor surfaces were covered in asbestos mastic and there was lead paint on many walls.

Q:  The Military Intelligence Service Language School, based at Fort Snelling during World War II, is particularly interesting. Could you tell us more about it? 

A:  After 1944 the fort was the location of the Military Intelligence Service Language School, where Nisei (second-generation) Japanese Americans learned Japanese, Korean, and Chinese language and culture in preparation for overseas service as interpreters, interrogators, and intelligence workers. These soldiers played an important role after the end of the war during the occupation of Japan.

Plank Museum and Visitor Center Entrance and K.A.H.R. Foundation Lobby

Q:  The renovated Museum and Visitor Center are pristine, with modern amenities including meeting rooms and classrooms, exhibit spaces and galleries, plus accessible restrooms, a museum store, and grab-and-go food and beverage. Could you tell us about the planning process and considerations – materials to use, goals for the building, timeline, etc.? Are the large rooms available to rent for special events?

A:  Planning involved thoughtful consideration of the needs of the site, not only for the present but for future use including expanded stories and eras. Educational space was a priority in planning the building, which is something we did not previously have in the old Visitor Center. 

The site has moved to one that will be open year-round with the Visitor Center providing programs in the winter when the historic fort closes from November through early April. Rental space was included with a large event space now available as well as room for exhibits. A large museum store was included and space for providing food for purchase and informal eating area. Rental spaces are available.

Buffalo Weavers perform on the KLAS Overlook

Ecolab River Walk

Q:  The outdoor spaces are as gorgeous as the renovated visitor center. Could you tell us more about the indigenous landscapes and native plantings that are now taking root?

A:  The Indigenous landscapes that surround Historic Fort Snelling include savanna, woodland, prairie and wet meadow. Each features native plants. Interpretive panels throughout the locations present the Dakota and common English names for many plants, plus how Native Americans have used those plants for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. As these landscapes continue to grow and mature, visitors are encouraged to revisit and observe this living history.

Q:  Are there daily activities at the Fort and Visitor Center?

A:  Yes! Daily activities at the historic fort include hearth cooking, blacksmithing, military demonstrations, a school lesson, historic games and baseball, laundry, and an orientation tour. During the winter, programming will be available at the Visitor Center.

Q:  How may we follow your news? 

A:  Please check out the website, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Sherman Associates Breaks Ground on Ladder 260 and O2 Apartments

Above - Richard Kiemen, Sherman Associates; Wendy Ethen, Guaranty Title; Jessica Welk, Sherman Associates; Mayor Jacob Frey, City of Minneapolis; Councilmember Lisa Goodman, City of Minneapolis; Councilmember Michael Rainville, City of Minneapolis; Chris Sherman, Sherman Associates; George Sherman, Sherman Associates; John Hanley, AFL-CIO HIT, Carole Mette, Sherman Associates; Aaron Krasnow, RBC Capital Markets; Fire Chief Bryan Tyner, City of Minneapolis. Fire Station 1 is in the background. Photo: Sherman Associates 

Sherman Associates breaks ground on Ladder 260 and O2 apartments, delivering affordable and market-rate housing to Minneapolis

New Minneapolis Fire Station 1 completed as first phase of the redevelopment

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Sherman Associates broke ground on two apartments in its multi-phase redevelopment in the Mill District neighborhood. Ladder 260 is a 6-story, 90-unit affordable low-rise apartment located at 260 Portland Avenue, and O2 is a 22-story, 240-unit market-rate apartment tower located at 250 Portland Avenue.

Sherman also celebrated its completion of the new Minneapolis Fire Station 1 for the City of Minneapolis located at 285 5th Avenue South. The fire station is the first phase of Sherman’s $161 million redevelopment of the majority of the city block.

The redevelopment is on an approximately 1.75-acre site in Minneapolis, which was formerly a vacant surface parking lot and the former Minneapolis Fire Station 1 that was built in 1909. Ladder 260, O2, and Minneapolis Fire Station 1 are three separate projects that were simultaneously developed.

Sherman acquired the parking lot from a private seller and in working with the City of Minneapolis learned that Minneapolis Fire Station 1 was outdated and too small to serve the growing needs of the Mill District. In a public-private partnership, Sherman and the City of Minneapolis collaborated to develop a new and larger Minneapolis Fire Station 1 to serve the needs of the neighborhood and optimize the layout of the city block for Sherman’s Ladder 260 and O2 projects.

The new Minneapolis Fire Station 1 is approximately 19,500 square feet and consists of an apparatus bay to house fire trucks and a connected two-story structure providing office space, sleep areas, common areas, locker rooms, and rooftop patio. The $12 million fire station was financed by American National Bank and the City of Minneapolis.

Last month, the Minneapolis Fire Department moved into its new station after the City of Minneapolis purchased it from Sherman. Sherman will acquire the old fire station from the City of Minneapolis later this month and will demolish it to prep the site for Ladder 260.

Prior to the demolition, Firefighters For Healing will retrieve significant elements from the building to incorporate into its new Transitional Healing Center opening in early 2023, located a few blocks away in Sherman's Moment apartment tower. Sherman will also gather remaining items from the old fire station to incorporate into Ladder 260. 

Ladder 260 provides a rare new construction affordable housing product to downtown Minneapolis. Amenities will include a hotel-like lobby and leasing center, fitness room, 6th floor lounge and rooftop deck, bike storage/parking, and available storage units. Walk-up units on the street level offer a unique unit type for the market and will enhance the vibrancy along South 3rd Street. The location has proximity to transit by light rail and bus routes and is highly walkable and bike-friendly.

Seventy-two (72) units will target household incomes at 60% AMI, 13 units at 50% AMI, and 5 units at 30% AMI. There will be 18 units receiving project-based housing vouchers, with 5 of the units reserved for High Priority Homelessness.

Ladder 260 is a $34 million project financed by RBC Community Investments, American National Bank, National Bank of Commerce, JLL, AFL-CIO HIT, Minnesota Housing, and the Metropolitan Council LHIA.

The O2 market-rate tower features smart home technology in every unit including smart thermostat, locks, and lights that allow residents to easily monitor energy usage in their homes. An underground parking garage provides 196 parking spaces, 241 bicycle parking spaces, resident storage, and electric vehicle charging stations. A surface lot provides 26 parking spaces for residents and guests.

O2 provides approximately 5,500 square feet of street-level commercial space along Washington Avenue to build on the activation in the area. The $115 million O2 apartment tower is being financed by a bank group led by Associated Bank.

Energy usage for Ladder 260 and O2 is partially offset by energy production from a solar garden located in Carver County.

This mixed-use, mixed-income development speaks to the environmental sustainability and social impact components of Sherman’s ESG Commitment. Ladder 260 and O2 provide high-quality, long-term, mixed-income housing to the residents of Minneapolis. The location in the Mill District is transit-oriented with proximity to downtown providing residents with access to mass transit, biking, and walking; and will revitalize the neighborhood and create a more vibrant community.

Construction will be completed on Ladder 260 in the spring of 2024 with O2 being completed in the fall of 2024. Kraus-Anderson is the general contractor and ESG Architecture & Design is the architect for the redevelopment. Sherman and Kraus-Anderson are currently working together on the 10-story Moment mixed-use project in Minneapolis’ Elliot Park neighborhood.

Signs of Progress on Third Avenue Bridge Project

By Doug Verdier

Mill District residents might have observed the recent removal of one of the four tower cranes that had been in place on the Third Avenue bridge for the past many months. The operation took two days, as the horizontal section and operator cab were removed first, then the vertical tower was taken apart section by section and lowered to the bridge deck by the yellow crane.

Prep work is currently underway to repair the base of the bridge pier below the location where the tower crane had been. Crushed rock is being placed in the water around the base of the pier to form a solid platform for workers and equipment to operate from. A cofferdam barrier will be erected around the pier base to create a dry working area and prevent water from flowing around the pier while construction takes place down to the river bottom. The same process was used during repairs of two other piers in mid-river.

Here is the project page.

MacPhail Center for Music "Sounds of Summer" Festival Hits all the Right Notes!

By Doug Verdier

MacPhail Center for Music hosted their "Sounds of Summer" Festival of Music at Water Works Park Saturday, July 9. Musical performances included MacPhail students and faculty as well as guest performers, including the featured guest artist Ignacio “Nachito” Herrera who wrapped up the evening’s entertainment. Perfect weather brought out the crowds who enjoyed the music and visiting with friends on the lawn and the Bank of America City Steps, as well as refreshments from the food and beverage trailers provided by Owamni by the Sioux Chef in front of General Mills Plaza.

Between musical performances throughout the afternoon and early evening, the audience had an opportunity to visit with friends and neighbors and grab a snack and beverage at nearby refreshment trailers.

The schedule says it all. Music, Music, Music!

Ignacio “Nachito” Herrera got audience feet tapping (and some folks dancing) with his signature hot classic Cuban piano Latin jazz. Once described in the Minneapolis Star Tribune as, “Hotter than the burning tip of a contraband Cuban cigar. Stronger than a straight shot of Havana rum…,” he and his band mates kept up the pace for about 45 minutes of non-stop exciting music to close out the festival’s musical performances.

The lines at the food and beverage trailers next to General Mills Plaza moved quickly even during breaks in the musical performances.

July 9 at the Mill City Farmers Market

Our shopping basket from the July 9th Mill City Farmers Market.

Tera Forge Knives sharpened my knife while I finished shopping. They'll return to the Market on August 13th, so make a note to bring your dull knives on that date.

Mary Dirty Face Farm debuted at the July 9th Market with fruits and jams, and boy was Rachel Henderson popular! She'll be back for the July 23rd Market.

Sonny's Ice Cream hits the spot on a sultry Saturday morning. 

Fresh potatoes for homemade potato salad.

Coming soon - heirloom tomatoes from Nistler Farms. They displayed a few teasers at the July 9th Market.

Looks like this shopper could use a market basket, like the one below from Ink 'N Flower:

Always a long line for Café Palmira coffee!

New from Horner's Corner - Maple Cream. Per Stephen, store in the fridge and zap a few seconds in the microwave before spreading on toast. I didn't make it that far - it's so good I ended up eating it by the spoonful right out of the container.

Crescent Moon in Dark July 4th Downtown by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Ric Rosow

Close to midnight I walked outside to view the downtown skyline. A waxing crescent moon was moving  across the sky to set behind downtown buildings. In the dark of night it is difficult to capture the foreground elements without blowing out the color in the moon to bright white. So I concentrated on retaining the colorful lights of the downtown buildings while keeping the deep rich color of the moon. At the same time fireworks were going off close by, their explosions echoing loudly off the adjacent buildings.

See more of my work @ricrosowphotography.com and Tres Leches Art Gallery.

Fun Group Event: Private Tours by Friends of the Mississippi River

Article by Becky Fillinger 

Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) offers many tours throughout the year. The kayak, biking and walking tours are wildly popular – as you would expect. Did you know you may request a private walking tour for your group? This is offered free of charge and would be a fantastic group activity. We talked to Colleen O'Connor Toberman, Land Use & Planning Program Director, to learn more about engaging with her organization.

Colleen at Lock and Dam 1

Q:  How did the idea of private group tours come about? 

A:  Friends of the Mississippi River is partnering with Dr. Roopali Phadke, Professor of Environmental Studies, at Macalester College, as well as several community organizations, to highlight the upcoming U.S. Army Corps of Engineers disposition study for the Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam and Lock and Dam 1 (often called the Ford Dam). In short, this study will consider the future of these structures that we built to tame and industrialize the river. What should their purpose be, if any? Should we consider removing them? What will our future Mississippi River look like?

Macalester College and FMR have offered a series of focus group tours this summer to invite community members into this conversation. Demand for those experiences has been so high that FMR is offering additional private tours for groups like neighborhood associations, civic leagues, cultural groups, or anyone else interested in exploring this topic.

Q:  Please give us the specifics of a private group tour? How small a group will you take out? How large?  What will we see? 

A:  We welcome groups of 10-25 people to request a walking tour with us. These tours last 1.5 hours and start and end at the Wabun Picnic Area near Lock and Dam 1. Adaptations can be made for accessibility needs.

At this time, we're only able to offer tours focused on the future of the locks and dams. These tours cover the history and function of these structures, considerations for the future, and information about how to participate in the forthcoming Army Corps study process. The 1-2 mile route explores scenic vistas of the river gorge as well as walking to the lock itself.

Lock and Dam 1

Walking Tour

Our public focus groups included kayak, boat, and bike tours as well, but those tours have been filled and we don't have the ability to fund more of those experiences. If a private group is able to coordinate and pay for their own boat or kayak tour, we will gladly come along as guest speakers. We can recommend operators who have worked with us. 

We can also present about the future of the locks and dams in an indoor meeting setting! We can share the same information that we would on a walking tour.

Q:  What's the process of requesting a private tour? Is there a charge?

A:  There is no charge for a private walking tour. If you have a group of 10-25 people to attend a tour, please contact Maddie Miller (mmiller@fmr.org) to discuss scheduling. Right now, we're scheduling tours for late August through October. Indoor presentations can be scheduled for the winter, as well.

Q:  How may we follow news of the Friends of the Mississippi River?  

A:  To learn more about this type of program, and sign up for email updates, please visit www.fmr.org/metrodams.

On social media, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Weekly Events at Peavey Plaza July 10 – 16

Green Minneapolis is excited to host these events, free and open to all!

YWCA Minneapolis Yoga on the Plaza

Tuesday, July 12 from 5:30-6:30pm

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Flow into summer with FREE yoga classes at Peavey Plaza (weather permitting). Bring a water, mat and towel. Members and nonmembers are welcome to attend. Nonmembers that attend receive a FREE three-day trial fitness pass to any of our three fitness locations. Plus, join YWCA Minneapolis as a member for just $15! Registration recommended

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Minnesota Orchestra: Summer at Orchestra Hall

Friday, July 15 from 6:45-7:45pm

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Summer at Orchestra Hall is a new take on the Minnesota Orchestra’s traditional summer festival, celebrating the Orchestra’s home in the city and its proximity to the revitalized Peavey Plaza. The community is invited to participate in special food experiences and free entertainment by outstanding local performers at Peavey Plaza. Complete list of upcoming performances.

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Children’s Theatre Company Story Theatre 

Saturday, July 16 at 12-12:30pm & 12:30-1pm

Join Children’s Theatre Company for summertime fun at Peavey Plaza! Through imaginative play, collaborative storytelling, music, and family engagement, we’ll explore beloved children’s books together. Laugh, dance, and discover along with your family and friends.

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Minnesota Orchestra: Day of Music

Saturday, July 16 from 12-11pm

The International Day of Music features performances on multiple stages in and around Orchestra Hall, celebrating many genres of music for all ages and featuring a free outdoor performance by the Minnesota Orchestra led by Chia-Hsuan Lin on Peavey Plaza at 8:30 p.m., hosted by Summer at Orchestra Hall Creative Partner Jon Kimura Parker. Learn more.

For a complete calendar of our Peavey Plaza Performing Arts Series, visit greenminneapolis.org/events.

Reader Writes: Answers and Changes to Policing Needed to Curb Downtown Mayhem

By Joe Tamburino

The horrific events on the Fourth of July in our wonderful Mill District neighborhood was, sadly, predictable and likely to happen again.  Ever since the riots in the summer of 2020, we’ve sporadically experienced large groups of people causing mayhem in our streets ranging from exhibition driving and drag racing to property destruction and gunfire. Such lawless behavior will likely happen again because rarely is anyone in these crowds arrested or held accountable for their actions.  It is beyond time for the city’s leaders to take control of the situation.  To prepare for and combat future street unrest, the mayor should make three important and immediate changes to city policy: allow police to physically disperse crowds, remove all scooters, and have the National Guard ready to deploy during major downtown events.

First, Mayor Frey signed a “stipulation and order” (Stipulation) regarding Minneapolis Police Dept. (MPD) procedures and officer conduct on June 5, 2020.  Though the agreement addresses some important issues like banning police chokeholds it also unnecessarily hamstrung police in engaging and disbanding large crowds.  MPD officers are prohibited from using physical force and crowd dispersal tools like tear gas to break-up large and often times unlawful crowds unless the chief of police directly authorizes such actions. We need to know whether such authorization was requested by MPD officers on July 4th and what the Chief’s Office did or did not authorize.  No matter what we find out, the terms of that Stipulation must be re-visited to address the situation we are in two years after the mayor signed it. 

Second, scooters in downtown have become unmanageable, especially at the bottom of Portland Avenue near the Stone Arch Bridge. That scooter station has become a late night magnet for people who want to cause trouble.  We see people starting their scooter rentals at 10:00 p.m. at that location and drive all over the Mill District yelling, screaming, blocking traffic, jumping on and off sidewalks until their rental time expires at midnight. On July 4th, that station was filled with people causing all sorts of problems and firing off dangerous fireworks. The mayor should order the scooters removed until downtown returns to some semblance of order, however long that takes.  The fact that some people love the scooters and they are a fun way to get around town can no longer be the dominant concern.  They have to go. 

Lastly, the National Guard should be placed on standby in Minneapolis during major events. We experienced the fallout from communication problems between Mayor Frey and Governor Walz during the 2020 riots concerning National Guard deployments, but there’s no excuse now for not having their troops ready-to-go at a moment’s notice to assist MPD. We have the Aquatennial celebrations in two weeks and we need the Guard to be ready.

Our city leaders see the problems and know that law-abiding residents are in danger. Now let’s see if they have the backbone to stand up against this craziness and do something about it.

Editors note: Joe Tamburino is a resident of Downtown Minneapolis, Defense Attorney with offices Downtown, and Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association Board Member 

4th Street Reconstruction Project Update - July 8

4th Street Reconstruction Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis is reconstructing 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and 4th Ave. S in downtown Minneapolis. The reconstruction will include wider sidewalks, improved crossings, a new bi-directional off-street bike path on the north side of the street, lighting, trees, and planting beds. Construction is underway and is expected to be complete by the end of 2022.

What's Happening Next Week? 

Roadway reconstruction continues on 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave. Local access is maintained between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave.

• Crews are planning to continue landscaping, sign installation, and lane striping on 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave.
• Sidewalk repairs are being completed between Marquette Ave. and 4th Ave. S

*Please note that the construction schedules are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. 

What to expect during construction?

• During roadway construction, 4th St. will be closed to through traffic between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave. Local access will be maintained from 2nd Ave. N to 1st Ave. N. 
• Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout construction. Be aware of your surroundings when walking or biking near the construction zone. 
• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.

Upcoming Events

4th Street Weekly Stakeholder Meeting 

Weekly project newsletters are sent out weekly and virtual stakeholder meetings occur bi-weekly. Join us at the next stakeholder meeting to get project updates, talk with project staff and get your questions/concerns answered.

Upcoming Stakeholder Meetings:

July 15, 9-9:30 a.m.

July 29, 9-9:30 a.m.

Teams Meeting: Click here to join the meeting

Stay connected

There are multiple ways to get information including email updates and ongoing stakeholder meetings. Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates: www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/fourth-st-n-and-s/  

Provide questions, comments or concerns on the interactive map: https://zan.mysocialpinpoint.com/4thstreetreconstruction

Email the project team: info@4thstmpls.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-412-9774

The Falls Initiative: Community Conversations Update

Article by Becky Fillinger

The fifth Falls Initiative Community Conversation was hosted June 28 at Open Book in Minneapolis. If you haven’t been following this story, The Falls Initiative is a multiyear, multiphase project to create a place of healing and celebration at Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls). The project will transform and return the Mississippi riverfront to the public, being especially mindful to the Dakota and other Indigenous communities who consider the site sacred. The theme of the evening was A Powerful Place for Partnerships.

June 28 community conversation     Photo: Drew Arrieta for Friends of the Falls

The Falls Initiative is often visually represented by a thread. The imagery illustrates the Falls as a story disrupted. Examine the tightly knit beginning of the thread story – it reflects the communities, sense of place and sacredness of Owámniyomni. The middle part of the threaded imagery reflects how this place was torn apart through colonization, genocide against Indigenous people, the city’s development, and industrialization. At present day, we are still in this segment. The Falls Initiative is an effort to bring the threads back together again. It will be a long and thoughtful process to knit the story back together and to permit us all to return to the river.

Image credit: GGN for Friends of the Falls

Below is the timeline of project, with Phase 4 concluding last week. Please click on any Phase to learn more about the work done during that time frame: 

Phase 1: Coalition Building (2016-2019)

Phase 2: Inform & Connect (2020)

Phase 3: Grounding (2021)

Phase 4: Engage (January – June 2022)

Phase 5: Align  (July – August 2022)

Phase 6: Respond  (September 2022 – March 2023)

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At the June 28 meeting, many stakeholders gave input on the process so far.

Carrie Day Aspinwall and Kjersti Duval.   Photo: Becky Fillinger

Carrie Day-Aspinwall, who has served as a consultant to The Falls Initiative and facilitator for the Native Partnership Council, told us, “The work on The Falls Initiative has been amazing. It’s not often that we’re invited to the table. We have been able to reestablish, reconnect and re-energize the non-Indian people to the Dakota community. The journey has been strong, consistent and quite honestly it has felt like the right thing to do. We keep our culture at the center of all this work - Indigenous values - our culture, our language, customs and way of life - have been the basis of all our work on The Falls Initiative to date.”     

David Malda, key design leader at GGN provided us with schematics of the design concepts of upper falls, falls and lower falls and what features and programming might take place on the sites. He reiterated that the theme for the night’s presentation, A Powerful Place for Partnerships, was not about decolonizing, but instead indigenizing.

Kjersti Duval, Director of The Falls Initiative, walked the audience through the timeline of turning the property back to the public. She told the audience that early action by The Falls Initiative to build a strong coalition has protected the site and has created the space necessary for a different kind of process to shape the future of the site, saying, “Indigenous landscapes are rising up all over the world, and this place will be one of the most important.”

Kjersti also introduced Interboro Partners, who will lead a focused study on partnerships and programming with local partners MIGIZI and the Division of Indian Work in the coming months.

Image credit: GGN for Friends of the Falls

David D’Oca, Cofounder and Principal at Interboro Partners, told us, “We are just getting started - my firm along with local Twin Cities’ partners are working together for a programming partnership study. We are looking to advance some of the initial ideas about programs. What should be on the site? How can we advance these ideas, and who would be good partners? Art on the site – who would be part of that conversation? Our task is to keep the conversation going - this is complex, long term and a gamechanger.  We are so honored to be part of this project.” 

After the main presentations, breakout groups continued to brainstorm about what the place could be – and how it could grow through time. 

The public’s involvement is by no means over. For community members who are interested, please follow The Falls Initiative on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or by subscribing to the newsletter. Your input is welcome and desired.

Hennepin Avenue Downtown Reconstruction Project - July 7 Update

Hennepin Avenue Downtown Reconstruction Project

Hennepin Ave. will be reconstructed between 12th Street and Washington Avenue. The City will reconstruct the pavement from building face to building face, including improvements to public and private utility infrastructure, and improved space for pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and vehicles.

Latest Project News

Concrete work is winding down for the project with only a small portion of the  6th St intersection remaining including the ped ramps and bike way connections in this intersection.

What's Coming Up 

Irrigation work will begin next week on the last two blocks between 5th and 7th.  The last lane of paving in the 6th St intersection will be completed early next week with the remaining ped ramps and bike lane connections following.

New signals and light poles will arrive in August.

For more information please see attached update. Hennepin_Update_Vol98.pdf

Contact Info

For more information on this project contact: 

Project email: hennepinCM@minneapolismn.gov

Phone: 612-255-4049

Website: www.hennepindowntown.com 

Art at the Bridgewater Hosts 20th Rotating Exhibit “Two Hundred Six” through July 29

Submitted by the Bridgewater Lofts Art Committee

Walk into the Mill District’s Bridgewater Lofts and the first thing you might notice is the quantity of original art that graces its interior common spaces. Several pieces were purchased by the condo association for its permanent collection. Others are part of an established rotating exhibit program that showcases local artists from a wide variety of disciplines, from abstract oils and watercolor landscapes to sculptural works in bronze, clay and other natural materials. Four shows a year are produced, and the current exhibit, Two Hundred Six, demonstrates the depth and diversity of the Minnesota arts community.

Nebula — Martha Bird

Some of the largest and most striking pieces in the show are the creation of sculptural basket weaver Martha Bird, whose “Nebula” inspired the exhibit title. Commenting on the work, Bird noted that the sculpture, a French technique known as Perigord, contains 206 individual pieces of rattan, coincidentally the same number of bones in the human body.

Sea Floor — S. Catrin Magnusson

S. Catrin Magnusson takes inspiration from another natural structure, the diverging oceanic plates that comprise the deep trench in the Atlantic Ocean, also known as the mid-Atlantic ridge. But it is more than physical separation that the artist evokes in her large-scale felted creations. “I express my own personal timeline of emigration from Sweden to the United States,” says Magnusson. “The distance between my two countries, cultures and family inevitably continues to grow each year.”

Immigration Series — Brenda Litman

Emigration is also a touchpoint for Brenda Litman. Her seven-painting series of abstracts looks at the variety of ethnicities cultures and races that make up the American melting pot. She filters her subjects through the rhythms of nature: seasonal change and the life cycle. In Litman’s view, “All who live in our nation inhabit a garden, a rich mosaic of entwined blossoms.”

Interior and Portrait Series: Maria, Restaurant Entrepreneur — Ann Magnusson

Ann Magnusson’s ongoing series of paintings, “Interior and Portraits,” highlights the kind of structure that is found in the everyday objects with which people surround themselves. Each of her subjects is placed in their carefully curated environment. What emerges is not just a collection of lifeless things, but a deeper understanding of the personality of their owner. When choosing her subjects, Magnusson looks for differences in age, gender, occupation and culture, but also the interconnectedness of the human experience.

Messenger — Gordon Coons

Common Loon — Ellen Moses

Native American artist Gordon Coons and ceramicist Ellen Moses both take inspiration from the natural world. Coons original, hand-pulled block prints featured in the Bridgewater show highlight the role of the Raven as a messenger between man and the spirit realm. Moses creates slip-cast sculptures from original molds and, like Coons, she seeks to capture the interface of humans and wildlife as we work on sharing the natural environment.

Chaos — Marvin Wise

An early developmental speech problem made it difficult for painter Marvin Wise to communicate. Drawing cartoons eased the challenge and allowed him to share stories with others. That skill translated into a full-fledged art career which brought his talents before such luminaries as Maya Angelou and Bishop Desmond Tutu. Wise’s work ranges from the fantastical to the abstract, and his use of bold colors and brushwork is highlighted in the works displayed at the Bridgewater.

Ebullience — Wendy Heimsness

Self-taught artist Wendy Heimsness creates abstract paintings in acrylics and mixed media that burst with color and energy. Feelings and emotions take center stage in works like “Merriment,” “Outburst” and “Ebullience,” but the viewer is always encouraged to place their own interpretations on her array of Bridgewater contributions.

Two Hundred Six runs through July 29 at the Bridgwater Lofts condominiums, 215 10th Avenue S. For more information on viewing/purchase opportunities, contact bnfacommittee@gmail.com.

Preserve Minneapolis' Nicollet Island Walking Tours

Preserve Minneapolis presents 2 walking tours on Nicollet Island:

Nicollet Island - South Tip Walking Tour

Sunday, July 24, 10 – 11:30 am

Nicollet Island information kiosk at E Island Avenue and Merriam Street

Nicollet Island developed as a microcosm of early Minneapolis, with water-powered factories, storefronts, block-long rowhouses, a mansion district and a neighborhood that still stands as a sampler of the 19th century residential architecture. The 40-acre island just above St. Anthony Falls next to downtown Minneapolis is the site of the first bridge anywhere across the Mississippi River (where Hennepin Avenue crosses now), as well as an early railroad crossing that divides the island in two. It is said to be the only inhabited island the entire length of the Mississippi. The South Tip Tour focuses on the falls and the industry it attracted; the Hennepin crossing and the commerce that lined it; and the movers and shakers who populated Grove Street and built grand homes downriver from the railroad tracks. This tour walks about a half mile; the tour guide is Chris Steller. $14, plus $1 processing fee. For information and to register: https://www.preserveminneapolis.org/events/nicollet-island-south-tip-walking-tour-2022.

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Nicollet Island -- North Tip Walking Tour

Sunday, July 24, 11:30 am – 1 pm

De La Salle picnic area at E Island Avenue and Grove Street

Nicollet Island developed as a microcosm of early Minneapolis, with water-powered factories, storefronts, block-long rowhouses, a mansion district and a neighborhood that still stands as a sampler of the 19th century residential architecture. The 40-acre island just above St. Anthony Falls next to downtown Minneapolis is the site of the first bridge anywhere across the Mississippi River (where Hennepin Avenue crosses now), as well as an early railroad crossing that divides the island in two. It is said to be the only inhabited island the entire length of the Mississippi. The North Tip Tour focuses on the  neighborhood upriver from the railroad tracks where people have lived since the 1860s. Native Americans tapped maples there, houses moved within the island and onto the island, a school went up and came down and resident donkeys made friends with visitors into the 1980s. This tour walks about a half-mile; the tour guide is Chris Steller. $14, plus $1 processing fee. For information and to register: https://www.preserveminneapolis.org/events/nicollet-island-north-tip-walking-tour-2022.

Small Business Spotlight: Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided by Molly Ingebretsen

Julie IngebretsenIngebretsen's Nordic Marketplace is 101 years old – a Minneapolis institution. They were recently named Minnesota’s Family-Owned Small Business of the year by the SBA. We talked to third generation co-owner Julie Ingebretsen about the award, mentoring other small immigrant businesses and items not to miss in the retail store – I have my eye on the Biking Viking chocolate bars!

Q:  Congratulations on Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace being named Minnesota’s Family-Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Association. What does the award mean to you? Will you have a party or event to celebrate the award?  

A: We were so delighted - it's quite an honor to be recognized by the SBA! We're big fans of theirs. The award event was really nice, both mayors (Frey and Carter) handed them out - and it was at Urban Growler, sweet! No party here yet though - we plowed right into a big building repair/remodeling project that's still keeping us partly closed. 

MetroIBA (Metro Independent Business Alliance) advocates for independent businesses across the metro area, focusing on the 'buy local' movement, state-level lobbying, and resource-sharing among members. We're grateful that they nominated us for this award!

Ingebretsen's Butcher Counter 1921

The Model Market, 1921

Charles Ingebretsen, Sr. family, 1925Q: Ingebretsen’s has been a community staple for over 100 years. Four generations of Ingrebretsens have owned this business celebrating Scandinavian culture. Please tell us the history of the Ingebretsen’s retail store. Do you think the founders could imagine a Minneapolis of today?  

A: My grandfather, a Norwegian immigrant, started our meat market in 1921, when Lake Street was near the edge of town and our neighborhood was largely Scandinavian. Hard to know how he imagined the future, but I know he understood the importance of location (Lake Street had a new street car line then), and of being rooted in the community. My dad and his eventual partner took over in the 1950's. They added our gift shop in 1974 and hired me to run it, which I thought would be fun for a year or two. I'm still here, and it's still fun. And our 4th generation is very involved and getting ready to take over.

Q:  Did Ingebretsen's sustain damage during the unrest following the murder of George Floyd in 2020?

A:  We had broken windows and quite a lot of internal damage and looting that first night, but thankfully no fire. It was tough, but so many of our neighbors had it much worse. We have felt well supported by our wonderful community of customers and our insurance, and have learned a lot on a visceral level about the meaning of white privilege. Lake Street itself is recovering in some pretty inspiring ways with the help of a wide net of people and organizations contributing time and energy and expertise and money. We're so proud to be a member of this special place.

Q:  I know you’re active in mentoring new immigrant businesses along Lake Street. How did you develop this interest and what types of mentoring do you provide?  

A:  I'd say our "mentoring" is more indirect, but I know our presence and stability influences our newer neighboring businesses in positive ways. We try to be conscious allies of new immigrant businesses and communities, of arts groups, of our surrounding neighborhoods, of the groups working directly with small businesses. Lake Street Council is foremost among those groups, and has done an amazing job raising money and managing the complexity of the recovery. To us, being an ally means supporting and participating in events, sitting on active boards (I've been on Lake Street Council's for years), being active in community safety organizations and projects, welcoming (and buying from!) new businesses, just being as visibly supportive as we can.

Q:  How have you expanded the Ingebretsen’s marketplace during your tenure?  

A:  We occupy four storefronts on the corner of 16th Avenue and East Lake Street. While the meat market/deli part of our business has remained much the same all these years in the second storefront, the rest of the business has expanded around it. The gift shop was added in 1974 in the corner storefront. We had outgrown that space by the mid-90s, so we expanded to the third storefront where we now have our clothing, needlework (especially knitting), and children's things. The fourth space is mostly occupied by our growing mail order business, along with some space for classes. We also had a small boutique in Stockholm, WI for several years, and still run a gift shop in the Norway House building at 913 E Franklin Avenue.

Hagar next to the fish counter

Ingebretsen's clothing and needlework area

Biking Viking chocolatesQ:  What’s a few items we should not miss when we come to shop at Ingebretsen’s?

A:  Our food specialties, for sure - Swedish meatball mix, Swedish sausage, smoked salmon, herring, lefse, cheeses, chocolate, lots more. Nordic specialty cookware. A great book selection. Christmas things when it's time. We're big on Viking-themed things (real Vikings). Also so many of the wonderfully designed and made products for the home that come from Scandinavia. Norwegian wool yarn. Cool socks. Hard to stop...

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  We update our website daily, and there you can sign up to get emails from us. We are also active on Facebook and Instagram where we share cultural information and day to day happenings in the store! Come by and see us at 1601 E Lake Street – we love first time and regular visitors!

Father Hennepin Bluff Park Improvement Project Progress

By Doug Verdier

The current project to renovate and improve Father Hennepin Bluff Park is moving along nicely, as construction of a new performance stage and attached seasonal restroom facility currently is underway and on schedule. The photos below show some of the recent progress.

Supports are in place to install a roof above what will be the new outdoor concert stage area. New restrooms are built into the back side of this structure.

Shown above is the entrance to the restroom area beneath the cantilevered roof being placed at the rear of the new structure behind the stage shown in the previous photo.

The existing bandshell seen above will remain. Original plans were to refurbish it and remove the roof, but budgetary considerations resulted in a change. According to park officials, plans now call for dressing up the front of it, removing much of the concrete that was there, and simplifying the approach to it. Since the new building will now be where performances are held, the existing bandshell area can take on a simple look and feel.

Extensive landscaping and stormwater management throughout the park has been happening since the project began in April 2022. Work is expected to be complete in Fall 2022. 

zAmya Theater Project Announces "Second Chance" - August 4, 10, and 14

Who deserves a second chance? And who decides?

zAmya Theater Project announces Second Chance, a play that explores second chances through the lens of people experiencing homelessness.

What does it mean to get a second chance in life? Who deserves a second chance? And who decides? Hear the pleas to the Council of Second Chances. You, the audience, get to weigh in on whether or not a second chance is granted. What will you decide?

Originally created in 2018 through a residency with Minneapolis Central Library, Second Chance was made and performed by actors who have experience with homelessness. This summer’s production is directed once more by Maren Ward, and includes music by mick laBriola and Carlisle Evans Peck. The original production team included Carlyle Brown (playwright), Bianca Pettis and Esther Ouray (Assistant Directors), and Leah Nelson (Choreography). 

Tour partners include: Mill City Museum, North Loop Neighborhood Association and Avivo, and the Mpls Downtown Improvement District. 

Performance dates, times and locations:

Thursday, August 4, 7:00-8:00pm

Mill City Museum in the Ruin Courtyard (704 S 2nd Street - indoors if bad weather strikes)

ASL interpretation provided

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Wednesday, August 10, 7:00-8:00pm

Target Field Station Amphitheater (the corner of 5th Street N & 5th Avenue N)

Alternate rain date: Fri. August 12

ASL interpretation provided

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Sunday August 14 (rain or shine!), 2:00-3:00pm

Downtown Minneapolis Street Art Festival (Nicollet Mall between 6th & 7th)

ASL interpretation provided

Tickets are Free. Registration encouraged (but not required) August 4 and 10. No registration required for the August 14 show.

Second Chance is filled with the real life stories of people who’ve found themselves without shelter in all kinds of ways imaginable. Audiences will be asked to face the part of themselves that may judge the personal circumstances of others as they ask for help. zAmya presents Second Chance as our contribution to raising awareness and advocating for housing justice in the face of Minnesota’s housing crisis. 

With support from the City of Minneapolis Partnership Engagement Fund, this three-show tour also kicks off a project between zAmya Project, North Loop Neighborhood Association and Avivo. The North Loop is Minneapolis’ fastest growing neighborhood, home to both high-end condos and wealthy residents, and several organizations sheltering low income residents in need of housing. Together, we aim to establish a shared vision amongst community members, housed and homeless, of what needs to happen for everyone in their neighborhood to feel safe, have shelter, and ensure support for the most vulnerable.

Since 2004 the zAmya Theater Project has been changing hearts and minds through performances and workshops in hundreds of Minnesota locations and with many partners including: Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, Hennepin Theater Trust, Southwest Minnesota Housing Project, The Guthrie Theater, Edina Realty, Salvation Army, Thrivent Financial, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless Annual Conference, Basilica of St. Mary, Augsburg College, and more.

Dream Job: Benji Bloom, Programming and Booking Assistant, Dakota

Article by Becky Fillinger

When you’re joining your fifth Zoom meeting of the day, and considering monthly sales pipeline quotas, think about the dream job held by Benji Bloom – Programming and Booking Assistant at the Dakota! We talked to Benji about how he goes about planning the Dakota’s music calendar and what it’s like to work at a legendary venue.

Benji Bloom

Q:  Your LinkedIn profile mentions that you’re adept at analyzing trends and human behavior as it relates to pop/urban culture. Please tell us more about how you acquired this skill and how you use it at the Dakota.

A:  I credit a lot of my “ear to the ground” skill to my time at the radio station back in college, 90.7 FM KJHK. I was booking shows there, so I had to stay in tune with the local acts around town (Lawrence, Kansas). Along with that, I have always loved finding new artists. A lot of people can listen to the same artists their whole life, but not me. I constantly need something new. That skill allows me to bring in new acts that haven’t been exposed to the Dakota before – not only good acts, but important ones.

Q:  You really do have a dream job. How do you go about putting together a monthly calendar for the Dakota? Do you work one month at a time, or perhaps three at a time, to get the right mix of shows?

A:  It is truly all over the place. Depending on the acts, we could be booking anywhere from a month out to a year out. If we like it and we think the Twin Cities community will (or already does) like it, then we jump on it. Getting that right mix is very important, especially due to the fact that we don’t identify strictly as a “Jazz Club” anymore; even though we still present Jazz, the Dakota is way bigger than that. Presenting musical diversity is extremely important.

Q:  Did you grow up in Kansas? Where’s home for you?

A:  I am originally from Minnesota. I went to Lawrence, Kansas for college. My intent was to move to Kansas City after school, but the pandemic brought me back here.

Q:  The Dakota webpage includes a quote from Jazz Weekly – “It’s because of concerts like this that I can’t stand living in Los Angeles. Why is it that Lowell Pickett’s Dakota…gets artists and tours to come to Minneapolis and not darken the doors of any club in LA?” What is your secret sauce in booking these artists that are the envy of every jazz club?

A:  The credit all goes to Lowell (Pickett). He has built such incredible relationships with figures in the industry during his career. It’s impressive because it’s not like artists feel like they have to perform at the Dakota, but instead they want to because they know they will be treated extremely well and have a memorable experience in such a legendary venue. That’s why we get some incredible underplays.

Q:  Do you solicit community input in booking future shows?

A:  Always! I can’t book for just myself. Audience input is always helpful and very much appreciated.

Q:  What music do you listen to in your time away from work?

A:  That’s kind of impossible to answer. I listen while at work too, I like to find new stuff all the time, its part of the gig. I’ll listen to just about anything and it changes just about every day. I will listen to anything from Charles Mingus to Sunn 0))) to John Prine to MF Doom.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  I am not very active on social media. I kind of like staying under the radar, but I am always paying attention. You can follow the music calendar on the Dakota's website, subscribe to our newsletter, and if you really want to, you can follow my very slow-moving Instagram @benji.bloom to see me rock climb and what I am listening to in real time!

July 2 at the Mill City Farmers Market

The first cucumbers and green beans of the season from GVY Fresh Produce graced our July 2 Mill City Farmers Market shopping basket.

By far THE best thing I've eaten in a very long time: the pork belly sandwich from Jabà Noodles, with a refreshing frozen watermelon juice. They return to the Market on August 6th, and I sure hope both these items will be on the menu again!

Whether it's bread, freshly milled flour, cookies, pretzels or other goodies - you can count on Baker’s Field Flour & Bread to have your carb fix.

Northwood Mushrooms Family Farm (formerly Cherry Tree House Mushrooms) offers an array of fresh, dried and powdered mushrooms, along with mushroom brownies, mushroom butter and log kits. In other words - all things mushroom!

Friends of the Falls was the July 1 Community Booth. This non-profit is working to a create a place of healing and celebration at Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls), and has been hosting a series of Community Conversations on the subject. Learn more on their website and follow them on Facebook to stay in the loop.

Who else can relate to this T-shirt from Shepherd's Way?

Bohemian Flats and Its Bygone Village

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Nestled along the west bank between limestone bluffs and the Mississippi River once sat a small community of immigrants that garnered the name Bohemian Flats. This community popped up around the same time Minneapolis became incorporated as a town in 1867 and lasted roughly 100 years. Today, a park with the same name sits at the location of this bygone village, but what exactly happened on this strip of shoreline we call Bohemian Flats?

Photo of Bohemian Flats during the construction of the Northern Pacific Railway Bridge taken in 1880, courtesy of MNHS.

As milling continued to grow in Minneapolis and St. Anthony, so did the cities’ immigrant population. On the east side of the river in St. Anthony, many of them lived in what is now Northeast Minneapolis, but on the west side of the river, the young town of Minneapolis did not have much room for affordable residential growth at the time. This led to many immigrants from central Europe congregating at a low point along the shores of the river and created their own Old World-style village in which to raise their families.

The first major groups to call Bohemian Flats home were the Czechs and Slovaks, and soon after, immigrants from places like Austria, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway all came to this location. Throughout its existence, many names have been given to this village. Dane Flats, Little Ireland, Little Lithuania, and Connemara Patch, to name a few, were all used at one point or another, but “Bohemian Flats” stood the test of time.

Many of the houses built in this village were shacks at best. None had foundations, and yearly flooding made it difficult for families to truly invest in their homes. Later on, nicer homes were constructed atop the bluff, separated from the lower bluff by a flight of seventy-nine stairs. Homes on the upper bluff could be rented out for between $15 and $20 a year, while homes on the lower bluff went for $0.50 to $2 a year. Only a few families were able to find enough economic success to be able to afford moving up the bluff, and the majority of the residents of this village lived close to the river’s shores. 

Photo of boys rowing a boat down Cooper Street, next to the Immanuel Evangelical Slovak Lutheran Church during a flood in 1898, courtesy of MNHS.

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Photo of Polish immigrants searching for their belongings that floated away during a flood in 1900, courtesy of MNHS.

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Life at Bohemian Flats was quite difficult compared to the rest of the city. Fresh water was hard to come by as many of the shared wells were close to outhouses. Materials to build a house were too expensive to buy, so families waited for logs to sneak away from the log booms of the lumber mills and float over St. Anthony Falls for them to fish out of the river. Crime would also create chaos, especially on Sundays when workers at the nearby breweries would throw keggers along the bluffs. These breweries, the Heinrich Brewing Association and the F.D. Noernberg Brewing Company, would eventually merge with the Orth Brewery in 1890 to form the Minneapolis Brewing Company, later known as the Grain Belt Brewery.

Photo of Bohemian Flats taken in 1910 with the F.D. Noernberg Brewing Company in the background on the left, courtesy of MNHS.

A plat of Bohemian Flats in 1910 created by Joseph W. Zalusky in 1940, courtesy of the Hennepin History Museum.

It was also a common practice for families who resided on the lower bluff to live with family or friends during high water season in the spring, because much of the lower bluff was swallowed up by the river, flooding all the homes. For this reason, the area also was called Little Venice. As more people started living at Bohemian Flats, the small village made their own streets, Mill, Cooper, and Wood, named after the most common occupations the residents had. In 1890, things got much worse for the residents of Bohemian Flats. The City of Minneapolis was ordered to stop dumping garbage in the river, so instead, they dumped it next to the river, by the Washington Street Bridge. Their reasoning for that decision was that the location was “away from the settled city.” This lasted nine years, until the State Board of Health ordered the city to move their dump once again in 1899.

1919 painting by Samuel Chatwood Burton titled Christmas Eve on the Flats, courtesy of MNHS.

The first round of evictions started in 1915 when the city and Army Corps of Engineers was planning to build Lock & Dam No. 1, which would raise the water level of the river. In 1921, landlord C.H. Smith started buying properties at Bohemian Flats and attempted to collect rent from the residents. They claimed, “squatters’ rights,” refusing to pay rent or leave, battling eviction notices in court for ten years. One of the main reasons residents were able to fight in court for so long was because of the efforts of John Medvec. He noted,

“I bought that little house in May 1884. I paid $210 for it but never paid for the land. I'm there all the time. I move in the spring because the river rolls over my floor. I raised my family there... The land belongs to the river if anybody. That's the property of the government. We'll pay taxes, but it isn't fair to ask rent for a riverbed.”

Unfortunately for the residents, the court ended up siding with the landlord in 1931, and evictions started happening once again.

Soon after the evictions, that land was turned into a municipal barge terminal with coal and oil storage. The last resident to live at Bohemian Flats was Joseph A. Kieferle, who was eighty years old in 1963 when he was forced out of his home for the construction of the new Washington Avenue Bridge.

Photo of the barge terminal and coal storage taken in 1949, courtesy of MNHS.

With the extension of West River Parkway and the Grand Rounds in the 1980s, Bohemian Flats turned into park land. From 2007 to 2010, the park housed the wreckage from the I-35W Bridge collapse until it was moved to a warehouse in Afton, MN. The closure of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock & Dam was scheduled for 2015, so Paradise Charter Cruises moved their river operations, along with their boats the Paradise Lady and Minneapolis Queen, from Boom Island Park to Bohemian Flats in 2013. From 2015 to 2017, a part of the park was used as a staging area for the reconstruction of the Franklin Avenue Bridge, and in 2018, that area was turned into a nursery site for saplings that were to be planted throughout the park system.

This land that once was home to a small village of 100 homes, a variety of shops and a church has gone through many transformations in the last 150 years. It was never an ideal spot to house struggling residents, and using the land for heavy industry and storage was hardly a good idea in retrospect. But now the land is serving nearby residents once again, providing pedestrian paths, perfect picnic spots, a sandy canoe and kayak launch, and picturesque views of the Mississippi River Gorge, hopefully, for generations to come.

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Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.