New Tour this Summer from the Mill City Museum: Hennepin Island Hydropower Tour

This summer the Mill City Museum and Xcel Energy are partnering on a series of weekday walking tours highlighting the story of waterpower at St. Anthony Falls, including rare access to an operating power plant.

During the early 20th century over two dozen mills and hydroelectric plants used the water power from St. Anthony Falls. Today there is just one left: Xcel Energy’s Hennepin Island Hydroelectric Plant. On this tour of Hennepin Island and Father Hennepin Bluffs Park led by a Mill City Museum guide, participants will get special access to this power plant. Along the way participants will 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.

Tours are scheduled for June 18, July 2, July 30, August 13 and August 27 from 1:00pm-2:30pm, with approximately 1.5 miles of walking.  Tickets on sale online or at 612-341-7555.