Welcome to Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis’ crown jewel, once the most famous waterfall in the world. Ever since the city was founded, this waterfall and park have been one of its best-loved places. Over the years, it's been frequented by pioneering millwrights, carnival barking showmen, booze-soaked crowds, world-famous composers, U.S. Presidents and lonely hermits.

On this walking tour, I’ll guide you through the park’s forgotten history. While strolling along the creek from the Longfellow House to the Song of Hiawatha Garden, I’ll tell you how Minneapolis got its start, and what “Minnehaha” means. I’ll show you the small Victorian train station known as the Princess Depot, the John H Stevens House, and the Hiawatha and Minnehaha Statue.

On this hour-long stroll, you can also look forward to learning about:

• Why everyone hated, and made fun of, poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s ”The Song of Hiawatha”
• The hermits of Minnehaha Glen
• The first person to kayak over the falls
• The Longfellow House and the park’s two zoos
• The Minnehaha Midway and its reputation for “rowdy, lawless indulgence”
• Why the Eyes of Little Crow are empty

Join me for this walk through history, along the banks of Minnehaha Creek, and discover the waterway that flows through our past and present, in one of the city’s most beloved green spaces. Allow yourself at least an hour to fully enjoy the falls and surrounding area.

Please note, in winter, the stairs down to the falls are closed. If the stairs are open in the fall or spring, you can complete the tour. If not, best wait till summer.