Mississippi National River and Recreation Area - Map 4: Minneapolis Central Riverfront (U.S. National Park Service)

Discover the birthplace of Minneapolis, where downtown converges with the Mississippi River at St. Anthony Falls. The Stone Arch Bridge is a perfect place to view the falls. This National Civil Engineering Landmark, built as a railroad bridge in 1883, now allows pedestrians, bikers, inline skaters, and trollies to cross the river between downtown Minneapolis to St. Anthony Main.

Trails wind along and cross both sides of the river through a number of attractions, from quiet woodland parks to the roaring St. Anthony Falls, and the heart of downtown Minneapolis. A continuous loop crossing the river at the Plymouth Avenue and Franklin Avenue bridges is about eight miles. The St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail (SAFHT) is a two-mile loop that crosses the Stone Arch and Hennepin Avenue bridges and interprets the history of the St. Anthony Falls Historic District.

Attractions
The St. Anthony Falls National Historic District is full of fun and exciting things to do and see, including walking, boating, and trolley tours. The Mill City Museum, SAFHT, and Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock & Dam observation deck provide plenty of background about this area. There is also Nicollet Island, Mill Ruins Park, Boom Island and Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, as well as the many cultural attractions of downtown Minneapolis.

View and print the Minneapolis Waterfront map (PDF) and trail notes.

Click for printable version of map and trail notes.

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The falls at St. Anthony provided the power to run flour milling operations, such as the Pillsbury A Mill in the background. The Stone Arch Bridge carried train traffic from the wheat growing areas in the west and then flour to global markets of the eastern United States and Europe. The area around St. Anthony Falls changed the way the world produced food.