Mighty Mississippi: A Stroll Along Minneapolis’ River of History

The Mississippi River is North America‘s most iconic waterway. It’s a symbol of opportunity to the area’s inhabitants, but it’s also a powerful force that has proven difficult to tame over the years. On this walking tour, award-winning storyteller Frank Bures will take you deep into the river‘s vibrant history, from 12,000 years ago until today. Our tour begins on Nicollet Island, named after the cartographer Joseph Nicollet. From there, we‘ll cross Hennepin Avenue Bridge and listen to a selection of stand-out facts about the magnificent Mississippi. At First Bridge Park, we‘ll follow the river along the western bank and past Stone Arch Bridge, where you‘ll hear tales about the river and the resilient people who‘ve shaped its history. Finally, our tour continues beside the Guthrie Theater, and concludes with an exploration of Gold Medal Park. Along the way, you‘ll have a chance to: • Listen to fascinating stories about St. Anthony Falls, including its curious upstream journey over the years, caused by the eroding limestone riverbed • Get the inside scoop on two Guinness World Record paddling attempts • Pass architect Léon Arnal‘s Art Deco masterpiece, which houses the Minneapolis Post Office • Find out about Spirit Island, the sacred site below St. Anthony Falls where generations of Dakota children were born • Meet the strange inhabitants of Nicollet Island, including a telephone-answering parrot • Learn how the Grain Belt Sign, a famous beer advertisement, was saved after 20 years of darkness • Gasp at just how far bull sharks can swim up the Mississippi • Hear about the grueling 450-mile canoe race from Bemidji to Minneapolis • Learn why the birchbark canoe helped the Ojibwe people expand their territory 20-fold • Relive your guide Frank‘s near-death experience in the waters of the Mississippi By the end of the tour, you‘ll have a new appreciation for how the Mississippi has flowed through the lives of the people along its shores.

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