Mill Ruins Park

This park, adjacent to the famous Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis, contains ruins of mills, tail races from the water power system used to drive them and railroad infrastructure including both stone and girder trestles from the former Minneapolis Eastern Railroad.

In the 1980s development plans triggered an archaeological excavation which revealed a plethora of important remains and, in particular, the underground canal system which supplied and drained water for the production of  power to drive flour mills and saw mills which were situated on this site. There was also the remains of a railroad roundhouse.

In the late 1990s the park was developed to allow public access and to expose the ruins to show them to their best. The underground canal system was cleared and reopened to flowing water and the remaining safety issues were addressed by installing walkways to overcome trip hazards. Information boards were also provided.

Today the park provides both an opportunity to check out the history of this part of the city and a really interesting series of remains that have an inherent beauty in their own right.