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A temporary tent, acts as the Visitors’ Center, outside of St. Anthony Falls, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The falls are part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. There is an Upper Falls location, and a
Lower Falls Location. The tent at the Upper Falls, houses the St. Anthony Falls stamp.
After getting our ink, we inquire what time the free, Park Ranger lead tour, starts. The volunteer, manning
the tent, states, the tour begins at 3pm. We use the next hour, to wander the surrounding area.
We’ll wait and experience the falls, during the tour.
Park Ranger Erin’s face looks stricken, as we approach the tent at 2:50pm.
“The volunteer said you would be back,” she begins. “We’re so sorry, the volunteer gave you
the wrong time. The tour actually starts at 2pm.”
We tell Park Ranger Erin, that it’s okay. We’ll still enjoy walking around the dam and seeing the falls.
Feeling apologetic about the mix-up, Park Ranger Erin, offers to give us the tour information,
and answer our questions.
Shannon’s a professional when it comes to asking, interesting, National Park questions. Park
Ranger Erin is happy to share her knowledge.
I ask only one question.
A brief history of St. Anthony Falls, because to get the whole story, you should visit the National
Park sites yourself.
The falls started as a life-giving, sacred area, to Indigenous Americans. You can look up
paintings, of what the falls looked like during that time. The natural beauty is inspiring. When
entrepreneurs, saw the falls, visions of dollar signs danced in their heads. Lacking rules and
regulations, businesses swarmed the falls, building all manner of complexes, to harness the
water’s, energy producing, power. With zero thought to how a glut of industry could damage
the environment, the falls, eventually became unstable and suffered collapses. Over the years,
the falls have been repaired and fortified, several times. Their original natural look, transformed
into a more, industrial appearance.
Today, concreate walkways, guide visitors around the current dam, showcasing the powerful
falls.
I ask Park Ranger Erin, if they ever deal with paddlers or tubers, trying to ride down the falls.
Erin says that never happens. If it did, the current and waters are so strong, it would be deadly.
As though I spoke it into existence, a few moments after my question, we notice of a number of
colorful dots in the water. It’s a group of kayakers.
“Oh no,” Park Ranger Erin exclaims. “I have to go down there and tell them to leave. It was nice
meeting you.”
Exchanging goodbyes, and thanking Park Ranger Erin, for her time and attention, she power
walks to the kayakers.
We enter the small, indoor, exhibit area,
partly to see what information is provided, and partly,
because the window-lined, second floor, offers a perfect view of the Park Ranger-kayaker-
chastising.
Taking on more stroll around the dam, the sound of rushing water, reverberates through the park. It’s an intriguing merger of nature and the concrete and metal, man-built wonder.
While gazing at the falls, Park Ranger Erin returns, informing us it is almost 5pm, park closing
time.
St. Anthony Falls has an interesting history. Beginning as a spiritual space, transforming into a
place saturated with greed, becoming a destroyed piece nature, and finally, ending, as a
National Park site.
Be sure to stop by, when visiting Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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