The Calhoun Beach Hotel
Theodore Wirth claimed the tall building across the street from the bath house and beach on Lake Calhoun would “disfigure” the natural beauty of the area and probably disintegrate into a house of debauchery upon completion. Despite Wirth’s initial objections, in 1927 he recommended the Minneapolis Park Board consent to a building permit as [...]
Getting with the Program at Lake Harriet
After his amazing Pagoada Pavilion burned to the ground in 1903, The Park Board decided to give architect, Harry W. Jones another try. This time his pavilion was designed in the Classic Revival style. Affectionately known as “The Pavilion”, the facility featured two levels with changing rooms, a restaurant and lower level refreshment [...]
Meet Me in the Park!
The land around old Johnson’s Lake was the first parcel purchased by a newly formed Minneapolis Park Board in April 1883. Central Park became a popular destination almost immediately. After the lake was expanded in 1884, the park board created a skating rink. Electric lights for night skating were added the following year. The [...]
When Lake Harriet Wasn’t Good Enough
Here’s a 1907 map of planned park improvements around Lake Harriet including boat landing, bathing beach, bathhouses, rose garden, picnic grove, tree, shrub and flower garden, trolley station, and paths. Theodore Wirth thought Harriet’s shoreline was a little too monotonous and dreamed of adding a peninsula on the lake near the Beard Plaisance on [...]
Saint Paul’s Minnehaha Park
In 1893 the Minneapolis Park Board approved the construction of two pedestrian bridges “of a rustic nature” over the creek, one above the falls and the other below. The next year the board had a parapet wall built north of the falls to protect spectators. During the Great Depression federal work relief crews added a [...]
