Minnesota is best known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” and Minneapolis, the capital city of Minnesota is known as the “City of Lakes”. Much of the landscape in and around Minneapolis is focused around water. The city lies around the banks of the Mississippi River and it boasts the 48th largest city in the United States today. Here is a bit more about the city of Minneapolis, its architecture geography.
Art and Architecture in Minneapolis:
The Stone Arch Bridge is a perfect example of great architectural work in the city. This bridge goes over the Mississippi river with a spectacular view of the city, the river and St. Anthony Falls. The bridge which was originally intended for rail cars and trains, is now a pedestrian bridge. This is the perfect place for bikers, hikers or walkers to really take in the beauty of the city.
Rand Tower in downtown Minneapolis is an Art Deco lover’s dream. From the artwork on the walls of the tower to the old school elevators and winding stairways, this is truly a must see. The tower was built in 1929 by Rufus Rand, a well known aviator and savvy businessman. The artwork on the limestone exterior is hand-carved images. These images reflect Rufus’ passion in flying and aviation.
Minneapolis used to be known as “Mill City” because of all of the flour they produced and shipped out. The actual mills are now a museum called the Mill City Museum and Ruins. You can learn a lot about the city of Minneapolis and its people by paying a visit to this museum.
Minneapolis Geography:
The landscape of Minneapolis represents its “City of Lakes” name well. It lies in and around a large group of lakes. It also has a park system inside of the city that occupies ten square miles. Theodore Wirth is the person responsible for making the park system happen. Now the city is covered by trees, parks and beautiful waterways.
The largest park in the city is Theodore Wirth Park, but Minnehaha Park is better known. Minnehaha Park is home to Minnehaha Falls, a gorgeous 53 foot waterfall from a Mississippi River tributary. The park offers great scenery and a nice oasis from the city.
These parks and their serene settings and scenery can be accessed from just about anywhere in the city. The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway actually runs its way through the city allowing access to most of the city’s parks, rivers, lakes and other pristine scenes. This Byway gives cars an opportunity to park and the 50 miles of trails can be accessed by bikers and hikers.
The city of Minneapolis is one of the most scenic and beautiful cities in the United States. Its vast park and lake system offers a unique place that caters well to people who want to live in a city but don’t want the city life. It’s perfect for the outdoorsman, those that can appreciate great architecture and those that enjoy nature and the natural beauty it brings.