This is so cool! The city easily could have demolished this whole area and created a new riverfront, but instead they chose to honor these 19th century ruins. Flour is what put Minneapolis on the map as an export, and these ruins were once mills that used the power of St Anthony Falls to run. Definitely worth a visit if you're into archaeology, city history, or just want a place to walk with a pleasant view. read more

See all

Mill Ruins Park in downtown Minneapolis is so named because it still contains the remnants of the floor mills (powered by the Mississippi River) that made 19th century Minneapolis the 'Flour Milling Capitol of the World', opening in 2001. It overlooks the Mississippi River, has the Mill City Museum, and is the South gateway for the Stone Arch Pedestrian Bridge. I stopped by on a cold March afternoon, and had a chance to explore it a bit, making note of places I would look at more closely on a warmer (and less wet) day. read more

Mill Ruins Park - View of skyline from Mill Ruins Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

Really cool park that's a bit alternative to a "normal" park. There's rich history here that is really interesting if you're into that kind of stuff. I certainly am and found this place really cool, no pun intended as it was covered in snow. I bet it's really gorgeous and magnificent in the summer time. We went in December so the falls weren't really falls and most everything was covered in snow. There's also a lot of construction happening right across from the Gold Medal silos so there's some impediment of the views. Even so, I'd highly suggest visiting and walking across the bridges if you can. read more

See all

While walking on Stone Arch Bridge for the first time, I noticed what looked like remnants of old factories scattered down the west side of the Mississippi River. It was so different that I needed to learn more about it. On the bridge, I learned that this side of the river had mills that were powered by Saint Anthony Falls during the 19th century. Flour was being milled, which made Minneapolis known for being a flour exporter around the States and beyond. It makes sense that these mills would be right by the river. It likely made transporting the flour accessible. Mills Ruins Park opened on October 1st, 2001. It was to celebrate the milling district. I walked over to take a look once I left the bridge. There is a sign in the park with rocks at street level. There is a sloped roadway, but cars aren't allowed to drive down. I walked down a level and looked down. You can walk down some more and you end up just above the river. I didn't go down that far. There was some sort of high school prom photo session happening. I didn't want to be that weirdo tourist photobombing folks in nice formalwear. There are paved walkways, so you're not walking on ruins in a park with ruins. It was nice seeing how happy they were, which made me happy for them. Mill Ruins Park was an unexpected, cool find with a history that I didn't know about until my visit. There is a museum that I found out about. However, it is open till 4 pm on Fridays and that's when I was done discovering this park this particular Friday. I'll need to return and check it out. (132) read more

See all

My friend and I were visiting Minneapolis over Memorial Day weekend and exploring Mill Ruins Park was one of the highlights of our long weekend! We parked near the farmers market and Mill City Museum and walked along the Mississippi River to the Hennepin Avenue Bridge, walked around a little bit of Nicollet Island, walked along the other side of the River, and cross back over on the Stone Arch Bridge. On a beautiful day, this was a gorgeous loop - lots of people were running, biking, hiking...! Lots of great photography opportunities. What a great park. Well worth exploring! What a gem of a park in Minneapolis. read more

Beautiful spot and a Minnesota Treasure! I've always loved the Stone Arch Bridge and of course the Mighty Mississippi River...then last Friday I was off work, and I decided to partake in "Walk with a Naturalist" part of a FREE series of afternoon strolls on and near the Mississippi River. This series is currently running Fridays, March 4 through May 27, 1 to 2pm. Walks begin at the Water Works Pavilion, 425 West River Parkway, at the foot of the Stone Arch Bridge. Loved the leisurely pace and it was so wonderful to observe the history of the falls and mills and to learn about bird migration on the river. Highly recommend! Sign up on bit.ly/NatureWalk-TalkSpring-22. read more

Mill Ruins Park - "Walk with a Naturalist " Tour, - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

What a great outdoor place to walk around after a full meal! Nice view of St. Anthony's fall with a stone bridge trail for jogging and biking. Across the street is gold medal flour company. On the bridge, there's also a few view of Pillsbury company sign. A lot of historical buildings and history behind. Parking is $2/hour with parking lot available right by the park. read more

See all

Although we did not get a chance to spend much time here, the time that we did was memorable. Walking across the stone arch bridge, we were able to enjoy the awesome views, including the Mississippi River. This is a definite must if you are in Minneapolis. read more

Mill Ruins Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Very cool park with lots of history. The waterfront is really pretty and you feel like you're in a different period in history. It feels safe to walk around during the day time alone. I saw lots of people out jogging and biking. read more

See all

I am an avid hiker. When I vacationed in Minneapolis, my hikes besides the Mississippi River were vacation highlights. They were loop hikes where I hiked along the west bank of the Mississippi River crossed a bridge into the St. Anthony Historic District on the east side then another to return back to the west bank contiguous to downtown Minneapolis. The walking paths winding through the Mississippi River parkland incorporated in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area led me through hours of outdoor recreation in the shadow of the Minneapolis skyline. Mill Ruins Park was the southwesternmost point on a loop hike that took me as far as Plymouth Avenue Bridge at the northwest, Boom Island Park at the northeast, and Hennepin Bluffs Park at the southeast. Taken separately these parks are outstanding. Taken as a whole, they are phenomenally outstanding. Mill Ruins Park was a part of my phenomenal Mississippi River hiking adventures.    Although I celebrated the Mississippi River from Mill Ruins Park, it was a celebration of its industrial stardom in the 19th century. It is a park that tells the story of when it was the largest direct-drive water powered facility in the world through its ruins, signage, and the Tailrace Canal. It played such a crucial role in the 19th century that it is greatly responsible for bringing General Mills, Pillsbury, Xcel Energy, and Washburn Crosby to the world. It is a historic spot worth checking out.    It is also a scenic spot worth checking out. When you hike northbound into the park from the Grand Rounds Trail in First Bridge Park, it is the west bank entrance to the Stone Arch Bridge, which is the scenic pedestrian bridge linking to the east bank of the Mississippi River. Years ago this was a train bridge. This is a picturesque spot to relax before crossing the river. And what a spot it is on the east bank of the Mississippi River. It overlooks Upper St. Anthony Falls and Lock which is the only natural waterfall on the Mississippi River. At the lower level of the park just north of where Grand Rounds splits with the Stone Arch Bridge is a scenic view of the Tailrace Canal and ruins. Towering above the riverside parkland are the historic grain mill buildings. They have survived the times and have been recycled into apartments and a mill museum. Across the Mississippi River the Pillsbury Building is a landmark seen from miles away.  This Dash Map shows a 360 degree view of what guests see from Mill Ruins Park.                                N                                /|\                                     |      Mississippi River                                First. - - - - 3rd Ave. Bridge                               Bridge                                 Park                                   |             Upper                                   |        St. Anthony Falls   Historic                  |   Mill Industry. - -**You - - - - - Stone Arch   Buildings              Are            Bridge                                   In                               Mill Ruins             Pillsbury                                 Park**                Building     Mill Ruins - - - - - -|                                   |         Mississippi River     Through a visual diagram, this Dash Map shows the scenic overload that the park treats guests to. The dash lines are the connections.    What this dash map fails to show is the paid parking lot. This is also the paid parking lot for Upper St. Anthony Falls and the Mill Museum. If you are staying in downtown Minneapolis like I did, chances are that you will arrive here by urban hiking. It is a couple  of blocks east of downtown and a hop and skip from the Minneapolis skyway system.   Regardless if you arrive by car, foot, or bike it is a safe environment. The both times that I visited here there was an abundance of activity and scarcity of vandalism. On a safety note, the trails leading to the park separate pedestrians and bicyclists which adds to the quality of experience. Mill Ruins Park is more than a celebration of industry. Complementing the nearby riverside parks as also celebration of the Mississippi River. It is a celebration that I enjoyed partaking in. read more

Certainly a unique park. It's not often that contemporary man made ruins can be made so effortlessly into a part of the city, but Minneapolis nailed it. read more

Mill Ruins Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

Stopped by Mill Ruins Park to go for a walk and get some fresh air and see some of the local sights. I checked out a number of interpretive signs and learned a bit about the history of the Stone Bridge. Also, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a facility here to manage a lock on the river - apparently at times they offer tours, but the facility appeared to be closed while I was there. The area is part of the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area: http://www.nps.gov/miss/index.htm The Stone Bridge offers a nice walk across the river and includes a couple of spots with mounted binoculars that allow one to get a closer look at the surrounding river. read more

See all

If you want a little history of the water front by the Stone Arch Bridge, take a few minutes and go back in time as gaze into the cliff side at the Mill city ruins park. You could also walk along the path and read the various placks and learn of different individuals who helped develop down town Minneapolis. read more

See all

Minneapolis is a city for shopping so as an outsider looking for sightseeing things to do, I didn't come up with a lot in my research. Sure, there are watersports, but I wanted something free or cheap, easy to access, historical, etc. This is a great place to start. And, you can spend a lot of time here or just a little. It's close to downtown (it is basically downtown) and they have a parking lot (paid parking). There are walking trails, you can walk across the historical Stone Arch bridge, you can visit the museum, you can see St. Anthony's Falls. Great place! As a photographer, I was actually here looking for a specific 'spot' where you can see the lights of the bridge (at night it's lit up. I was here during the day but in case I had time to return) and the skyline of downtown. I stopped a couple of people and one lady was very clear that for a single woman that's a picture/area I didn't want to mess with. It's a long winding trail under the bridge and a popular hangout for druggies and the homeless population. I hope to someday get the picture but I'll likely only return with a local photographer or a friend or two. :) read more

See all

Just beautiful and they have signs all over the park giving you the history about the area read more

Mill Ruins Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This place makes me ridiculously happy, even with its links to disaster. Modern ruins being preserved, a waterfall (alas also being preserved, long story), beautiful stone-arch bridge, science lab across the river, great neighborhood (incl. the Saturday market)... There's something about combining the beauty of nature with the attempts of humanity that appeals to me deeply. This park exhibits both in its own way. read more

See all

This is a very unique park, and is such a creative use of old Mill Ruins, it's got such an ancient feel to it. I've never seen ruins utilized like this before, it's almost like the Minneapolis version of the Roman Forum. You can get right up next to the ruins and the old water canals that powered the mills thanks to catwalk - like crossings. The park has got alot of riverfront frontage that goes down quite a ways from the actual ruins. The river is almost at ground level in most of the park, and thanks to St Anthony Falls upstream the water is usually flowing. This results in a relaxing enviroment from the sound and breeze of the waves. Between the Ruins and the lower end of the park are all kinds of different observation areas and places where you can sit and have a picnik , study or do whatever. Mill Ruins Park is one of the most spectacular places at night in Minneapolis (see my photos). The arches of the Stone Arch Bridge are illuminated and it reflects off the water. The River close to this area is majestically lit up with the blue lights of the 35W Bridge, and the Mill Ruins are illuminated and can be seen from a considerable distance. You can even drive down to this spot if you desire, and there is a small parking lot at that end which I believe is free for a limited amount of time. read more

See all

Beautiful little spot right next the the stone arch bridge. You get to walk right under the stone arch and emerge to see this area of twisted old metal and caves with barred doors. So erie, old, and mysterious. This is not to be confused with the mill city museum which is right next to it and also worth visiting but costs money while this park is free. I've taken my dogs here and then continued our walk across the stone arch bridge as well. Would also be a fun picnic spot. I did a little fun photo shot here with a friend and the pix came out great. I've often seen people do wedding photos down here as you have a great water view here. Ride your bike, walk your dogs, or bring your out of town guests here and you'll have a great day out. There is a small parking lot here that charges by the hour but is cheap like a buck or something. Every time I've been here it's been broken so it just says park for free, even better! read more

Mill Ruins Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Love this park... Not sure why I forgot it even existed. Glad I went last week. The weather was amazing and the fall colors refreshing! Makes for a perfect sunset walk! Bring a tea or coffee and enjoy a fall stroll before everything ices over. Breathtaking views of the mill district and the Mississippi River. I remember visiting here about 10 years ago in the summer, live music was hosted here right on the ruins. read more

See all

What a cool little park! Blends history, nature, and architecture in a great city. Factor an hour to see everything. The views of the Mill Museum are nice from the bridge. read more

Mill Ruins Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

As fun as the restored and renovated park is, I feel as though the preservation was pushed to...mutilation. The ruins were much more enchanted and historic before this project, sadly. Now it feels a bit artificial to me. However, people (mainly tourists, which there are many flocking here.) love it, as they do not have the before and after comparison to judge by. If you plan to take pictures here, do so in the day. If you want to experience the full effect of lit highlights and modern trails, check it out at night. I've felt safe here at late hours because the stone arch bridge and Guthrie are so populated. Don't feed the geese... They will get too friendly with you, and they are HUGE up close and personal... And so is their poo poo. read more

Super cool place to checkout if you're into abandoned places or history! The historical information signs need redone but are still readable for now! read more

See all

This place is great for afternoon strolls! You can hear the the water from the river. Its very quiet spite that its right next to downtown. The views are beautiful. read more

Mill Ruins Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This is a great area to take a walk along the river and enjoy Minneapolis. It's not too busy...lots of people walk, run, bike around here. It is very relaxing after a day at work just to walk outside and enjoy the nice weather. You can explore a lot of the history here...good photo opportunites with some of the old buildings along the way. read more

Nice place to have a bag lunch, check out the falls and what used to be the mills. Lots of signage. Good history lesson of the area. The locks are right there and the tours that the Army Corps of Engineers puts on starts a few minutes before the hour (you've been warned). read more

Mill Ruins Park is a gem. Not only will you find some of the best views in the city, but you'll also be able to take a little tour through the history of the Mill City without having to pay the admission at the Mill City Museum. I know, I know... I'm a cheapskate sometimes. Also, aside from special events like the Aquatennial, finding an open parking meter in the area is almost never a problem. I like it very much. The end. read more

Lovely! So nice to take a quick jaunt with one Annie D through this adorable park on our way to dinner. If MKE is all old cream city brick, abandoned/re-purposed/re-hashed breweries, etc., Minne-apple seems to have been quite the flour producer back in the day with its own industrial vibe. Gold Medal, etc., and the "ruins" are in part ruin and in part re-purposed industrial spaces (once mills, obvs) near and around the river. So cool! Reminds me of home, save for all the awesome bridges in one place, which I wish we had here... that view! What a great park! Were I to live in the 612, I'd walk my imaginary dog or ride my bike or ::shudder:: even take an occasional run through this lovely open space. Hooray for Mill Ruins! read more

Im a history buff. I like to know the backgrounds of things and Minneapolis' mill history along the river is intriguing. Seeing the old stones and metal work left behind from times past. The large shell which is front of the Gold Medal Flour site is interesting now surrounded by new lofts. So hauntingly beautiful read more

Minneapolis was once the leading international producer of flour. Companies like General Mills and Pillsbury were started here. The Stone Arch Bridge would lead trains in and out of downtown Minneapolis to help export the flour as well as any other trade and travel that was necessary. Eventually trains wouldn't need to come through this way and some time in the 90s, the state and park board agreed to convert it into a pedestrian and bicycle path. It'd connect Father Hennepin Bluff Park to the east of the river with the West River Parkway and has an incredible view of downtown MPLS! The Parkway also has a running path that looks like it doesn't have terrible views either. The fall you see blow is Saint Anthony Falls and was the only natural major waterfall on the Upper Mississippi River. The natural falls needed some support after collapsing and a series of locks & dams were built to help transport people and goods along the river all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. They do tours you can check out too, if you'd like! read more

Beautiful views of the river. Pretty quiet at night but lots of things to look at. I saw a lot of families out here taking pictures, people running, jogging and exercising. Great opportunity for people who are not familiar to Minneapolis or nonnatives to enjoy the scenery. I rode my "Nice Ride" bike rental through Mill Ruins Park and we were able to stop and take pictures. Many buildings along the way including Guthrie, Gold Medal and more. read more

Fun gorgeous park to hang out and soak up the sun and culture of Minneapolis. Friendly people. Safe environment.

During our brief visit to the Twin Cities we decided to take a little stroll through the downtown section of town and over to Mill Ruins Park. As the name implies, right next to the Mississippi are the remains of one of the largest mills ever built in the US. It appears they turned it into its own museum, but we didn't get a chance to check it out unfortunately. Anyway, this is a nice park area with some good paved paths for bike riding or walking. It was neat to walk across the bridge to the other side of the Mississippi and get a different perspective. They also have a few signs around giving you the history of the area and the construction of the bridge. Worth a visit if you're looking for a nice spot for a stroll in the city. read more

Very interesting park with bits of history everywhere. You get a grand view of the roaring river, old mills, and Guthrie park. You can see giant power line towers that remind you of the retro future. If you look down, there are some ruins stuck within the river. You can make a loop walking along the south bridge, then back on the north bridge in about an hour. There are some city bikes around you can rent to make the walk shorter. Highly recommend it if you are visiting. I took a walk from the west side and stopped by at one of the cafes with a river view on the east side. We stopped by Aster Cafe, which has an amazing patio that can be enjoyed on a nice day. read more

Very interesting and gorgeous! This is a don't miss if you are visiting the area. read more

See all

I can't believe I've lived in Minneapolis for 10 years and had never been to Mill Ruins Park before last week. It's such a unique park--peaceful, historic, fascinating, beautiful, and also a tad spooky. The boyf and I played hooky from work on one of the most perfect Minnesota summer days possible, and decided to wander over to the river to explore. We took some really cool pics down by the ruins, got interviewed on the Stone Arch Bridge by a WCCO reporter about the perfect weather (and made their "Good Question" segment that night, haha!), walked over to the 35W Bridge memorial (which was very moving), and took a stroll through the Mill City Museum. The museum was just closing as we got there so we didn't get to enjoy much of it, but I definitely want to go back. The whole experience at Mill Ruins Park just reminded me how fortunate I am to live in this fabulous city. I love MPLS! read more

Another great walk with beautiful sights of the river and bridges and architecture. The ruins are beautiful, the water can be a little smelly depending on the conditions but that's to be expected. I've definitely smelt worse though and it was only in one area. Finding parking on the street can be a pain though. We had to park a few streets over and walk. And the actual building was interesting too, they had a gift shop with some unique gifts. I got some beautiful photos from the ruins by the water. read more

This is one of my favorite areas to photograph. You have the ruins, the river, Mill City Museum, and the Guthrie within two blocks of each other. It's great that the city chose to leave some of the Minneapolis history behind for all of us to enjoy. The Museum also has Mill City Live on the third Thursdays in the summer. If you haven't been, check it out next year. read more

Need to stretch your legs and inject a little history into your brain cells? Stop by this little park underneath the Stone Arch Bridge. The view of the half-ruined exploded factory on the back side of the Mill City Museum is haunting and oddly peaceful. The Minnesota Historical Society has erected signs around the area with info about the history of this area of the riverfront. Some of the info is a little dry and a titch overwhelming (they sure managed to pack a lot of information on these signs!) but interesting nonetheless. Who knew a city's sewer and drainage system could elicit a "huh!" out of me. read more

More cool stuff in Minneapolis! This park is actually the result of an archaeological study. Makes you think of ancient ruins from Roman times. But no, this is in the U.S. In downtown Minneapolis. It's pretty amazing and truly worth taking some time to explore! read more

Wow. This park's mix of historic and modern, along with beautiful views of the architecture and river that built the city make it a great place to take in Minneapolis. It was definitely one of the highlights of my short visit to the area, and I would recommend it to everyone else visiting. read more