St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board

In 1988 the Minnesota State Legislature established the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board for the purpose of providing interpretive resources for the public within the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Zone encircling the Minneapolis central riverfront, an area rich in natural, scenic, recreational and historic elements. Since 1988, the Heritage Board has funded, guided, and spurred countless developments and interpretive efforts along the Minneapolis Riverfront.

St. Anthony Falls interpretive plan  |  Projects & plans  |  Board members  |  Board meetings  |  Contact us

St. Anthony Falls interpretive plan

In 1989-90 the Heritage Board commissioned an interpretive plan for the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Zone that would provide structure and guidance for the interpretation and preservation of historic features that convey the story of the Minneapolis riverfront. The extent to which this plan has been implemented was evaluated in 2006. The conclusion was that many important components of the plan had been successfully completed, but that more remains to be done.

Power of the Falls: Renewing the Vision for St. Anthony Falls Heritage Zone

Supporting documents

Projects & plans

Since the adoption of the 1990 Interpretive Plan, the Heritage Board has played a role in implementing and funding a number of riverfront projects. Copies of plan documents available by request.

1988

  • Contracted Heritage Zone Project Coordinator, 1988-1992
  • Survey of Historic Register District, 1988-1989
  • St. Anthony Falls Interpretive Plan, 1988-1990

1989

  • Landscape Research, Inc. Report, "Voices of Nature, Geographical Features and Landscape Changes At Saint Anthony Falls," 1989

1990

  • Audience and Marketing Studies, 1990 (Davidson)
  • "Walking the Falls" brochure, 1990
  • Living History special event and walking tour, 1990

1991

  • Board Strategic Planning, 1991
  • St. Anthony Falls Interpretive Program support, 1991-2000
  • St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail and Signage System, 1991 – 1996 (trail completed), maintenance of trail 1996 – ongoing

1992

  • Reuse Study and Stabilization, Washburn Crosby A Mill, 1992- 1993
  • Rehabilitation of the Stone Arch Bridge, 1992-96
  • Historic American Engineering Record (HEAR) study of Washburn Crosby A Mill, 1992-1993
     

1993

  • Heritage Trail signage design, 1993 – 1996
  • Pillsbury 'A' Mill milling equipment purchase, 1993
     

1994

  • Orientation Center Site Study and Selection, 1994 –95
  • Stone Arch Bridge Booklet, 1994
  • Interpretive advice and agreement, Federal Reserve Bank, 1994
  • St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail Walking Tour brochures, 1994, 1996-99
  • Planning and Design Development Grant, Bridge Park, 1994-1999
     

1995

  • Consulted planning for Orientation Center, 1995

1996

  • Robert Clouse, "Industrial Archeology at Mill Ruins Park – 1996, Minneapolis, Minnesota," 1996

1997

  • West Side Milling District Brochure, 1997
  • Mill Ruins Park, 1997- 2002 (Bond Funding)
     

1998

  • West Side Parking and Circulation Study, 1998
  • Consultant for Hennepin Island Interpretive Plan, 1998
  • Audience and marketing Studies, 1998-1999 (ERA)
  • Archeology, Washburn Crosby Mill Complex, 1998-2000
     

1999

  • Minneapolis Park Board, First Bridge Park Design, 1999
  • Pollution Remediation, Washburn Crosby Complex, 1999
  • Schematic Design, Museum at Washburn Crosby A Mill, 1999-2001
  • West Side Mills District Cohesive Marketing Plan, 1999-2002
  • Consultant to set up Challenge Grant Program, 1999 – on hold.
     

2000

  • Audience and Marketing Studies, 2000 (Public Placemakers)
  • Update, West Side Mills District Master Plan, 2000-2002
  • Design and Development West River Parkway and Plank Road, 2000 –2003
  • Non-Member Challenge Grant program: Interpretive Plan, Milwaukee Road Depot, 2000-2001

2001

  • Education Specialist, Public Programs, Heritage District Interpretive Planning and Coordination, 2001-2002
  • Preservation Plan for excavated ruins, Mill Ruins Park, 2001-2002
  • Archaeological investigation of Guthrie Theater site, 2001- 2002
  • Non-Member Challenge Grant program: Historical research and Archaeological monitoring of B.F. Nelson Site, 2001- 2002
  • Non-Member Challenge Grant program: Interpretive Musical, Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, 2001-2003
  • Chicago Avenue Plaza Design, 2001/2002-2003
     

2002

  • Master Signage and Wayfinding Plan for Historic District, 2002-2005
  • Investigation, planning and design grant for Mill Stone Courtyard, 2002-2003
  • Research and development for labor education programs, Mill Ruins Park, 2002-2003
  • Interpretive Plaza grant for Chicago Plaza, 2002 - 2006
  • Design and Engineering grant for lower tailrace design, Mill Ruins Park, 2002- ongoing
  • Research and development for archaeology education program, Mill Ruins Park, 2002 – ongoing
  • 1990 Interpretive Plan Analysis & Revision, 2002 – 2005
     

2003

  • Minneapolis Riverfront District Brochure, 2003
  • Changes in the Landscape Research and Programming grant, Mill Ruins Park, 2003-ongoing
  • Grand Excursion Research Report, 2003 (PDF)
  • American Indian Program Consultant, 2003

2004

  • 1990 Interpretive Plan Analysis & Revision, 2004 - 2005
  • Lower Tailrace Area Design/Engineering for further phases of Mill Ruins Park, 2004 – ongoing
  • Reuse Study, Grain and Feed Elevators, Wheel House, 2004 – ongoing
  • Research and Script for Living History Character, Emily Goodridge Grey, 2004
  • Facilitator(s) for Riverfront Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan, 2004, on hold

2005

  • Printing the "Bridges" Brochure, 2005
  • Prototype Wayfinding Signage Design and Implementation, 2005 – ongoing
  • MRD Walking Tour Map and Brochure, 2005
  • Research and Script for Living History Character, Franklin Steele, 2005 - ongoing
  • DIG IN! Pilot Public Archeology Program, 2005 – ongoing
  • SAF Heritage Zone Profile Added to MNRRA Kiosk, 2005 – ongoing
  • Install MNRRA Kiosk in Heritage Zone, 2005 – ongoing
  • Parcel D Archeology Study, 2007
     

2006

  • Research Report on Riverfront Architecture (PDF)
  • Riverfront Arts & Culture Brochure Printing
  • MRD Walking Tour Map and Brochure
  • Research and Script for Living History Character, Gratia Alta Countryman
  • Parcel D (The Nine and The Portland) Archeology Study
  • River Archaeology Art
  • SAFHB Website & Brochure Design
     

2007

  • Heritage Board Staff Assistance
  • Riverfront 2007 Brochure Printing
  • MRD Walking Tour Map and Brochure
  • Chicago Avenue Interpretive Disks
  • Father Hennepin Bluffs Interpretive Program
  • Survey of Social History Research Files
  • Consultant for Interpretive Input
  • East Bank Interpretive Base Map

Board members

The Heritage Board consists of 22 members including representatives from the City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Hennepin County, Minnesota Historical Society, Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission, State Historic Preservation Office, Minnesota State Legislature, and Hennepin History Museum.

St. Anthony Falls Heritage 2022 members

(Chair) Director of the Minnesota Historical Society
Kent Whitworth

Mayor of the City of Minneapolis
Jacob Frey

Chair of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners
Irene Fernando

Chair of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Billy Menz (President’s Designee)

Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Al Bangoura

Minnesota House of Representatives
Mohamud Noor
Sydney Jordan

Minnesota State Senate
Kari Dziedzic
Bobby Joe Champion

Minneapolis City Council
Michael Rainville
Robin Wonsley

Hennepin County Board of Commissioners
Angela Conley
Chris LaTondresse

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioners
Tom Olsen
Elizabeth Shaffer

Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office
Amy Lucas

Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission
Claire VanderEyk

Hennepin County Historical Society (Hennepin History Museum)
John Crippen

Minnesota Historical Society
David Kelliher

One advisor appointed by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
Paul Reyelts

Two advisors appointed by the Chair of the Board
Mona Smith
Edna Brazaitis

Board meetings

St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board meetings have been set for the calendar year.

  • Friday,  February 10, 2023
    2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
    Location: Videoconferencing using Google Meet
  • Monday, July 17, 2023
    3:30 to 5:00 pm
    Location: In-person location to be determined
  • Monday, November 13, 2023
    3:30 to 5:00 pm
    Location: In-person location to be determined

Meeting packets will be e-mailed one week prior to each meeting.

If you have questions about board meetings, please contact us.

Contact us

David Stevens
Coordinator, St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board
Minnesota Historical Society
Phone: 612-341-7524
Fax: 612-341-7001
david.stevens@mnhs.org