The Falls

Title: Bird's-eye view of St. Anthony Falls
Type: Photograph
Date: 1910
Source: Minnesota Historical Society

Description: This 1910 photograph shows the growth of business around the Falls as well as the man-made "apron" that was designed to prevent the Falls from receding any farther.

Activities:

1. What evidence of industries can you see in this photograph?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: The Pillsbury Flour mills have a billboard near the Falls, and logs in the river at the lower right suggest a sawmill is nearby.
2. The large building in the middle right of the picture is the Pillsbury A Mill. Since it used waterpower and the river seems in this photograph to be distant from the mill, how do you think the mill got waterpower?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: Underground canals brought water to the mills where it was used to cause turbines to turn, giving power to the mill.
3. The Stone Arch Bridge in the photograph was built by James J. Hill and was used at the time for railroad transportation. What resources did the mills need that could be transported by railroad?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: Grain for the flour mills was delivered by train. Some of the mills had railroad tracks running through their buildings for easier unloading of grain.
4. Looking at this photograph, how would you compare it to the photograph of St. Anthony in 1865?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: The 1910 photograph shows moreindustry and development, and it lacks the natural rugged look of the earlier photograph because the apron has been installed.