Sherman Wick

Minneapolis began at the Falls of St. Anthony, the sole waterfall on the Mississippi River. The cataract, the great hydrological engine, propelled the city's economic growth and physical expansion, and two distinct municipal identities emerged. A city of seasons, Minneapolis celebrates winter flurries and chills with ice skating and hot chocolate at the annual Holidazzle Festival. In the sultry midsummer heat, the Aquatennial brings swimmers and boating enthusiasts to the Chain of Lakes and the river. Landmarks, too, define the topography-Spoonbridge and Cherry, the Stone Arch and Hennepin Avenue Bridges, the Foshay Tower and the IDS Center. Join local authors Sherman Wick and Holly Day on a trip beyond the typical guidebook as they explore the architecture, parks and historical figures of the Mill City.

Minneapolis began at the Falls of St. Anthony, the sole waterfall on the Mississippi River. The cataract, the great hydrological engine, propelled the city's economic growth and physical expansion, and two distinct municipal identities emerged. A city of seasons, Minneapolis celebrates winter flurries and chills with ice skating and hot chocolate at the annual Holidazzle Festival. In the sultry midsummer heat, the Aquatennial brings swimmers and boating enthusiasts to the Chain of Lakes and the river. Landmarks, too, define the topography-Spoonbridge and Cherry, the Stone Arch and Hennepin Avenue Bridges, the Foshay Tower and the IDS Center. Join local authors Sherman Wick and Holly Day on a trip beyond the typical guidebook as they explore the architecture, parks and historical figures of the Mill City.

Get to Know the Most Vibrant and Historic Neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. PaulGrab your walking shoes and become an urban adventurer. Holly Day and Sherman Wick guide you through 35 unique walking tours in this comprehensive guidebook. Explore the urban epicenter of the Upper Midwest, from the heart of downtown Minneapolis to Minnehaha Falls, from St. Paul's Hidden Falls Park to historic Irvine Park-and hundreds of points of interest in between. Stroll along Lakes Calhoun and Harriet, Nicollet Avenue's Eat Street, and the revitalized Mill District. Go beyond the obvious with tours that showcase world-class museums and theaters, the area's extensive greenbelt, and even eight miles of climate-controlled skyways to avoid winter's chill. Each self-guided tour includes full-color photographs, a map, and need-to-know details like distance, difficulty, points of interest, and more. You'll soak up history, backstories, architectural trivia, and fun facts to share with others while on your way to the best cafes, bars, and nightlife in Minnesota. So find a route that appeals to you, and walk the Twin Cities!

The riverfront always drew people to Stillwater. The Ojibwe and Dakota first settled here, later striking a treaty with Europeans, who quickly realized the St. Croix River s potential as an ideal way to move lumber. One of the first to float logs down the river was Captain Stephen Hanks, cousin to Abraham Lincoln. The lumber business gave birth to Minnesota s first millionaire as the city grew, and Stillwater received one of the state s first Carnegie grants for a free public library. Meanwhile, the state prison saw notorious gangster Cole Younger found the Prison Mirror in 1887, now the nation s oldest continuously operated offender newspaper. Authors Holly Day and Sherman Wick celebrate the history and charm of one of Minnesota s finest cities, from the frontier to today."

What began as the boom site for the mid-nineteenth-century Upper Midwest lumber industry quickly grew into the town of St. Anthony. In 1872, St. Anthony was annexed by its neighbor, Minneapolis, but the area retained its identity as Northeast Minneapolis, or "Nordeast" to future residents. Northeast was an industrial hub that attracted immigrant labor from Eastern Europe and beyond. Because of its diverse labor and cultural institutions and communities, it grew and prospered despite the challenges presented by Prohibition, the Great Depression and World War II. Today, Nordeast embraces its status as a neighborhood where art galleries, independent theaters, live music venues, world-class ethnic restaurants, taprooms and historic churches all exist within mere blocks of one another.

What began as the boom site for the mid-nineteenth-century Upper Midwest lumber industry quickly grew into the town of St. Anthony. In 1872, St. Anthony was annexed by its neighbor, Minneapolis, but the area retained its identity as Northeast Minneapolis, or Nordeast to future residents. Northeast was an industrial hub that attracted immigrant labor from Eastern Europe and beyond. Because of its diverse labor and cultural institutions and communities, it grew and prospered despite the challenges presented by Prohibition, the Great Depression and World War II. Today, Nordeast embraces its status as a neighborhood where art galleries, independent theaters, live music venues, world-class ethnic restaurants, taprooms and historic churches all exist within mere blocks of one another.