As the centerpiece of the revitalization of Minneapolis'
historic West Side Milling District, Mill Ruins Park combines an
exploration of the history of Minneapolis with present day
activities for all ages. In its 19th-century heyday, this area
of mills, canals, tailraces and other historic resources
comprised the largest direct-drive water-powered facility in the
world and was the leading international producer of flour, a
commodity which was shipped both nationwide and worldwide. This
industrial powerhouse was the catalyst for the development of
Minneapolis and the birthplace of a number of companies which
remain significant to this day, including General Mills,
Pillsbury, Washburn Crosby (WCCO), and Xcel Energy. Mill Ruins
Park lies within the St. Anthony Falls Historic District, listed
on the National Register of Historic Places; and directly
adjacent to the 1883 Stone Arch Bridge, a National Historic
Engineering Landmark constructed to connect Midwestern farmers
and their crops of wheat to the booming flo