History of flour milling and Minneapolis
Created by MinnesotaHistory on Oct 28, 2009
Last updated: 03/11/10 at 04:50 PM
Tags: history flour Mississippi River waterfall agriculture farming
Mill City Museum opens September 13, 2003.
An attraction for all ages, the museum chronicles the flour milling industry that dominated world flour production for roughly a half-century and fueled the growth of Minneapolis, recognized across the nation and around the world as "Mill City."
Built within the ruins of a National Historic Landmark, the Washburn A Mill, the museum will provide a multi-sensory, interactive journey. The story of flour milling - and its impact on Minneapolis, the nation and the world - comes to life in this one-of-a-kind museum.
www.millcitymuseum.org
Mill Ruins Park opens. Photo taken by Mill City Museum staff.
St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail opens. Photo taken by Mill City Museum staff.
Stone Arch Bridge opens to pedestrian traffic. Photo taken by Mill City Museum staff.
Abandoned Washburn A Mill gutted by fire.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=195861&Page=1&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1991&Keywords=washburn%20a%20mill&StartDate=1991&SearchType=Basic
Washburn A Mill is designated a National Historic Landmark.
http://www.nps.gov/history/nhl/
St. Anthony Falls Historic District including the James J. Hill Stone Arch Bridge, Pillsbury A Mill and the Washburn A Mill are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
http://www.nps.gov/nr/
Washburn A mill closes.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=78431&Page=1&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1965&Keywords=washburn%20a%20mill&StartDate=1950&SearchType=Basic
Second lock and dam constructed.
Lock and Dam constuction is seen near the Stone Arch Bridge.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=93816&Page=1&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1970&Keywords=lock%20and%20dam&StartDate=1959&SearchType=Basic
Northern States Power becomes the sole licensee of waterpower at the falls.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=166569&Page=2&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1962&Keywords=northern%20states%20power&StartDate=1950&SearchType=Basic
Lock and dam construction opens the upper river to navigation.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=48252&Page=1&Negative=40065&SearchType=Negative
1930 to 1950 Many flour mills are dismantled; bridges and railroad trestles are cleared from the district.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=201114&Page=5&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1950&Keywords=minneapolis%20mill&StartDate=1930&SearchType=Basic
Fire damages south side of the Washburn A Mill. MHS file name is ExLobR04 Image from the Minneapolis Tribune, September 17, 1928
Washburn Crosby Company merges with others to form General Mills.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=1914&Page=1&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1928&Keywords=washburn&StartDate=1920&SearchType=Basic
Saw milling above the falls draws to a close.
The last sawmill located at the falls shuts down
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/Results.cfm?Page=1&Digital=Yes&Negative=37519&SearchType=Negative&CFID=12818801&CFTOKEN=32341230
The Lower Dam hydroelectric plant is built and leased to the Twin City Rapid Transit Company.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/Results.cfm?Page=1&Digital=Yes&Negative=65600&SearchType=Negative&CFID=12818801&CFTOKEN=32341230
Stone Arch Bridge opens to rail travel.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=81649&Page=1&Digital=Yes&Keywords=stone%20arch&SearchType=Basic
The nation's first hydroelectric plant begins operating on Upton Island.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=83136&Page=1&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1885&Keywords=st%20anthony%20falls&StartDate=1880&SearchType=Basic
"Mill City:" Minneapolis leads the nation in flour production. 1880-1930
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=201302&Page=2&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1930&Keywords=washburn%20a%20mill&StartDate=1880&SearchType=Basic
Washburn A mill explodes, killing 18 workers and destroying much of the west side mill district.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=74134&Page=1&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1878&Keywords=washburn%20a%20mill&StartDate=1878&SearchType=Basic
St. Anthony and Minneapolis merge into one city.
New bridges across the Mississippi unite the communities of Minneapolis and St. Anthony. With the addition of the older town on the east side of the river, Minneapolis will have a population of 46,000 by 1880.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=71530&Page=1&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1872&Keywords=minneapolis%20and%20st%20anthony&StartDate=1872&SearchType=Basic
1870s "New process" revolutionizes the flour milling industry.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=76913&Page=1&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1879&Keywords=flour%20milling&StartDate=1870&SearchType=Basic
The falls are restored and protected by an apron, dam and dike.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=81654&Page=1&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1884&Keywords=apron&StartDate=1870&SearchType=Basic
Tunnel collapse on east side threatens falls.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=81880&Page=19&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1887&Keywords=st%20anthony&StartDate=1840&SearchType=Basic
Minneapolis incorporated.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=72300&Page=1&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1867&Keywords=minneapolis&StartDate=1867&SearchType=Basic
On May 11th, Minnesota is admitted into the Union as the 32nd state. News of statehood travels by telegraph and then by steamboat to St. Paul. Newspapers proclaim a glorious future for Minnesota.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=143481&Page=1&Keywords=minnesota%20state%20capitol&SearchType=Basic
Minneapolis Mill Company and St. Anthony Falls Water Power Company incorporated. This image comes from the following publication: H.E. Chamberlin, pub., Commercial Advertiser Directory, for St. Anthony and Minneapolis 1859-1860, p. 128.
Companies construct a dam to funnel water to each side of the river.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/Results.cfm?Page=1&Digital=Yes&Negative=65600&SearchType=Negative&CFID=12818801&CFTOKEN=32341230
St. Anthony incorporated; Congressman Robert Smith buys land on west side of falls
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=70785&Page=1&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1855&Keywords=st%20anthony&StartDate=1854&SearchType=Basic
"Sawdust Town:" Minneapolis leads the nation in saw milling.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=147196&Page=2&Digital=Yes&EndDate=1887&Keywords=logging&StartDate=1848&SearchType=Basic
Franklin Steele claims land on east side of falls
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=154239&Page=1&Keywords=franklin%20steele&SearchType=Basic
1820-1857 The falls area is a tourist attraction, drawing visitors from the eastern United States and Europe.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=64985&Page=2&EndDate=1860&Keywords=st%20anthony&StartDate=1820&SearchType=Basic
Colonel Josiah Snelling oversees construction of Fort Snelling and the first mills at the falls.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=153071&Page=1&Keywords=josiah%20snelling&SearchType=Basic
Lieutenant Zebulan Pike negotiates a treaty with the Dakota, who cede territory that includes St. Anthony Falls.
Lieutenant Zebulon Pike becomes the first representative of the young United States to appear in Minnesota. While surveying the Louisiana Purchase, Pike buys a sliver of land--"for a song," he says--from the Dakota. The small area will become the first U.S. outpost in the region, but it is another 14 years before the army follows and begins Fort Snelling.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=186431&Page=1&Digital=Yes&Keywords=pike&SearchType=Basic
Louis Hennepin, a missionary with the La Salle expedition in Illinois, is sent up the Mississippi to explore the country. The Dakota stop him and his two companions and take them to a village near Lake Mille Lacs. While Hennepin is with the Dakota, he sees a great waterfall on the Mississippi and names it after his favorite saint--Saint Anthony.
http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/image.cfm?imageid=126668&Page=1&Keywords=father%20hennepin&SearchType=Basic
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