You can barely see detect the curve in the stone structure. Amazing craftsmanship considering it opened in 1833.
“We got up before 7:00 am and we walked across the Mississippi River!”
That’s true. Of course I should say that both statements are true. We did get up before 7:00 am, and we did walk across the Mississippi River…around 9:00 am. I think it looks better the first way, and you know I’m not one to drag out a statement.
On the other hand – yes, I know I am one to drag out a statement, but I’m not going to today – on the other hand, I did take a lot of pictures as we walked, and I wanted to share them.
The photos in the gallery are from a walk across the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis. You can read all about the bridge at (ahem) Wikipedia, but here’s a teaser:
“The Stone Arch Bridge is a former railroad bridge crossing the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the only arched bridge made of stone on the entire length of the Mississippi River. The bridge was completed in 1883.”
This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s fun weekly series One-Liner Wednesday. If you have a one-liner, I’d encourage you to join in on the fun. You can follow this link to participate and to see the one-liners from the other participants.
There was a set of stairs leading down to the riverbank, but they were roped off.
That’s the I-35 highway bridge and a lot of debris in the river.
Without intervention, St. Anthony’s Falls would have worn itself into a set of rapids.
Looking onto the east side of the river.
The lock is closed to navigation because the river is above flood stage farther south. No need to bunch up ships on the river.
I love these stairs. I’m pretty sure they make the Editor a little queasy, but I’d climb them.
St. Anthony’s Falls from the center of the Stone Arch Bridge.
St. Anthony’s Falls from the center of the Stone Arch Bridge. The lock structure is on the left.
This mill structure is on the east side and illustrates the way water power used to rein supreme in this region.
Not bothered by the falls, rapids or the people nearby.
Looking south along the Mississippi.
One of the historic markers on the bridge.
The west side mills.
Part of the Mill Ruins park. these old mills were unearthed after having been covered over.
The site of a flour explosion. The remnants are now stabilized and the building houses a museum and conference center.
Excavated ruins in the park.
That’s the I-35 bridge from the parking lot of Mill Ruins Park.
Another of the historic markers.
I took this for the Editor. It’s a space I doubt she would willingly enter.
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Great pics, Dan – was the water noisy? I feel like I could do with a sound-track to match the images :-)
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Thanks Ruth. It was noisy when we were closer to the falls, but not so much from the bridge. I like finding quiet places inside big cities.
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That was an amazing walk, Dan. I don’t know if I ever me tioned it but I love bridges. Especially old bridges with the railroad bridge running beside it. The mighty Mississippi can be a fickle and angry old man. I lost several young cousins in thise waters down South. What a great slice of Minneapolis history. Thanks for sharing your walk with us.
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I knew you would like this, Cheryl. You’ve shown us many old railroad bridges on your blog. I’m so sorry to learn about your cousins. It’s a big and mighty river. The rivers I grew up near work to create one tributary to the Mississippi. You grew up near the big end.
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Thanks Dan. They call it the muddy mississip at that end. And for good reason.
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That’s a wonderfully unique thing to do. Or at least it is when you live nowhere near that cool old bridge. With an arch. And you know I have yet to see a door or window or bridge with an arch that I didn’t like!
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Thanks Ally. I’m with you, a stone arch bridge has everything I need, just in that description. I’m so glad they preserved this one. In many ways, it would have been easier to tear it down (they had to modify it to build the lock) but I think they understood the value of having it.
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Think my comment went by way of the cyberspace elves and just disappeared. Oh well, .
It’s a good thing they have the historic markers on the bridge. You know I like history preserved.
What exactly causes flour to explode?
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Like you, I like history to be preserved and explained, so the markers are excellent.
Flour is highly flammable when it’s in particle form. I remember a sixth grade science demonstration where the teacher put flour in a coffee can over a Bunsen burner. In the packed container, it wouldn’t burn, but when she blew through a piece of rubber tubing, the spray burned like a flame-thrower. When the flour dust from the processing in the mill got airborne, the building was at risk, as the dust can explode very easily, a single spark can set it off (which is apparently what happened).
It was also very dangerous for the workers, just due to the exposure. There was a respiratory disease that they would get from breathing in the small particles. They ended up with a dough-like substance in their lungs.
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I can sure understand the respiratory aspect of it. Thanks for explaining.
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As a little bit of trivia, I read a book many years ago about chocolate production and apparently chocolate dust is similar to flour for its combustive property. Particle concentration in the air needed to be monitored and of course adequate ventilation introduced to reduce the risk.
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Thanks for adding that. I would imagine that the early workers suffered the same kind of illness from breathing the particles.
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The original death by chocolate.
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:(
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Here is a little history about that.
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Thanks for adding that! That certainly must have been s powerful incrntivd.
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I’d love to walk across the bridge and listen to the rushing water. So soothing! Pretty photos of a pretty area, Dan. As for the stairs in your one photo, I might be with the Editor depending on the condition of the stairs.
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It was a very interesting and easy walk, Mary. I don’t think those stairs will ever look sturdy, maybe the zig-zag set but not the straight set. I guess I’d have a nice crowd, waiting for me at the bottom.
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LOL. I’m not afraid of heights, but I’d rather not end up at the bottom of anything!
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I do like how you said it the first way. One sentence, mighty thought. Yesterday in chapter reading at school, Ma, Pa, Laura and Mary crossed The Mississippi. I will show them two of your bridge photos today, the stone bridge (which would have been 30 years old at that time) and the modern bridge. Thanks, Dan!
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Thanks Jennie – I feel honored that you will share the photos. I can only imagine crossing the river before there were reliable bridges.
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Rafts made of logs where the whole wagon along with horses glided across. Can you imagine using long poles to push and guide the raft? Holy Moley!
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Our family crossed a river in Virginia on a raft that could carry two cars. It was on a guide wire and pulled by a winch. That’s as close as I’ll ever come.
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Far closer than I will ever come, Dan. That must have been pretty cool.
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Well, I with The Editor on both counts! (but I’d still climb the stairs) Love the pictures. I especially love bridges. They connect opposite sides.
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That’s a good point about bridges, Pam. It’s a very pretty area. I think the stairs are off-limits to visitors, unless you’re visiting in a boat that has to go through the lock.
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Great shots. Walk across the bridge? Definitely. Walk up or down those stairs? Not so much. :-)
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Thanks Judy. We only managed the bridge – the stairs are off limits. I would have loved to have gone up the long set, but I think I’d have walked alone. I almost stepped over the barrier to take the steps down to the river, but there were way too many people around.
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I see what you mean from your comment last week about difficulty getting a good picture-taking view of the bridge. It is tantalizingly there … but hidden. What is the distance of the bridge? From the train model, it looked like it was quite long – at least a couple of kilometres?
… and you got a lock, and a waterfall / rapids, and the ruins!! omg – the ruins! I would have wanted to beeline it over there for a walkabout! To me, it’s literally buried treasure!
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Thanks Joanne. The ruins are/were buried treasure. They unearthed them and part of the original waterway to build the park. they have even channeled water into the old waterway for effect.
The bridge is 2,100 feet (just under half a mile, maybe .8k) – it’s a leisurely stroll but you ave to be prepared to stop for pictures. It’s part of a much larger trail in the area, so I think you could make a nice adventure around there. I think I’ll get back, maybe with time to explore one of the banks.
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The train model made it look so much longer!
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Great photos – I’ve driven by those spots many times. Nice job on “shortening” your one-liner post, too! ;-)
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Thanks Shelly. It’s such a pretty area. I don’t imagine I’d be all that interested in being there in the winter, though. When I realized that I had gotten closer than ever to one line, I figured I could add a little history. I guess there’s no hope for me.
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Great pictures! My fiance would love to see that.
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Honeymoon in Minneapolis ???
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No kidding–a flour explosion?! I read your comment about that…I had no idea. The river water looks pretty raging. I’m with the other who would loved to have heard that water wooshing by. Great photos, Dan.
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Thanks Lois. The river was at or above flood stage, farther south. It was moving right along.
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I like the thought of walking across the Mississippi River whether at 7 am or any other time. That reference to a flour explosion gives me more respect for the power of flour.
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That building was basically destroyed by flour. It’s a scary thought.
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Love the ruins!! Thanks for sharing, as always, Dan. :D
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Thanks Linda.
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I love that bridge, Dan. Wow, the river is really choppy — great shots.
LOL, that Canada goose on the log. They have such swagger, endless bravado — even when they’re just standing on a log. Hugs!
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Thanks Teagan. He was just sitting and watching the river go by. Seemingly without a care.
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The Stone Arch Bridge is a real eye catcher. I love the photo where you have to look really hard to see it through the trees. And the ruins of the mills, so sad but great shots. Those flour mills were accidents waiting to happen.
I laughed out loud at that little guy, perched on his log, just floating along without a care in the world! We could all take a lesson from him!
And I’ll sit it out with The Editor when it comes to those stairs! No way, no how.
🔹 Ginger 🔹
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Thanks Ginger. Maddie doesn’t like stairs either. I guess I’m climbing alone.
The bridge is beautiful. I hope to visit again, to walk downstream a bit. I’d go past the ruins, read a few more historic markers 🙂
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Nothing wrong with taking a couple of hours to eat and whatever…
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Thanks John.
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Ooo, excavated ruins!
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My kind of woman !
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Love of excavated ruins is one of the occupational hazards of being Mother of an Archaeologist. lol
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I figured it was reverse genetics in action.
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Love this walk and you commentary Dan. I also enjoyed how your post has become full of interesting information from your readers 💛
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Thanks Val. I love it when people add to the story :)
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Your pics tell all. I would like to see this river – it’s impressive – the size of it, the flow, the dam, and what’s on its banks.Thanks for showing what I probably otherwise never would see in person!
Whoa, what a feat, I made it here on Wednesday!
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Thanks Jesh. The Mississippi is an amazing river. This spot is pretty far north. It gets wider and stronger as it rolls south to the Gulf.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, where the Allegheny and Monongahela join to form the Ohio, which is the largest tributary (by volume) to the Mississippi – so, still a tributary.
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those rivers joining to form the Ohio doe not sound English:):) Native Am. names?
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Yes. The Allegheny mountains run through the area. The monongahela flows north out of West Virginia near an area known as Monongalia county.
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I guess those old stone bridges are just about indestructible!
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They had no real way of knowing what the future load would be in 1833. Rail service had just begun. If it’s anything like the ones around here, it was overbuilt by orders of magnitude and will likely last forever with minimal care.
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Beautiful photo’s, Dan. I’m amazed that I35 runs down to the Gulf. We take it to Austin.
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It’s funny you say that, John. I asked my brother how far it goes as we were on our way to Ames from Minneapolis. Is it as straight and flat down your way? It’s a seriously boring highway compared to what we have on this side of the Mississippi.
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It depends. Mostly flat but there are some hilly parts.
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An early morning hike or walk will never disappoint. There is so much to see and hear.
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One of the ironic aspects of business travel is that the early morning hours are often the only times I can do any exploring. That’s when I first found the bridge (on a trip in October) and that’s why I wanted to go back. It is a great time to experience the city.
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My daughter and I took a trip to Minneapolis last July and loved it! These pictures bring wonderful memories of that trip. We stood and looked at those same views .
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It’s really an interesting city. I’m glad you enjoyed this.
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Hi Dan – I bet those history boards were interesting … I hope one day to get to the Mississippi … cheers Hilary
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It’s a magnificent river. So much history, and still very important for transportation.
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Nice bridge, Dan. I’ve only crossed the Mississippi by car between Wisconsin and Minnesota and I do it twice every summer…once going west and once coming back home. Such a wide river! For me, an unusual one-liner would be “I woke up after 7 am.” Can’t remember the last time that happened. :-)
janet
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Thanks Janet. I am usually up by 6:00 (5:00 on a work day) but I was on vacation.
I’ve driven across the Mississippi a few times, and you’re right – big river! This was a chance to do something I might not get another opportunity to do. My brother is a history nut (retired history teacher) so he was all for this.
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Even more of the pretty things :) That’s a good One-Liner. I have never walked across the Mississippi, and I think I would perhaps rise early to do it.
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Thanks. We thought about taking the walk Friday afternoon, but it was already pretty hot. Very nice light in the AM.
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Hello (from Paris – France)
The walk / visit was very interesting.
To understand better, I use a translator
to understand and write because my English is basic …
The Mississippi River is a river that has a lot of strength and I enjoyed seeing the ruins of this ensemble with the museum
I like coming to blogs in other countries than mine, so I have the opportunity to see other landscapes and things I do not know.
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Thank you. I use the translator when I visit your blog. I’m always afraid to use it to comment, as it doesn’t seem to do a very good job with French. Maybe I’ll be a little more bold in the future.
I’m glad you enjoyed this, and thank you for leaving a comment.
Trying in French
Merci, j’utilise le traducteur quand je visite votre blog, j’ai toujours peur de l’utiliser pour commenter, car il ne semble pas faire un très bon travail en français. Future.
Je suis content que vous ayez apprécié cela, et merci d’avoir laissé un commentaire.
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Do not hesitate to use it, even if the translation is very rough.
We always end up understanding what the person meant.
if you noticed, there is on my home page, located on the right a translator.
Have a nice and sunny day
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I do use the translate option on your site. I appreciate that you have it. I think I added it to mine as well.
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Great ruins!! I love stone bridges, and this one with arches is wonderful. I’ve never walked across the Mississippi, but I’d walk across that bridge, and climb the stairs with you.
I think the falls was prettier before the bridge though. The photo of it in the top plaque it’s gorgeous with the cascading rocks, and tall fall and huge pieces of limestone in front of it.
I didn’t know or remember that flour dust was combustible! I’ll have a new respect for flour in my kitchen while baking, and never think of flour as some benign baking/cooking ingredient.
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Thanks Deborah. The arches, and the fact that it curves really make this bridge special in my mind. Add to that the fact that it was built in the early 1830s and it seems a near impossible feat.
The falls are responsible for their own diminished presence. One of the historic markers talked about the fact that they were eating away the sandstone underneath the limestone. The original falls were about 10 miles down river, and they were moving north at a rate of 4 feet per year! Some of the manmade actions aggravated that situation, until the Amry Corps of Engineers built a concrete barrier to the erosion. If they hadn’t, they say the falls would likely be a set of rapids by now.
I always remember a demonstration in 6th grade about how flour, once airborne as dust, was extremely flammable.
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Great pics, Dan…love the Twin Cities!!
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Thanks Kirt. I think I could live there a few months out of the year.
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Really a beautiful area…even in the sub-zero winters!
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