Saint Anthony Falls

Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located near downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the only waterfall on the Mississippi River until it was replaced by a concrete apron after they partially collapsed in 1869 and, later, a series of dams in the 1950s and 1960s. In the 17th century, the falls became known to the world beyond the indigenous people who lived in their vicinity when they were observed by Father Louis Hennepin, who also brought the existence of Niagara Falls to the world's attention. The region around the falls was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Saint Anthony Falls Historic District in 1971.

Related Topics:
Minneapolis, Minnesota - Waterfall - Mississippi River - Dam - 1950s - 1960s - 17th century - Indigenous people - Louis Hennepin - Niagara Falls - National Register of Historic Places - 1971

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Geologists say that the falls first appeared roughly 10,000 years ago several miles downstream around modern-day Saint Paul. The massive River Warren, a precursor of today's Minnesota River, had a waterfall that is said to have been twice as wide as Niagara Falls. Over the millennia, the falls moved upstream, breaking of into several smaller waterfalls as tributaries were reached. Minnehaha Falls in south Minneapolis is one of several such examples. The falls also gradually shrank, measuring only 16 feet in height by the time Minneapolis developed.

Related Topics:
Geologists - Saint Paul - River Warren - Minnesota River - Tributaries - Minnehaha Falls

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In the late 19th century, the falls were in danger of collapse due to the weakness of the underlying structure. At one point, a tunnel that was being dug under the upper part to supply water to nearby mills collapsed, creating a whirlpool that caused the downriver tip of nearby Nicollet Island to erode quickly. Dams were built above the falls and the surface of the falls was reinforced.

Related Topics:
19th century - Tunnel - Mill - Whirlpool - Nicollet Island

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St. Anthony Falls was the upper limit of commercial navigation on the Mississippi until two dams and a series of locks were built between 1948 and 1963 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The locks make commercial navigation possible above Minneapolis but, since the locks in Minneapolis are smaller than most of the locks on the river, the practical limit for many commercial tows is farther downriver. Few barges go past St. Paul.

Related Topics:
Upper limit of commercial navigation - 1948 - 1963 - United States Army Corps of Engineers - St. Paul

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