The Only Natural Waterfall on the Mississippi

 Minneapolis, MN

Look!  Look!  Look at the Lock!

The Morning Walk

At the start of the day, before it got hot, we took Francis out and walked along the lake again.  

I'm not sure about dogs around here but Francis can't read yet.

The thistles are seeding out and the American Goldfinches are enjoying it.

These thistles look a lot like tiny artichokes.

I liked this scenic byway sign.

Loti Pencil - Curtis Ingvoldstad
This pencil has a pure graphite core and was recently re-sharpened in June.

Saint Anthony Falls and Locks and Dam

After our walk we drove down to The Mighty Mississippi and visited Saint Anthony Falls and The Lock and Dam there.  The St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam is part of The National Park Service.  Rangers gave us a tour and then we got to walk around and go into the visitor center.  After all this we walked across The Mississippi River on the Stone Arch Bridge.  We have walked across The Mississippi River three times now and 2 of the times we changed states in the process.

Okay then!  We will see the falls!

The beginning of The Stone Arch Bridge

You walked across the lock to get to the tour and visitor center.

The giant gates that hold the water back

The natural waterfall has been converted to a slope.  It's no longer generating electricity because in the winter the water up river freezes.

Our tour was about 20 people strong and lasted about 10 minutes.

Looking downstream at the Stone Arch Bridge.

This is an old flour mill that blew up and then burned down years later and then became a part of the Mill City Museum.

This, I believe, is the old lock control tower.

This appears to be the current control tower.

This tour was more extreme than ours.

Much of the country's precipitation flows into the Mississippi River

Looking down on Mill Ruins Park.

The Stone Arch Bridge is wide enough for bikes, pedestrians, and runners.

This is The Guthrie theater and its famous overhang.

That was it for today.  If you missed Swedish American Institute, check it out.  It's a beautiful mansion.