Electricity and Transportation Tour
Itinerary prepared by Rethos Volunteer Candace Dow
Minneapolis grew around Saint Anthony Falls, the only natural waterfall on the Mississippi. The falls provided water power to run lumber and flour mills that contributed to the city’s growth and industrial development. The falls provided electricity to power early streetcars. Explore the connections between the river, electricity, and transportation. See how things work when you explore these hidden gems.
Some sites are open to the public only for Doors Open Minneapolis. All five sites are open Saturday. Two sites, Como Harriet Streetcar Line-George Isaacs Carbarn and Metro Transit Blue Line Operations & Maintenance Facility, are also open Sunday. We suggest visiting the Como Harriet Streetcar Line-George Isaacs Carbarn last because the site is open both days and the streetcar will run Saturday and Sunday to 8:30 pm.
MnDOT Stone Arch Bridge
One of the finest stone viaducts in the world, the 1881 bridge is the oldest known extant railroad bridge over the Mississippi River. Trains brought grain from the west to Minneapolis for milling into flour. Minneapolis was the flour milling capital of the world from 1880 to 1930. In 1994, the bridge was preserved, rehabilitated and converted to a pedestrian and bicycle trail that opened in 1995 to connect downtown Minneapolis with the University of Minnesota. Although you will have to wait to walk or bike across the bridge until MnDOT finishes repairs in fall 2025, MnDOT staff will have a table with information about the bridge’s history and work underway to preserve this historic landmark.
The bridge, listed as the Stone Arch Bridge of Burlington Northern Railroad, Inc., is one of four Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks in Minnesota. The other three are the Duluth Aerial Ferry/Lift Bridge, the Peavy-Haglin Concrete Grain Elevator in St. Louis Park, and the Seventh Street Improvement Arches in St. Paul. For more information on this and other Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks, see LEARN MORE.
**Due to bridge preservation efforts, access to the bridge is only available from the St. Anthony side of the river from 6th Ave SE.
Open Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm ONLY
Fully accessible
Park: Meter parking on 6th Ave SE and SE Main St.
Bike parking: Main St SE.
Bus: 6U to University Ave SE & 6th Ave SE, walk 0.2 miles SW. 6D to 4th St SE & 6th Ave SE, walk 0.3 miles SW.
Metro Transit Blue Line Operations & Maintenance Facility
Electricity powers the light rail system. See where trains are stored and maintained. Learn about Metro Transit's first light rail system on a guided Blue Line Operations & Maintenance Facility tour. Learn how the system runs and stays in tip-top shape and how trains are cleaned and serviced by the maintenance team. See the newest piece of equipment – a wheel truing machine used to reprofile wheels, so trains run smoothly.
Open Saturday and Sunday
Partially accessible, kids activities
Park: Free parking in facility lot, from westbound Franklin Ave, first right turn after Cedar Ave.
Bike parking: By building entrance. Enter by walkway at north end of Franklin Station.
Transit: Blue Line to Franklin Ave Station. 2, 9, 9C, 9N, 9P, or 67 to the stop at Franklin Ave E & Franklin Station. Take walkway at north end of light rail station.
The Bakken Museum
The museum has interactive displays on science, technology, and humanities topics, including electricity, for all ages. Explore the innovation process. Make movies in the Spark exhibit, meet the mother of science fiction in Mary & Her Monster, and test out some of Ben Franklin's favorite experiments in the Electricity Party Room.
Open Saturday
Fully accessible, kids activities, tickets required for vault tour
Park: Free parking is available in the surface lot off Zenith Ave S. Free street parking on Zenith Ave S (W side of street) and on both sides of W 36th St.
Bike parking: In parking lot and on street.
Bus: 6D, 6E, 6U to 39th St W & Zenith Ave S, walk 0.5 miles N. 612 to Excelsior Blvd & 32nd St W, walk 0.7 mi S.
The Lift Garage
Cars help people get around, though repairs can be expensive. The Lift Garage is an auto repair shop that provides low-cost car repair. See the inner workings of a shop, look underneath a car, identify car parts, and see repair tools.
Open Saturday
Fully accessible, kids activities, public restrooms
Park: Parking lot, also free parking at nearby Allina Clinic, 3024 Snelling Ave or on Snelling Ave
Bike parking: Rack at back of The Lift Garage parking lot
Transit: Blue Line to Lake St – Midtown Station, walk 0.1 mi E. 7 to Minnehaha Ave & Lake St/Aldi driveway, walk 0.2 mi SW. 21 to Lake St E & Snelling Ave, walk 0.1 mi W.
Como Harriet Streetcar Line-George Isaacs Carbarn
Located at the intersection of W 42nd St and Queen Ave S
Electricity powered the Twin City Rapid Transit Company (TCRT), also known as Twin City Lines (TCL) intercity streetcar system that preceded the current Metro Transit bus and light rail system. Electricity still powers the Minnesota Streetcar Museum's vintage streetcars that are housed, maintained and restored inside the George K. Isaacs Carbarn. It also has work cars to maintain the track and overhead wire, and the museum's library. Come for guided tours of the carbarn and the chance take a ride on a historic streetcar!
**The streetcar will run Saturday and Sunday, 12:30 to 8:30 pm. Cash is no longer accepted.
Open Saturday and Sunday
Inaccessible, public restrooms
Park: Free street parking or Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board pay lot by Lake Harriet bandshell.
Bike parking: Bike racks at streetcar station and at the Lake Harriet bandshell and concessions.
Bus: 6C, 6E, and 6K to Sheridan Ave S & 42nd St W and walk 0.2 mi east. Take the streetcar from the Richfield Road stop on the east side of Bde Maka Ska to the Linden Hills Station.