Twin Cities Business Listing

The Historic Stone Arch Bridge was once used as a railroad bridge from 1883 to 1978 and has 23 beautiful arches spanning across the Mississippi River.  Refurbishing and redesigning the bridge began in 1980. Learn more about its history on the Minneapolis Parks and Rec website.

More Ideas for Exploring the Historic Stone Arch Bridge

• 10 Things for Kids: Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis
• Book Review: Keystones of the Stone Arch Bridge by Carolyn Ruff
• Mill City Museum (f/k/a “World’s Largest Flour Mill”), Minneapolis
• Mill Ruins Park & Water Works, Minneapolis
• Father Hennepin Bluff Park, Minneapolis
• 10 Free Things To Do With Kids In Downtown Minneapolis in Summer

Family Fun at the Stone Arch Bridge

It’s a fun and free excursion to do when the weather is beautiful: in the summer and in the winter. It is a part of the St. Anthony Falls Heritage trail connecting foot traffic from Mills Ruin Park on the west bank to Father Hennepin Bluffs Park on the east bank. Take two steps and stop to see over the fence.  Take another two steps. Stop and look over the fence. Take two more steps; stop to look. At this rate you aren’t even at the river!  You may feel the urge to hurry them along, but it’s not necessary.

What better way to enjoy the river and weather than to amble across the Stone Arch Bridge?

It’s a great place to enjoy the weather with hundreds of other walkers, cyclists, and dog lovers. You will see walkers wearing babies and pushing empty strollers, children in wagons, and matching cyclists ringing their bells. You may run into a musician or two.

But don’t, let me repeat, don’t give the children only a penny (because that’s all you have) to put into the musicians’ collections.  Or they may do the following:

1. Tell the musician that they gave him a penny.
2. Explain to the musician that if he had 100 pennies, he would have like a dollar
3. And enthusiastically convince the musician that every little bit helps.

Highlights:

1. Gorgeous view of the river
2. The bridge is about a 1/2 mile long which is a perfect length to enjoy the scenery, but not too long for little feet.
3. There is a small pay parking lot that is very inexpensive.  $1 for the first hour.  We were able to enjoy the bridge for an hour and be back before our time expired. (Maybe we should have paid before we left on our walk, but we didn’t get a ticket and eventually, I did pay)
4. Dancing to the accordion player.

Disadvantages: