News Release from the Minnesota Historical Society

David Stevens
Mill City Museum
612-341-7524
david.stevens@mnhs.org

MILL CITY MUSEUM CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST PERMANENT BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Minneapolis river bridges will be the focus of a Mill City Museum program on Jan. 30, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first bridge to span the Mississippi River. On Jan. 23, 1855, a suspension bridge opened in Minneapolis at Hennepin Avenue. Since then, Minneapolis has seen a wide variety of bridges along the river, including suspension, stone arch, steel truss and concrete-arch bridges

During the event, families can build a model suspension bridge in a make-it take-it project inspired by the original 1855 bridge; work with staff from Minnesota Center for Book Arts to create a hardcover petal fold bridge book celebrating historic bridges; craft a roman arch using building blocks and learn about the engineering principles behind this popular type of bridge; meet History Player Emily Goodridge Grey and hear stories of life at St. Anthony Falls in the 1850s; and go on a museum scavenger hunt to discover the importance of bridges in Minneapolis history.

The event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. and is included with museum admission of $8 for adults, $6 seniors and college students with I.D., and $4 for children ages 6 to 17 (free for MHS members and children 5 and under).

Built within the ruins of the Washburn A Mill, a National Historic Landmark, Mill City Museum chronicles the flour milling industry that dominated world flour production for roughly a half-century and fueled the growth of Minneapolis, recognized across the nation and around the world as "Mill City." The story comes to life through the eight-story Flour Tower, Baking Lab and other hands-on exhibits.

The museum is located on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis at 704 S. Second St. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays (open until 9 p.m. the first Thursday of each month). For more information, call 612-341-7555 or visit www.millcitymuseum.org.

1st Suspension Bridge Across Mississippi River
JPG image at 2171 x 2300 pixels at 300 dpi.

JPG image at 2171 x 2300 pixels at 300 dpi.

JPG image at 2171 x 2300 pixels at 300 dpi.

JPG image at 2171 x 2300 pixels at 300 dpi.

JPG image at 2171 x 2300 pixels at 300 dpi.