General Information about Minneapolis

Minneapolis is in east central Minnesota, USA. Together with St.Paul, it makes up the "Twin Cities". St.Paul is the state capitol, and slightly smaller in population. Both cities grew from settlements of the Mississippi river, which runs between them. Minneapolis began as a milling town next to St.Anthony falls, which is where downtown Minneapolis now stands.

Minneapolis has an extensive park system built around it's lakes and Minnehaha Creek. The larger lakes are Calhoun, Harriet, and Nokomis. The city's nickname is "The City of Lakes", and an Aquatennial each summer centers around water-related activities. The quality of life here is usually rated above average by measures of employment, healthcare, wages, crime, and schools.

Minneapolis has several retail districts with street-level shops. Two examples are the West Bank and Dinkytown, both near the University of Minnesota(U of M). Uptown is another example. The U of M is one of the largest Universities in the U.S. and has an attractive Minneapolis campus. It has old buildings with classical architecture as well as new ones like the Weisman Museum.

Compared with the rest of the U.S., Minneapolis is slightly more progressive and liberal. Alternative bookstores and coops can survive here long-term. We have had lots of coffee shops since before the chains became widespread. There is a strong theater community, with drama, comedy, satire, dance, and experimental performances at dozens(or hundreds) of venues. There is also an abundance of live music venues. There is an art gallery district in Nordeast Minneapolis, as well as downtown St.Paul, and an art college(MCAD).

Suggested attractions

For more information on visiting Minneapolis, see my links page.

• minneapolis_info, Washington D.C area -- 2007-06-20

  great to see West Bank, Dainia Hall. Wonderfull memories of 1966-70 there. Do you have any Photos of the Scholar Coffee Shop, it was close to Dainia, that is where Bob Dylan played when he first came to Minneapolis. Thankyou for doing this. It was an important time for many of us. steve

• Donna Born in Minneapolis, MN; now in Clackamas, Oregon -- 2006-09-04

  Hello!
  My Mom (there in Minneapolis) and I were just wondering if you had any photos or information of/about the restaurant that used to have the statue of the nude lady taking a shower in the front of the building? I believe the restaurant was located on the eastside of downtown (my Mom told me the name of it but I forget and it is now too late to call her and ask [2 hr difference here at it is 10:42p]). Thnx!

• Jay Virginia -- 2006-02-16

  I grew up near SW High School. I've enjoyed your pictures of that area. There were pictures of the "Sunnyside" area (44th and France)at one time. I'd like to see you re-post them. At one time, I worked at Dennison's Dairy Store (long gone)across from the Westside(??) Theater. Later, I worked in Edina at Hardware Hank's (also long gone), almost across the street fro the Edina Theater. I remember many visits to "Clancy's" Toyland as a child.

• Chamad Asir Bendaviyd Boulder,Colorado -- 2006-02-13

  I am on my way!

• Steve Denver -- 2006-02-12

  I grew up in "The Cities" and took a risk and moved to Boston for 3 years, now in Denver for the past 1.5. I loved Boston, really dislike Denver. I even drove truck cross country for a while, and was able to see the whole "island". Nowhere matches the wonderful setting that is the Twin Cities. Two distinctly different downtowns 10 miles apart, lakes everywhere, art, sports, beautiful weather year round (yes, even the coldest days... the air crystalizes, and the sun makes it sparkle! nothing like it!) I'm hoping to move back there this summer. Been a long time comin'!

• Roseann Overland Park, KS -- 2005-12-12

  I have to say I have always been a fan of viewing breath taking scenes and your site is no exception. Numerous pics that have truly captured my eye. Until recently I didn't relize how embraced, in the arts, Minn truly is. Hope to enjoy it first hand someday very soon.

• Joseph Manuel Lafayette, CA -- 2005-11-13

  Love your site. I was raised in Mpls and left 20 years ago for California when I joined the Marines. I have always missed Mpls parks and lakes and will probably move back in a few years. Your site keeps that thought in my head. Thanks!

• Joshua Boyd Phoenix, Az -- 2005-08-08

  I have been away from minnesota for quite sometime now and somehow, someway, i feel like minnesota is my home....missing the change of season and weather...missing my friends...but most of all, I miss vikings football season!!! being able to see them every sunday, the greatest feeling is when they beet the cheese heads!!!

• Megan Boyd Phoenix,Az -- 2005-08-06

  I moved from Mpls 3yrs go now looking for a warmer place, not knowing that memories of fresh air, green trees and oh my "water", is pulling me back somehow. Realizing,the corney saying that is so true "Theres no place like home"

• Brett & Michelle Northville, MI -- 2004-08-17

  If you scroll down you will see our post from back in January. We just got back from our first visit to the Cities in 4 years. Everything has changed so much (for the better). Lots of new restaurants and stuff. Everywhere you look there are new condos going up. We got to ride the LRT and experience Nicolett Mall on a sunny Friday afternoon. Well it looks like I might be able to transfer with my company to the Mpls office sometime before the end of the year. Finaly we be able to stop thinking of moving back and just do it. To bad it won't be in time for the "Great Minnesota Get Together"! Oh well there's always next year.

• Michael Anchorage, Alaska -- 2004-08-04

  I just returned from my first real visit to the Twin Cities (excluding lay-overs with side trip to MOA). What a great place to be. I stayed in the middle of the action at City Center and enjoyed how pedestrian friendly downtown is compared to large West Coast cities I've visited. Looking forward to returning in the future.

• Jon International Falls, MN -- 2004-07-25

  I miss my walks from my apartment (1212 Yale) to uptown, around the lakes and back! although I love my new home here, I will always remember all the different people and places down there!

• Melissa Berkley, Michigan -- 2004-07-10

  My husband used to think I was bias when it came to my opinion of Minnesota because I had lived there through age 19. With this in mind, I used to ask new aquaintances in vaious states if they have ever been to MN and what they thought of our state. Now, I get to reference everyone elses positive statements :)...I have lived in Tucson, Madison, WI for college(liked it there a lot too), and now 20 minutes north of Detroit. I am now 27, and I've been married for a year. Before I married him, I needed Tim to promise that he would move to MN in the future. I Love Home.

• Alan California -- 2004-07-08

  We moved to California about 5 months ago. We only lived in Mpls for about 5 years but in that time my wife and I absolutely fell in love with the city. We both feel that in the short time we were there it truly became our "home". I can't wait to move back. I would recommend living in Minnesota – especially Minneapolis. Go Vikes!!!!

• Aly 1,200 miles away from Home... -- 2004-06-16

  I whole heartedly second Rebecca in Kingsville, TX when she wrote: "I never knew how much I would miss my beloved Minneapolis until my husband and I moved away. I'm crossing my fingers that we will make it back again someday. I LOVE YOU MINNEAPOLIS!!!! "
  I was born and raised in the suburbs of Minneapolis. I lived there my entire life, up until the August of 2002, when my boyfriend of 5 years convinced me that we'd do better in his hometown of Mooresville ("race city USA") North Carolina. (Right outside of Charlotte.)
  Neither of us can stand living here, and we're extremely anxious to move back to Minneapolis on October 2nd of this year! My boyfriend even considers himself a Minnesotan now! (Fortunately, he lost the NC accent in broadcasting school..haha)
  The pictures on this site have helped me tremendously. They make me even more homesick, but now I know to never take Minneapolis for granted again!

• sanda bosnia i herzegovina -- 2004-05-27

  zaista nikada nisam vidjela tako lijep grad i tako topao narod.bila sam u posjeti kod sestre i jedva cekam da opet posjetim minneapolis! prelijep je grad i zeljela bi da imam tu cas da zivim u njemu.

• bob dickman sandusky, ohio -- 2004-05-14

  My wife and i love the twin cities, i proposed to her back in the late 80's and have taken our kids to see this treasure. Love Minneapolis and the Twins!!!

• Pat Prudenville, Mi -- 2004-05-09

  I've been to a crapload of cities in my short life. St. Louis, Chicago, Pheonix, L.A., N.Y.C. By been to I mean lived in for more than a month. I stumbled on a site about minneapolis one ntie and it was like I instantly fell inlove with this city. I hope to someday be able to move thier, it seems to have its own mystique about it and it just seems to be a very clean, safe, and freindly place. Seems like my kinda town.

• George Tulsa -- 2004-04-30

  Really enjoyed viewing pics of Minniapolis.I'm long time (Vikes)fan since day's of Metropolitan Stadium.I have not yet visited.Seeking single f who vikes fan lol and has season tix! bye

• Lee KY -- 2004-04-29

  Looking through the pics made me realize how much I miss MPLS. I only lived there for 2 years and have lived in many cities London, Denver, LA, NYC, etc. but it still pulls on my heart unlike any other. Fantastic memories and city.

• jeramiah Moorhaed -- 2004-04-21

  I LUV MINNEAPOLIS

• Mohamoud Guleed 2916 Park Ave. South, MPLS,MN 55407 -- 2004-04-19

  I liked Minneapolis city and I decided to be my home.

• therccia brandao cavalcanti brazil -- 2004-04-18

  hii,
  i'm therccia and i live in brazil and this year in august i i'll take part in a program to foreigner students!
  and i really would like do go minnesota!!!my cousin breno went and he loved!
  i really would like to know this great state!!
  thank's...
  i hope realize my dream!!!

• Sunny Mpls (or Burlington VT) -- 2004-04-17

  Thank you for your site. I always look at it when I'm homesick, and I don't feel so far away.

• Alex Plymouth -- 2004-04-01

  I now go to college in St. Joseph, and I miss Minneapolis terribly!! The energy and the unique culture can't be found anywhere else. Uptown is heaven!

• nick portland, or -- 2004-03-31

  a nice site. i find it hard to get a good impression of a city i don't live in (online, that is). organizing photos by neighborhood is a great idea.

• Luka Božičević Rijeka, CROATIA -- 2004-03-25

  I' ve never been there, but I hope I will go one day. I' m big fan of Timberwolves and I think that that city is something really special... I have family there, and they said me lot of things about it... Hope to see ya....

• nataly athina -- 2004-03-17

  Hello!I`d like to find friends from Minneapolis.
  My name`s Nataly.I`m 28 years old and I`l glad to meet You.

• Bethany Minneapolis -- 2004-02-29

  I've got to say, I really love this city. I've lived here for 16 years and I still haven't even begun to explore all of the nooks and crannies of Minneapolis...I hope I can stay here long enough to see everything. :)

• Rebecca Kingsville, TX -- 2004-02-20

  I never knew how much I would miss my beloved Minneapolis until my husband and I moved away. I'm crossing my fingers that we will make it back again someday. I LOVE YOU MINNEAPOLIS!!!!

• Rick Colorado -- 2004-02-12

  I am originally From Edina, but i live in Boulder and Go to school in Denver. I will forsure be moving back to MN as soon as school is over though! When any of my friends from school come to visit MN in the summers, they are so impressed by everything and they love it! But thats no big suprise to me! The state of Hockey is always with me here and will be until i move back home for good!

• Brett and Michelle Northville, MI -- 2004-01-25

  We moved to Michigan 3 years so that our children could be closer to their grandparents. We had lived in Minnesota for 8+ years, graduated from college (hamline & augsburg), bought our 1st home, and had beautiful twin daughters. Every day all we can think about is moving back to the Twin Cities. We miss the busses, the coffee shops, the neighborhoods, and the summers (especially the Great Minnesota Get Together!). Honestly, we miss the crisp white winters too! We hate leave our extended family, but we want to be home again. This time with our 3 beautiful daughters (yes, a new one!) and our dog Molly. Please tell us we're crazy.

• norman seattle -- 2004-01-24

  i was raised a pacific northwesterner, but my heart still feels minneapolis. i met minneapolis by chance and for four years it was home. i've done stints in new york city, portland and now seattle, but these days i'm only left wondering when i'll return to the city that makes me feel the best of myself. much love for minneapolis, norman.