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G 35 re a t R R i iv v e RAMSEY e r r R o a d 880 North US 10 Wayside Riverside NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Park 10 C oo 0 5 Kilometers n Creek Mississippi West Regional Park 0 5 Miles Cloquet 875 Mississippi River Community Park City, county, and state parks City park Lock and dam Visitor Canoe access Overlook information Park within Mississippi National River and Recreation Area are partners helping visitors Boat launch County park 845 River milepost Marina iver experience the Mississippi R Donie Galloway Park ANOKA River. Akin Riverside Park Peninsula Point Two Rivers Historical Park State managed Mississippi National DAYTON Mississippi River and Recreation Point Park Area authorized Foundation Document Overview boundary 870 M i s COON RAPIDS s is w CHAMPLIN s ro ip C p Mississippi National River and Recreation Area i Coon Rapids Dam Rush Creek 169 Regional Park (Anoka Co.) Coon Rapids Dam Overlook 610 Missouri 1 Coon Rapids Dam 94 865 10 Regional Park 35W (Three Rivers Park District) R i v e

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BROOKLYN PARK Riverview Heights Park River Park 10

35E Manomin Park MINNESOTA FRIDLEY WISCONISN 694 Islands of Peace Park White Bear Lake

494 BROOKLYN CENTER 860 694 Vadnais Lake Anoka County North Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park Regional Park 35W MINNESOTA Marshall Terrace Park Upstream limit of 9 foot navigation

channel Gluek Park er iv R Boom Island 94 35E 694 Riverboat tours and public boat dock MAPLEWOOD w lo il W Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam Minnesota History Center 12 St. Anthony Falls 855 St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail Observation Deck Mississippi River Visitor Center Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock in the Science Museum of Minnesota Stone Arch Bridge and Dam Overlook Mississippi National River and HUDSON 394 Recreation Area Headquarters Mill City Museum Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary Mill Ruins Park Indian Mounds Park ST. PAUL Overlook Minneh 55 a aha nk 850 94 to C e r n e Overlook in e Mississippi Gorge Regional Park St. Paul Yacht Club M k 840 Battle Creek Public boat dock Riverboat tours Regional Park MINNEAPOLIS V a 169 Lock and Dam #1 l le Observation Deck Lilydale-Harriet Island- y e Hidden Falls- 494 B ak r L Cherokee Regional Park an Minnehaha Falls Crosby Farm 835 ch Regional Vento View Overlook 61 Minnehaha Regional Park Park LILYDALE SOUTH S 494 a Saint Croix Historic Fort Snelling 845 i Watergate ST. PAUL n Minneapolis/St. Paul t National MENDOTA International Airport C Scenic Sibley House r o

Fort Snelling State Park i

Historic Site 494 x Riverway MENDOTA NEWPORT

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i Minnesota Valley Twin City v e National Wildlife Lion’s Levee Park r Refuge Visitor Center River Heights 830 INVER Willie’s Hidden Harbor GROVE ST. PAUL r Rive HEIGHTS ic PARK COTTAGE ckinn Riverside Park Kinni 35W GROVE

61 Minnesota Valley National GREY CLOUD Wildlife Refuge 10 r ISLAND Rive 35E TOWNSHIP Grey Cloud Dunes WISCONSIN Scientific and Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area Scientific and Natural Area 825 DENMARK 820 TOWNSHIP Overlook Minnesota King’s Cove 10 Valley National Gr 815 169 ea Spring Lake Wildlife Refuge t R PRESCOTT iv Park Lock and Dam #2 er R Observation Deck a o Reserve t ad Hastings o Lake Rebecca s Park Marine e 55

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n NININGER i ROSEMOUNT River Flats Park M TOWNSHIP Levee 35 HASTINGS Park M is r s e Gores Pool is iv s R Wildlife i n p io Management p ill i Contact Information 35 rm Area R Ve iv e RAVENNA r For more information about the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Foundation Document, 61 TOWNSHIP 805 MINNESOTAWISCONSIN contact: [email protected] or 651-293-8454 or write to: Superintendent, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Suite 105, 111 Kellogg BLVD EAST, St. Paul, MN 55101 Purpose Significance Fundamental Resources and Values Interpretive Themes Description

Significance statements express why Mississippi National Fundamental resources and values are those features, systems, Interpretive themes are often described as the key stories The Mississippi River is one of the world’s renowned rivers. The national river and recreation area features St. Anthony River and Recreation Area resources and values are processes, experiences, stories, scenes, sounds, smells, or or concepts that visitors should understand after visiting While 10 national park units lie along or touch the Mississippi Falls, the Mississippi River’s only major waterfall and a place important enough to merit national park unit designation. other attributes determined to merit primary consideration a park—they define the most important ideas or concepts River, only one national park unit has the river as its focus of national and international stories. After his visit in 1680, Statements of significance describe why an area is important during planning and management processes because they are communicated to visitors about a park unit. Themes and mission. That park is the Mississippi National River and French missionary Louis Hennepin became the first European within a global, national, regional, and systemwide context. essential to achieving the purpose of the park and maintaining are derived from—and should reflect—park purpose, Recreation Area (NRRA). Congress established the national to describe the cataract. His published account made St. These statements are linked to the purpose of the park its significance. significance, resources, and values. The set of interpretive river and recreation area to protect, preserve, and enhance Anthony Falls “a landmark in the wilderness,” a destination unit, and are supported by data, research, and consensus. themes is complete when it provides the structure necessary the nationally significant historic, cultural, natural, scenic, for other early European, colonial, and American explorers. ·· Cultural and historic sites that owe their national Significance statements describe the distinctive nature of the for park staff to develop opportunities for visitors to explore recreational, scientific, and economic resources of a 72-mile As St. Anthony Falls’ fame rose, the falls became a destination significance to their presence along the Mississippi park and inform management decisions, focusing efforts on and relate to all of the park significances and fundamental reach of the Mississippi River. for tourists, writers, and painters from around the country River. preserving and protecting the most important resources and resources and values. and the world. Settlers and entrepreneurs saw a different kind values of the park unit. ·· Economic resources supported by the Mississippi River Although the national river and recreation area is only 72 of value in the falls. By 1880, St. Anthony Falls gave rise to in the national river and recreation area that are integral Entire River miles long, the Mississippi River’s character changes more lumber and flour milling industries that led the nation and, at ·· The Mississippi River. to the nation’s economy. The Mississippi is recognized globally as one of the world’s here than anywhere else along its 2,350-mile course. The river times, the world in production. great rivers. Within the Mississippi National River and enters the northern corridor as a free-flowing prairie river ·· Collaborative relationships with governments, ·· Unique Character. Recreation Area are landscapes, stories and resources that and moves downstream to plunge over St. Anthony Falls and The national river and recreation area includes a critical nexus private sector organizations, nonprofits, schools, and represent those of the entire river and that have awed and into the river’s narrowest gorge. Eight and one-half miles later, on the Mississippi Flyway. About one-half of North America’s ·· St. Anthony Falls. individuals that help the park to achieve its purpose. inspired people for centuries. the river exits the gorge to become the country’s dominant bird species and 40% of waterfowl use this nationally and ·· Historical and Cultural Sites and Stories. ·· Healthy aquatic ecosystems that provide for a rich floodplain river and part of the largest inland navigation internationally significant flyway. The Mississippi’s large and diverse assemblage of fish, mussels, macro- Geology system on earth. Through the eight and one-half mile gorge, floodplain and bottomland forest ecosystem, which the ·· Mississippi River Flyway. invertebrates, and other species, as well as the Powerful geologic forces over vast timeframes gave shape to the the Mississippi drops more than 110 feet, the river’s steepest birds have followed for from hundreds to more than two The purpose of Mississippi National opportunity for scientific study. Mississippi in the national river and recreation area, providing descent anywhere. The river’s rapidly changing character thousand miles, ends at the confluence of the Mississippi and ·· Scenic and Recreational Resources and for the distinctive character and geography of the Twin Cities River and Recreation Area is to ·· Healthy terrestrial ecosystems that provide for a rich explains why the national river and recreation area has such a Minnesota rivers, near the middle of the national river and Opportunities. area. promote the protection, preservation, and diverse assemblage of plants and animals, as well as unique concentration of nationally significant resources. recreation area. the opportunity for scientific study. enhancement, and enjoyment of the ·· Economic Resources. Cultures The national river and recreation area boasts a concentration The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area includes, ·· Birds that rely on the Mississippi River Flyway in the The stories of human life along the Mississippi River have of historical and cultural resources central to the American connects, and offers access to an exceptionally large number nationally significant resources and ·· Paleontology. national river and recreation area to provide nesting, unfolded over 12,000 years and are intimately connected to the narrative. These resources cover some 10,000 years of human of nationally and state-designated scenic, natural, and values of the Mississippi National resting, and feeding habitat. resources provided by the river. People of different cultures history, including stories and places associated with American recreational trails, byways, and corridors. have interacted with each other—sometimes cooperatively, Indians, European explorers and traders, and those who River and Recreation Area through ·· Scenic views that allow people to experience the sometimes in conflict—as a result of common relationships to settled and developed one of the river’s most important cooperative federal, state, and local distinctive landscapes of the national river and the river and its resources. urban areas. comprehensive planning, management, recreation area. and coordination. ·· Outdoor recreation opportunities and experiences that Economy connect visitors with the river and its natural places, its The Mississippi’s economic value is broad, and its influence cultural and historic sites, and its scenic vistas. extends far from its shoreline. This economic value includes hydropower, navigation, scenery, recreation, natural resources, ·· The presence of bluffs, caves, waterfalls, and fossil beds cultural resources, and municipal water supply. Economic that demonstrate the unique geologic character of the activity has shaped the river historically and continues to do so Mississippi River in the national river and recreation today. area. ·· Clean water that supports human use of the Mississippi Ecology River and vibrant ecosystems in the national river and The Mississippi River supports diverse ecosystems. Despite recreation area. running through a large urban area and being intensively managed, the river is a place with many natural areas that are a refuge and home for wildlife. Recreation and Scenery River recreation and scenery provide opportunities for all people to enjoy the national river and recreation area, experience its stories, and find their own connections to the river and its meanings.