Inscription
In May, 1822, a Fort Snelling drummer boy named Joseph R. Brown and his friend, William Snelling, son of the fort's commander, canoed up what is now called Minnehaha Creek to "discover" a lake long sacred to the Indian people who built burial mounds along its shores. Thirty years later, the 23-square-mile natural lake with 110 miles of indented shoreline was named "Minnetonka" — Dakota for "Great Piece of Water" — by Governor Alexander Ramsey.
By the early 1880s Lake Minnetonka had become a favorite summer resort for the rich and famous of the United States and Europe, including Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Chester A. Arthur. The 300-foot "Belle of Minnetonka" and other excursion boats nearly as large carried thousands of visitors enjoying holidays at comfortable summer homes or elegant hotels like the Chapman House here on Cook's Bay and the prestigious Hotel Lafayette on Crystal Bay.
With the arrival of the automobile, the great hotel era faded and the summer cottages evolved into permanent homes. Lake Minnetonka is still known for its beauty and its many recreational opportunities.
[seal of The Minnesota Historical Society]
Erected by the Minnesota Historical Society
and the Westonka Historical Society - 1985
By the early 1880s Lake Minnetonka had become a favorite summer resort for the rich and famous of the United States and Europe, including Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Chester A. Arthur. The 300-foot "Belle of Minnetonka" and other excursion boats nearly as large carried thousands of visitors enjoying holidays at comfortable summer homes or elegant hotels like the Chapman House here on Cook's Bay and the prestigious Hotel Lafayette on Crystal Bay.
With the arrival of the automobile, the great hotel era faded and the summer cottages evolved into permanent homes. Lake Minnetonka is still known for its beauty and its many recreational opportunities.
Erected by the Minnesota Historical Society
and the Westonka Historical Society - 1985
Details
| HM Number | HM148Y |
|---|---|
| Tags | |
| Year Placed | 1985 |
| Placed By | The Minnesota Historical Society and the Westonka Historical Society |
| Marker Condition |  0 out of 10 (1 reports) |
| Date Added | Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014 at 8:44am PDT -07:00 |
Pictures
Photo Credits: [1] WESTONKA AGENT [2] WESTONKA AGENT
Locationbig map
| UTM (WGS84 Datum) | 15T E 447059 N 4975232 |
|---|---|
| Decimal Degrees | 44.92855000, -93.67086667 |
| Degrees and Decimal Minutes | N 44° 55.713', W 93° 40.252' |
| Degrees, Minutes and Seconds | 44° 55' 42.78" N, 93° 40' 15.12" W |
| Driving Directions | Google Maps |
| Area Code(s) | 952, 612, 763 |
| Closest Postal Address | At or near 5801 Bartlett Blvd, Mound MN 55364, US |
| Alternative Maps | Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap |
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In May, 1822, a Fort Snelling drummer boy named Joseph R. Brown and his friend, William Snelling, son of the fort's commander, canoed up what is now called Minnehaha Creek to "discover" a lake long sacred to the Indian people who built burial mounds along its shores.
May 22, 2017 at 1:27pm PDT by westonkaagent
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