Minnehaha Park is one of the oldest parks in Minneapolis

Minnehaha Park is located at the intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and Minnehaha Parkway in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The park is one of the oldest and most popular parks in Minneapolis that overlooks the Mississippi River and has over 850,000 visitors each year. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a unit of the National Park Service.

The park is 193 acre park, which features a 53 foot natural waterfall, limestone bluffs and river overlooks. The flora in the park include trees such as oak, elm, silver maple, basswood, hackberry and cottonwood along with native and prairie woodland wildflowers. The park is divided into two areas, the upper section is kept maintained like other city parks and the lower section is kept in a natural state, the park is a popular location for weddings.

Visitors are able to take advantage of a wide range of activities during the summer months. These activities include concerts, walks, viewing the falls and picnics. The park is also a popular site for weddings. During autumn a walk along the lower trails will reveal the amazing colors of the leaves changing.

Recent renovations at the Wabun picnic area included a new wading pool, disc golf course, new picnic shelters, restroom building, volleyball court and a bike/walking trails. Wheel Fun Rental is able to provide bikes for rent to visitors of the park for a small fee. Other improvements to the park have included landscaping of Longfellow Garden, a pergola and path near Stevens House, reconstruction with new paths and parking at Godfrey Parkway and to the refectory and falls area.

Areas of the park are available are able to be reserved for special events such as the picnic areas in the Wabun area. Pets are welcome at the park they are asked to be kept on a lead apart from in an off-leash dog park located at the south end of the park.

The facilities and features of the park include picnic shelter, which can seat 50, an outdoor area that can seat 150, 13 outdoor grills, parking lots, pathways, horseshoe pits, 1 reserve able pavilion, which can seat 300 and 1 reserve able unsheltered area, which can seat 80.

Historic structures located within the park include the Home of John H. Stevens, which was built in 1850 near St. Anthony Falls and moved to Minnehaha Park in 1896. Minnehaha Depot is a small train station that was known as `the Princess Depot' and was built in 1875. The station's title was transferred to Minnesota Historical Society and restoration of the building was assisted by the Minnesota Transportation Museum. Statues located in the park include John H. Stevens, Gunnar Wnnerberg, Hiawatha and Minnehaha and the Minnesota Veterans home is located at the park.

Minnehaha Creek is located in Hennepin County and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. The creek is an attraction to visitors due to the 53 foot falls that are located near the creek's confluence with the Mississippi. Minnehaha is often min-translated as `Laughing Water'; the correct translation from Dakota language is 'curling water' or `waterfall'.