Lake Harriet (Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Harriet |
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Aerial view of Lake Harriet, 2012
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 Lake Harriet
Location in Minneapolis–Saint Paul
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| Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 44°55′17″N 93°18′19″W / 44.92139°N 93.30528°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 335 acres (1.36 km2) |
| Max. depth | 85 feet (26 m) |
Lake Harriet is a beautiful lake located in the southwest part of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It sits just south of Bde Maka Ska and north of Minnehaha Creek. The lake is surrounded by green parkland, making it a key part of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes. Lake Harriet covers an area of about 335 acres (1.36 km2) and is quite deep, reaching a maximum depth of 85 feet (26 m).
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Discovering Lake Harriet's Past
Lake Harriet was named after Harriet Lovejoy. She lived with her husband, Colonel Henry Leavenworth, at Fort Snelling. They arrived in the area in 1819. Later, the land around the lake was owned by Colonel William S. King. He generously gave the land to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board in 1885. The local Dakota people had their own name for the lake: Bdé Umáŋ, which means "other lake."
The Lake Harriet Bandshell History
A public pavilion, or bandshell, has stood on the north side of Lake Harriet since 1888. The first one was built on land owned by Thomas Lowry. It was destroyed by fire in 1891.
After the fire, Minneapolis hired architect Harry Wild Jones to design a new bandshell. This second pavilion looked like a pagoda and overlooked the lake until 1903, when it also burned down.
A third pavilion, designed again by Jones, was built in 1904. It was in a classical style. Sadly, this building was destroyed in a strong windstorm on July 8, 1925. Two people who had taken shelter inside were killed.
After this loss, a small bandstand was put up as a temporary replacement. This temporary bandstand stayed until the current bandshell was built in 1986. The current bandshell was first painted blue. In 2004, a big effort was made to restore the buildings. Today, the bandshell and nearby buildings are a light brown color.
Fun Activities at Lake Harriet
Lake Harriet is a very popular spot for outdoor activities. You can go sailing on the lake or relax at one of its two beaches. There's also a great system of trails for biking and walking. The bike trail is about 2.99 miles (4.81 km) long, and the pedestrian trail is about 2.75 miles (4.43 km).
These trails are part of the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. They connect Lake Harriet to Bde Maka Ska to the north and to the Minnehaha Creek trail system on the southeast side.
The bandshell is a lively place in the summer. Many concerts are held there. The bandshell area also has a picnic spot and a seasonal outdoor restaurant called Bread & Pickle.
You can even ride a historic streetcar! A preserved section of the Como-Harriet Streetcar Line runs between Bde Maka Ska and the Lake Harriet bandshell area.
Interesting Features Around the Lake
Lake Harriet is directly in line with two main runways of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. This means you'll often see airplanes flying overhead.
On the walking path, near where Queen Avenue meets the lake's perimeter drive, there's a special "elf house." It's carved into the base of an ash tree. For many years, people could leave a letter for the elf and get a reply a few days later! In winter, the elf door closes, and a sign says the elf has "moved to his castle in the east." It reopens in the spring.
Other nice places near the lake include a picnic ground north of the bandshell, Lyndale Park, and the Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary. This bird sanctuary is on the northeast side of the lake. Lakewood Cemetery is also located between Bde Maka Ska and the north shore of Lake Harriet.
Just two blocks west of the lake is the Linden Hills shopping area. It's often called "a small town in the city" because of its unique feel.
You might have heard a story about a plane silhouette seen in the water on Google Earth. Most people now agree this was just a trick of the light. It was likely the shadow of a plane flying over, which looked like it was under the water due to how the photo was taken.
Fish Species in Lake Harriet
Lake Harriet is home to many kinds of fish. You can find black crappie, bluegill, golden shiner, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.
Sometimes, there are special guidelines for eating certain fish from the lake. This is because of very small amounts of substances like mercury and PFOS. These guidelines help keep people safe.
In 1998, a very large dead female lake sturgeon was found on the shore. It weighed 105 pounds (48 kg) and was 6.3 feet (1.9 m) long! People thought sturgeon no longer lived in the lake or the Minnehaha Creek area. Officials from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources thought it might have been released into the lake when it was young, many years ago. It's also possible this sturgeon was a descendant of fish that lived in the lake thousands of years ago, before Minnehaha Falls formed.
