Mill District, Minneapolis facts for kids
The Mill District is a cool neighborhood in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It used to be a big factory area, but now it's been updated and is part of the larger Downtown East area.
This district is famous for its old flour mills. Long ago, Minneapolis was known as the flour milling capital of the world! Most of these mills aren't used for making flour anymore. Instead, many have been turned into modern apartments called condominiums. This has made the neighborhood lively and popular again.
The Mill District is located next to the Mississippi River on its north side. The I-35W Mississippi River bridge is to the east, Washington Avenue is to the south, and 5th Avenue is to the west. You can walk or bike across the Stone Arch Bridge to get to the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood on the other side of the river.
This area is also home to several fun places. You can visit the Guthrie Theater, the Mill City Museum, and the MacPhail Center for Music. There are also two parks: Mill Ruins Park and the newer Gold Medal Park.
How the Mill District Started
The Mill District has a really interesting past! It all began in the early 1800s when factories started to appear along the Mississippi River. These factories were built near Saint Anthony Falls. The powerful water from the falls was perfect for running the machines in the mills.
This natural power, along with new technology, quickly made Minneapolis a major center for milling. Soon, the riverfront was full of flour mills. Big companies like General Mills and Pillsbury had their start here. At its busiest, the Mill District in Minneapolis made more flour than anywhere else in the world!
These mills were part of a huge flour milling industry connected to Saint Anthony Falls. They stretched from the current Mill District all the way to Nicollet Island on the other side of the Mississippi River. The mills did very well from the late 1800s until the 1930s.
Changes Over Time
Things started to change for the Mill District in the late 1930s. Factories began to use fossil fuels (like oil and gas) instead of water power. This meant that the mills in Minneapolis weren't as important anymore. By the 1960s, most of the big flour mills on the west side of the river had stopped working. Many were torn down or left empty.
The train tracks that used to bring grain to the mills were removed. They were replaced with parking lots for the nearby Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
The Mill District Today
In 1998, the city of Minneapolis created a plan to improve the riverfront area. This plan encouraged developers to fix up the old buildings. They turned historic buildings into new homes and offices. This brought many people and businesses back to the neighborhood, which had been very quiet before.
Today, the Mill District is a lively historical and cultural spot in Minneapolis. Many of the original flour mills have been saved and turned into beautiful loft apartments and office spaces.
The strong ruins of the Washburn "A" Mill are a great example. This mill was once the biggest in the world! Now, it's the main part of the Mill City Museum. This museum opened in 2003 and is a National Historic Landmark. It has exhibits, old tools, a viewing deck, and a cafe.
The old Milwaukee Road Depot, which was a train station, has also been updated. It now has a popular ice rink in the old train shed. In 2006, the famous Guthrie Theater moved to the Mill District. The MacPhail Center for Music also opened its new campus here in 2007.
You can also find the Mill City Farmers Market in the district. This market sells organic food and started in 2006. In the same year, the Day Block Building was also renovated.
