Downtown East in Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Washburn A Mill

Inscription.

You are standing on what was the ground floor of the Washburn A Mill. This floor housed the equipment that linked the power of St. Anthony Falls to the machines that milled the flour. That huge hole in front of you is a turbine pit.

When this mill was built in 1879, the water of St. Anthony Falls powered all its equipment. (Later, steam engines shared the work.) Water from the falls flowed to the mill through a headrace canal before dropping down nearly 50 feet to turn underground turbines—huge horizontal wheels with blades that were rotated by rushing water.

When you look at the turbine pit, imagine a vertical shaft coming out of it. The shaft would have connected the turbine to the horizontal shafts and gears that once filled this ground floor. Those shafts and gears transferred the waterpower that spun the turbine to the seven floors of milling equipment above them.

"It was quite the sight when they'd start that water wheel," recalled miller Sheridan Granger. "You'd see that big shaft start to go and then the rope drive started going. That rope drive would drive eight floors of machinery, all from the water from the river. To me, it's still amazing."

Detail of cross section, C.C. Washburn's Flouring Mills Company, 1898, courtesy General Mills, Inc.

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turbine, from John Storck and Walter Dorwin Teague, Flour for Man's Bread, 1952

Erected by Minnesota Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.

Location. 44° 58.751′ N, 93° 15.422′ W. Marker is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in Hennepin County. It is in Downtown East. It can be reached from West River Parkway east of Portland Avenue, on the right when traveling east. The marker is at the Mill City Museum, in the courtyard formed by the ruins of the 1879 Washburn A Mill, which can be accessed for free from West River Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 704 S 2nd Street, Minneapolis MN 55401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Did You Notice a Plaque Outside This Entrance? (here, next to this marker); Washburn Mill "A" Memorial (a few steps from this marker); A Milling District Timeline (within shouting distance of this marker); The West Side Mills (within shouting distance of this marker); What is Urban Archaeology? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Beauty and Nature at the Falls (about 300 feet away); A Changing Landscape

The Washburn A Mill You Are Here Marker (right) within Mill City Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, August 4, 2023

2. The Washburn A Mill You Are Here Marker (right) within Mill City Museum

(about 400 feet away); Minneapolis Underground (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minneapolis.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 321 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 26, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.