Excelsior in Hennepin County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Your Are Here

— Excelsior —

Photographed by McGhiever, April 14, 2023

1. Your Are Here Marker

Inscription.

The main docks of Excelsior, now called the Port of Excelsior, has seen thousands of passengers board steam ships and streetcar boats for tours of the lake or destinations such as Wayzata. It has been the "Main Dock" since 1854 and once the center of lakeside activity.

This building was located about 70 feet east of where it is today during the early 1900s. (In the center of photo #2.) At that time it was used for boat rentals. It was located near the Blue Line Cafe, ② built in 1890 and moved in 1904. An amusement building, referred to as a casino, ① was located where you are standing. That building had six bowling alleys on the lower level, and on the second level was a roller skating rink and dance hall. It was torn down in 1922. The Blue Line Cafe remained in business at it's [sic] location until March of 1958.

Where Haskell's and Dunn Brothers are located, there was a large hill. On top of the hill was a hotel called the White House. ③ Once called the Jenkins House, it was built in 1866. Directly across the street to the west and up a [sic] another large hill was the Excelsior Bay Hotel, ④ built as the LaPaul House in 1896.

Photos courtesy of the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society

Erected 2017 by City of Excelsior Park and Recreation Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.

Location. 44° 54.275′ N, 93° 33.907′ W. Marker is in Excelsior, Minnesota, in Hennepin County. It is at the intersection of Water Street and Lake Street on Water Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Water Street, Excelsior MN 55331, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan

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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: The Minnehaha - Then & Now (here, next to this marker); A History of Excelsior (here, next to this marker); Big Island History (here, next to this marker); The Excelsior Commons (here, next to this marker); Port of Excelsior (here, next to this marker); Excelsior - Who We Are (here, next to this marker); The Excelsior Amusement Park (here, next to this marker); The History of Lake Minnetonka (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Excelsior.

Your Are Here Marker (left) on the kiosk at the Port of Excelsior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, April 14, 2023

2. Your Are Here Marker (left) on the kiosk at the Port of Excelsior

Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2024, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 5, 2024, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.