Fridley in Anoka County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Banfill-Locke Tavern ⎯⎯⎯ Manomin County Park
Photographed by McGhiever
1. Banfill-Locke Tavern marker
Inscription.
Banfill-Locke Tavern, also, Manomin County Park. . , [obverse] , The Banfill-Locke Tavern stands at the confluence of Rice Creek and the Mississippi River. This two story, Greek Revival style building was built in 1847. John Banfill, a retired Colonel and the state's first Auditor, used it as an inn for area loggers and fur traders traveling along the Red River Trail. The building also served as a general store and later as the Post Office for the town of Manomin., In 1876 the Tavern was purchased by Laura M. Locke and William Brown. The building was used as their home and the surrounding area for their dairy operation. In 1912 Laura sold the home to her brother Cassius M. Locke, who continued the dairy operation and used it as his summer home., In 1967 Anoka County purchased the home and surrounding property for park purposes, and in 1977 the home was included in the National Register of Historic Places., [reverse] , This area of Rice Creek and the Mississippi River was formed by the Superior and Grantsburg glaciers approximately 10,000 years ago. A glacial lake formed most of the Rice Creek Watershed, and also the Mississippi River from St. Cloud to Minneapolis., Many Native American cultures made much of the upper Mississippi River their homeland, calling this area 'Manomin', a Chippewa name for wild rice. A few Native American artifacts have been found, and areas within the park have received preservation status. Upon the arrival of European settlers, the travelers of the Red River Trail made camp here. John Banfill owned the tavern along with a flour milling operation. The land was also used for a dairy farm and later as a camp for the Boy Scouts. Anoka County purchased the land for park purposes in 1967., In 1995 Anoka County received a matching grant from the Department of Natural Resources for redevelopment of Manomin County Park. A gazebo style picnic pavilion, period lighting, bench seating, paved and limestone trails, and other amenities have been added to the park., The picnic pavilion can be rented by calling the Anoka County Parks and Recreation Office at 757-3920.,
ENJOY YOUR PARK!.
[obverse]
The Banfill-Locke Tavern stands at the confluence of Rice Creek and the Mississippi River. This two story, Greek Revival style building was built in 1847. John Banfill, a retired Colonel and the state's first Auditor, used it as an inn for area loggers and fur traders traveling along the Red River Trail. The building also served as a general store and later as the Post Office for the town of Manomin.
In 1876 the Tavern was purchased by Laura M. Locke and William Brown. The building was used as their home and the surrounding area for their dairy operation. In 1912 Laura sold the home to her brother Cassius M. Locke, who continued the dairy operation and used it as his summer home.
In 1967 Anoka County purchased the home and surrounding property for park purposes, and in 1977 the home was included in the National Register of Historic Places.
[reverse]
This area of Rice Creek and the Mississippi River was formed by the Superior and Grantsburg glaciers approximately 10,000 years ago. A glacial lake formed most of the Rice Creek Watershed, and also the Mississippi River from St. Cloud to Minneapolis.
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Native American cultures made much of the upper Mississippi River their homeland, calling this area 'Manomin', a Chippewa name for wild rice. A few Native American artifacts have been found, and areas within the park have received preservation status. Upon the arrival of European settlers, the travelers of the Red River Trail made camp here. John Banfill owned the tavern along with a flour milling operation. The land was also used for a dairy farm and later as a camp for the Boy Scouts. Anoka County purchased the land for park purposes in 1967.
In 1995 Anoka County received a matching grant from the Department of Natural Resources for redevelopment of Manomin County Park. A gazebo style picnic pavilion, period lighting, bench seating, paved and limestone trails, and other amenities have been added to the park.
The picnic pavilion can be rented by calling the Anoka County Parks & Recreation Office at 757-3920.
93° 16.629′ W. Marker is in Fridley, Minnesota, in Anoka County. It can be reached from the intersection of E. River Road and Rice Creek Way NE, on the left when traveling north. The marker is in Manomin County Park, on the north side of the parking lot behind the Banfill-Locke Tavern. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6666 E River Road, Minneapolis MN 55432, 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 Ruperts Land and also the territory of the Mississippian Culture.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 132 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 20, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
