Welcome to the North Plateau Family Play Area!

Welcome to the North Plateau Family Play Area!. . , An historic playground lives on! This playground opened in 2014 and incorporates the spirit of the historic playground located here for many decades. The new 'retro' playground features free standing play elements instead of connected play structures. The playground also includes animals inspired by the Minnehaha Zoo and Longfellow Gardens once located in Minnehaha Park., The zoo began in the area called the "deer pen", the ancient river valley east of the playground (⑫ on map). It was later operated privately as the Longfellow Gardens near the creek bend west of Hwy 55(①); new formal gardens are now relocated on top of Hwy 55 (② approx.), Which piece of the playground is preserved from the past? The historic playground contained swings and a merry-go-round from 1906, among the first "play apparatus" installed in the park system. The play area was later expanded with a "horizontal ladder", (free standing) slide and round climber. Most of the pieces were no longer safe and have been replaced with modern versions. The round "monkey bar" climber, estimated from the 1950s, is the only original piece preserved., 1906 Riverside Park photo shows the same swings.,

"My telephone rang frequently [in the spring of 1906] with calls from people who demanded that the apparatus be removed, and some wanted to know if I would mind establishing a playground in my own front yard." –from Minneapolis Park System: 1889-1944 by Theodore Wirth

, 1889: Minnehaha Park established , 1894: Minnehaha Zoo opens , 1907: Minnehaha Zoo closes; most animals move to Longfellow Gardens zoo , 1923: Deer Pen and Bear Pit close , 1934: Longfellow Gardens closes, The First Zoo in Minnehaha Park The original zoo started in 1894 with three deer and grew to include native and exotic animals. The collection eventually included a moose, elk, an antelope, bison, bears, monkeys, a mountain lion, wolves, foxes, badgers, raccoons, guinea pigs, birds, an alligator, and sea lions., Housing and feeding this menagerie, especially in winter, was difficult to fund. In addition, early park leaders felt the animals detracted from the natural beauty of the park, which should be its focus. In 1906, Wirth recommended that the zoo be removed from the park, stating "the zoo was…disgraceful, inhuman, unsanitary exhibit, of which the city should be ashamed.",

"It is possible that as many people go to Minnehaha Park to see the interesting animal collection as to view the historic falls." , –1901 annual report

, "Psyche" the bear in 1889, when live bears lived at the zoo., The Zoo Moves Most of the animals were transferred to Robert Fish Jones in 1907 to be exhibited in his private zoo, Longfellow Gardens, located west of Minnehaha Falls. Bears, deer and elk remained in the park; a bison was added in 1908. In 1923 the animals were sold to make way for picnic grounds; a toboggan slide was later added., Cartoon from the Minneapolis Tribune of February 7, 1906 caricaturing the Superintendent's recommendation that the zoo be removed from Minnehaha Park., Longfellow Gardens Residents included a lion named Hiawatha and sea lions which roamed around the gardens. Jones was a colorful character and shrewd showman. He was a fan of the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and built the replica Longfellow House and statue still located in the park (relocated east and west respectively of Hwy 55)., Robert Fish Jones ran a private zoo with gardens and amusements., Key to Historical Features. , ① Longfellow Gardens (1906-1934) , Longfellow House, Administrative Building, Miniature Railroad, Tiger Fountain, Pavilion, Zoo House Arena, Lagoon and Rustic Bridges, Longfellow Statue, Native American Statuettes , Current garden developed 2003, ② Pony Ring (ca. 1900-1950), ③ First Refectory (1904-1905) , Colonial style refectory, destroyed by fire , Minnehaha Falls, ④ Refectory–food/restrooms (current), ⑤ Historic Bandstand (removed), ⑥ Picnic Pavilion (1899-1958) , Replaced a small structure built in 1892, ⑦ Police Building (1890-1958), ⑧ Women's and Men's Toilet Buildings (1890-1958, removed), ⑨ Bear Pit (1899-1923) , Part of the Minnehaha Park Zoo, ⑩ Old Farmstead (pre-1896), ⑪ North Plateau Playground (1906-present), ⑫ Deer Pen/Park Zoo (1894-1923) , Ski Jump and Toboggan Run (1926-1950s) , Ancient Waterfalls (landform visible), ⑬ Auto Tourist Camp (1921-1955) , Log Lodge, Tourist Cabins, Camp Laundry, Tent Sites , Wabun Picnic Area (1957-present) , Current picnic area developed 2007-2014, ⑭ Road along River Bluff (existing trail) , Lock Master's house and garage, ⑮ Princess Depot and Railway Tracks (1875-present), ⑯ Current location of John Stevens House, ⑰ Park Caretaker's House (1890-1958), ⑱ First park location of John Stevens House (1896-1982) , Pulled to this site by 10,000 schoolchildren, ⑲ Ard Godfrey Mill (1854-ca. 1890), ⑳ Stone Crushing Plant (1937-1958) , Quarried rock provided much of the W.P.A. improvements along the river, ㉑ Boat Landing (ca. 1840-ca.1890), Solid white roads are pre-1960s; white outline roads are pre-1990. For a navigational map showing current park features, see the other side of this sign.