Southwest Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Geology of Minnesota
Lake Harriet Region
The continental glaciers spreading over Minnesota during the great ice ages brought vast quantities of rock material from the north to be dumped indiscriminately during the recession of the ice. Old river valleys were filled and belts of hills were formed as conditions changed. The Lake Harriet landscape has such an origin.
Leaving the present channel of the Mississippi River at the Plymouth Avenue Bridge, a preglacial valley runs almost directly south beneath Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet to the Minnesota River at Bloomington. This valley was mostly filled but not completely obliterated by glacial deposits. The unfilled portions of the valley are now basins, which are filled by lakes perched high on the glacial debris. Lake Harriet lies directly over this ancient valley. Its surface 250 feet above the valleys rocky floor and is in a setting of hills piled up while the ice front paused here in its final retreat about 10,000 years ago.
and the Board of Park Commissioners, City of Minneapolis
Aided by a Grant from the
Louis W. and Maud Hill Family Foundation
1955
Erected 1955 by the Geological Society of Minnesota and the Board of Park Commissioners, City of Minneapolis; aided by a grant from the Louis W. and Maud Hill Family Foundation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features. In addition, it is included in the Minnesota: Geological Society of Minnesota series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1955.
Location. 44° 55.66′ N, 93° 18.521′ W. Marker is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in Hennepin County. It is in Southwest Minneapolis. Marker can be reached from the intersection of 42nd Street West and West Lake Harriet Parkway. Marker is southwest of the Lake Harriet bandstand. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Minneapolis MN 55409, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. First School House (within shouting distance of this marker); Harriet Bandshells / Our Park Legacy (within shouting distance of this marker); Como–Harriet Streetcar Line (within shouting distance of this marker); Harriet Bandshells (approx. 0.8 miles away); First Dwelling in Minneapolis (approx. 0.9 miles away); You Are Here… Lake Calhoun (approx. 1.4 miles away); In Memory of the Boys of Our Navy (approx. 1˝ miles away); Minnesota World War I Marine Corps Memorial (approx. 1˝ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minneapolis.
Also see . . . Glacial history of Minnesota. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on November 12, 2010.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,048 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 12, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.