The Belle of Minnetonka - 300 feet long: The Belle was originally the Phil Sheridan in service on the Ohio River. It was rebuilt, renamed and launched on Lake Minnetonka during the summer of 1882. The Belle had a capacity of 2,500 people, . . . — — Map (db m260642) HM
Photo of Amusement Park on Big Island - 1906–1911
1800-1852– the Island was inhabited by the Dakota Indians. In 1822, two young boys paddled up Minnehaha Creek and discovered Lake Minnetonka. It wasn't until 1852, that . . . — — Map (db m260188) HM
Water Street Looking South from Where You Are Right Now.
Water Street: Main Street in Excelsior was named Water Street because often during the 1800s, a small stream ran along side it from Galpin Lake, then much . . . — — Map (db m257281) HM
Aerial View of the park in 1940 – Entrance photo taken in 1959
The Excelsior Amusement Park was built partially on what had been private land belonging to James I. Wyer. So where previously, there had been a lawn, tennis . . . — — Map (db m260433) HM
The Commons Beach and Bathhouse 1902.
An 1880s view of the Excelsior Commons Bath House Reef Point.
1875-The Main Docks in Excelsior looking towards the north point of the Commons
The Excelsior Commons and the . . . — — Map (db m260472) HM
Like most lakes in Minnesota, Lake Minnetonka was formed during the Ice Age of the last two million years. During several separate glacial periods, ice advanced along different routes across the state. The glaciers, along with large volumes of . . . — — Map (db m59925) HM
This photo is of Water Street in 1864 looking towards the lake.
1851: The Excelsior area was a longtime hunting and fishing grounds for the Dakota people. In 1851 the area was opened for settlement following the . . . — — Map (db m257096) HM
Looking out onto Excelsior Bay from the Main Docks around 1900
25,000 years ago, huge blocks of ice were left here and eventually were covered with sediment deposits. 15,000 years later, as the glaciers retreated, these . . . — — Map (db m260690) HM
Army • Navy • Air Force
Marines • Coast Guard • Merchant Marines
World War I
Grant Lorenz US Army
Donald Gray US Army
Blanchard West US Army
Mervin Grover US Army
Guy R. Forbes US Army
J. Jay Vietz US Army
John W. . . . — — Map (db m63784) WM
[Caption:] Map Circa 1856
For centuries prior to the arrival of European settlers, the Dakota were among the sole human inhabitants of the Lake Minnetonka area.
The name "Minnetonka" is taken from the Dakota word for "Big . . . — — Map (db m260225) HM
[Captions:] 1908
2014
Streetcar Boats: The Twin Cities Rapid Transit (TCRT) Company extended their streetcar lines to Excelsior in 1905 and launched six 70-foot steamboats on Lake Minnetonka in 1906 to provide transportation . . . — — Map (db m260540) HM
If this little building could talk, it might tell some delightful tales of Excelsior's long history as the main gateway to recreational activities on beautiful Lake Minnetonka.
Built around 1920 by A. C. Weinholz, the building stood . . . — — Map (db m260596) HM
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 . . . — — Map (db m256094) HM
