Twin Cities

The Twin Cities along with several small nearby river towns were settled around the confluence of the Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers. The waterways were important transportation corridors that fueled economic growth.

For much of their history, the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis engaged in fierce rivalry, but today they have settled into a spirit of cooperation that makes them collectively a center for arts and entertainment, as well as home to a host of major and minor sports teams.

The area contains much more than just the two cities and visitors should plan to stay for an extended period, if they are intent in seeing most of what the area has to offer. Here are a few highlights:

Minneapolis

The city of Minneapolis sits primarily on the western side of the Mississippi River. A business-dominant downtown is at the heart of the city, but it is surrounded by many cultural and historic sites.

Primary among these are the Mill District, runs along the river adjacent to downtown and the Arts District, which is on the other side of the river along with the main campus of University of Minnesota.

Saint Paul

Saint Paul is the state capital, but is smaller than Minneapolis. The city also has a smaller business district and is known for its charming, tree-lined victorian neighborhood. Otherwise, it is also a center for arts and culture and it is a very walkable city.

Fort Snelling

Fort Snelling was among the first settlements in what is now Minnesota. Land for Fort Snelling was acquired by treaty with the Dakota in 1805 and the fort was completed in 1825. It was maintained and garrisoned initially as a frontier outpost. It continued as an active army installation and performed in a variety of roles until decommissioned in 1946.

Fort Snelling was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960. The site is managed and interpreted by the Minnesota Historical Society.

Stillwater

Sited on the banks of the St. Croix River, Stillwater was the first European settlement in Minnesota. The city was originally fueled by the lumber industry and later became the site of the first territorial prison. Today it prospers as a center of arts and entertainment, with a thriving food scene. Stillwater is a local, regional and even national tourist destination.

Hudson

The city of Hudson sits on the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix River, but is still a part of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. Like Stillwater, which is just a couple mile upstream, Hudson’s historic downtown is a tourist destination with a rich arts and food scene.

Hastings

Located at the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers, these important waterways fueled the city’s early growth. The city was formerly a mill town and important transportation hub. Today, this charming river town is tourist draw for the same reason as its neighbors upstream on the St. Croix.