Typically you’ll find an iconic Minneapolis landmark open to visitors just once a year, the famous Witch’s Hat Water Tower.  Built in 1913, one of only a few water towers of it’s kind left in the area.  The tower opens to visitors just once a year, the Friday evening after Memorial day.  This year that falls on May 31st.  The tower will be open from 5:30-8:30, coinciding with the Pratt Ice Cream Social.

Photo credit: John Cushing

The Witch’s Hat Water TOWER

The “Witch’s Hat” water tower is in Prospect Park, (known as Tower Hill park), the highest natural land area in the city of Minneapolis. Along with the Kenwood and Washburn water towers in Minneapolis, the Prospect Park water tower is one of the few original water towers standing today in the Twin Cities area.

The 110-foot Prospect Park Water Tower was built in 1913 with a holding capacity of 150,000 gallons. It was also built to be a bandstand; however, there was only one concert in the band shell because the musicians experienced difficulty in carrying their instruments up the inside spiral staircase. Today it houses city first-responder telecommunications equipment in the roof.

Yesterday we mentioned the upcoming events happening at Fort Snelling.  Memorial Day Weekend at The Landing is another event and place that let’s you step back in time and is great for the whole family.

Meet Civil War veterans and learn how Memorial Day began in 1868 as “Decoration Day” to honor Union soldiers who died. A formal “Decoration Day” ceremony with brass band is held on Monday at 2 PM. Enter at the west entrance. Drop-ins welcome or you can purchase in advance here.  Tractor-drawn wagons provide transportation through the park

Fees
$8 ages 18-64
$5 ages 2-17 and 65+
Children under 2 free.

Children 17 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

You can find additional information about “The Landing” here on the Three Rivers Park website.

One of our favorite events takes place next weekend.  Memorial Day Weekend at Historic Fort Snelling takes place over the course of three days so plenty of opportunity to attend.  We enjoy it because it’s history, education, as well as learning.  A place to bring the kids and have their learning disguised as fun.

* Admission for kids age 4 and under, Native Americans, Blue Star Families as well as Veterans and MNHS members are free. Other admission prices are $12 adults, $10 seniors, college students, $6 ages 5-17.  More information can be found here on their website. 

Learn about Native American history and the fort’s role in US expansion. Explore stories of African Americans at Fort Snelling, like the 25th Infantry soldiers in the 1880s and Dred and Harriet Scott, whose struggle to gain freedom from slavery helped ignite the Civil War.

Watch demonstrations like cannon firings, hearth cooking, blacksmithing, and more. Join in historic games on the parade grounds, and kids can try out the “History Hunt” and earn a small prize.

On Monday, don’t miss a special “living timeline” of America’s military past on the fort’s parade ground, with costumed interpretive staff and reenactors sharing the history of Americans serving in armed conflicts.