Stillwater, Minnesota

You might be wondering why I am spending this 4th of July holiday writing my blog rather than grilling at one of Minnesota's many lakes. Well, temperatures have been in the upper 80s/90s since last week. It is not even noon in Minneapolis, and it is already 90 degrees with humidity. It is supposed to reach almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit today, so I am trying to find the coolest possible place to spend my day off.

Longing to get out of the big city last weekend, David and I decided to take a trip to the town of Stillwater. Stillwater is located about 25 miles east of Minneapolis, on the banks of the St. Croix River, which creates a natural boundary between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Stillwater is a popular tourist destination in Minnesota, with its historical brick buildings in the downtown, a lift bridge across the St. Croix, steamships, trolleys, antique shops, and interesting restaurants and bed and breakfasts. Visiting Stillwater is like traveling back in time to the days when settlers were moving westward to the Mississippi River, and it was certainly a great way to escape the hot city on the weekend.

 

Stillwater's current population is about 18,225. The town was founded in the early 1840s when the U.S. government signed a treaty with the Ojibwa and Dakota Native American tribes, which allowed white settlers to come to this region. Stillwater's moniker is "The Birthplace of Minnesota," as it was the location of a territorial convention which began establishing Minnesota as a state in 1848.

 

                                                   Stillwater in the 1860s

One of the main draws to the St. Croix River Valley was the lumber industry. Visiting Stillwater and seeing the River Valley reminded me of my hometown, Titusville, Pennsylvania, which is also located in a river valley. Titusville was also founded around the same time as Stillwater, and Oil Creek (Titusville's waterway) was used to transport lumber and oil barrels.

                          Brewery located in caves along the St. Croix River

                                               Canoe on top of a car:
                 one of the most common summertime scenes in Minnesota

           Old Farm Store with mill (probably a lumber mill) in background

                                Downtown Stillwater with old brick stores

                                  Route to Wisconsin (just across the river)

                               Freight House: now serves as a restaurant

               Stillwater's famous lift bridge: David cannot wait to cross it!

            Stillwater's flooded riverfront: before this unbearable heatwave,
                                                there were heavy rains.

                                                       I'm in Wisconsin!

                              Old-fashioned ice cream parlor with diner

                St. Croix riverboat fleet: next time we will take a boat ride.

                                      Flooded riverfront with lift bridge