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Field Assignment #1: Victorian Landscapes of the Twin Cities

The Mississippi River Gorge and Minnehaha Park

The Twin Cities contains several excellent examples of landscapes designed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Local custom is call this period Victorian although it is actually late Victorian and Edwardian. Students of literature have refereed to this period as the Gilded Age so as to differentiate it from a Golden Age. While that distinction may have some value the landscapes developed during this period are excellent pieces of art and have served subsequent generations very well. Minneapolis calls itself the City of Lakes, but during the early years its residents shunned the insect plagued marshes and preferred to live on the breeze caressed hills or downtown where the action was. In 1873 the great landscape architect W. H. S. Cleveland was brought to town and the city was fundamentally changed. Cleveland convinced the city leadership that they must plan for the future and create a landscape for leisure activity that would be uplifting and preserve the beauty of nature. The result was the park system which involved a great deal of mud slinging both political and natural. In addition to the lake shores Cleveland lead the movement to set a side the banks of the Mississippi river gorge and Minnehaha creek to be lineal parks connecting the major open spaces in the city. Needless to say he was not completely successful in his efforts but much of his original plan remains.

READING ASSIGNMENT:

St. Paul's Historic Summit Avenue By Earnest Sandeen Discovering the Landscape this publication was prepared for a different sort of field activity but you may find it useful. It is more focused on the physical geography of Minneahaha Park.

 

WRITING ASSIGNMENT:

while following this route is to analyze the present day use of the landscape. Take notes on each of the following and when you return to campus write a short description of the tastes or cultural values embodied in the landscape.

· How are people using the landscape today?

· What sorts of buildings and artifacts have been constructed in the parks?

· How well are the landscape elements maintained?

· Describe all the statues in the parks.

· What other monuments are located there?

· How as the landscape become specialized? That is do certain groups use particular parts of the landscape and exclude other people? What sorts of places are avoided?

· What kind of land uses both kind and quality border the open spaces?

· Describe the various ways the automobile has altered the character of these Victorian landscapes.

· What forms of water use are compatible with these landscapes?

· How important are the following concepts to the landscapes? Provide three examples of each. -entrance or gateway -color -pattern -texture -vista -complexity -simplicity -restful -display -human love/romance -competition -privacy

· Can you identify any special rules of human behavior in this landscape. Can you think of any way rules form behavior in this landscape may have evolved over the past century?

 

 

DIRECTIONS:

This trip may be done on foot, bicycle or in a car. Try to do it during a time when other people will be using the space. Take Summit Avenue west to its intersection with the River Road ( or take the Grand Avenue Bus to Cretin and Walk to the Summit-River Road intersection. View the monument and landscaping around it. This is also a good place to get a view of the River and the Lake/Marshall Street bridge. The large areas of sand along the river are dredge spoil piled up by the corps of engineers in their continuing effort to keep the barge channel open to traffic. Follow the road, or path south to the Ford Bridge. Make frequent stops to view the river and examine the way people use this space. Cross over the Ford Bridge, turn left, and enter Minnehaha Park. Once in the Park be sure to visit all important spots - the Falls, Statues, Dry Falls, Pavilion, House etc. Leave the park and the West River road ( Minneapolis side of river to the Lake Street-Marshall Avenue Bridge, Cross the Bridge and return to Summit on along East River Road ( the St. Paul side) Return to Macalester via Summit. This trip is about 8 miles.