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Cedar Lake Park Association

Cedar Lake Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cedar Lake Park Prairie Trail

Historic Photos

The photos in this section show Cedar Lake and surrounding land from around 1850 to 1950. Click on images at right to see larger views with annotations.

For more information about the human history of this area, see Neil Trembley’s articles in the CLP Master Plan (pages 23-27) and in the Cedar Lake Park Association newsletters.

Loading Ice. Men loading ice cut from Cedar Lake. Note Kenwood station and Hotel Kenwood in background.
Brownie Lake. Looking southeast to Brownie Lake with the old Cedar Lake Bridge (torn down in1918) and Cedar Lake in the background. (c. 1890)
Burnham Bridge. The old Burnham Bridge, looking southeast from Dingley Dock. (c. 1890)
Bluff and Prairie. Looking west: Bryn Mawr Bluff, railroad tracks (where Cedar Lake Trail and prairie are now). Note Cedar Lake in background. (c. 1900) Photo: Wallof
Oak Grove Hotel. Oak Grove Hotel with proprietors Mr. and Mrs. Scott. The Jones Harrison Residence now occupies this site on the southwest corner of Cedar Lake. (c. 1870) Photo: Minnesota Historical Society
Lake and Ice House. Northeast edge of Cedar Lake and Cedar Lake Ice House. Sliver of land to right (now Hidden Beach) leads out to Dingley’s Boathouse. (c. 1900) Photo: Wallof
Kenwood Station. Kenwood Station, 21st and Upton. (c. 1890) Photo: Wallof
Hotel Kenwood. The Hotel Kenwood, built in 1896 at 21st and Sheridan and torn down in 1928. Home to railroad workers and immigrants. (c. 1900) Photo: Wallof
Hidden Beach. Looking west from Kenwood: Dingley’s boathouse (where Hidden Beach is now). (c. ????)
Tracks and Ice House. Looking east into downtown: tracks (where Cedar Lake Trail is now), houses on the Kenwood Bluff, and the Cedar Lake Ice House on the right. (c. 1900)
Dingley’s Boathouse. Dingley’s Boathouse, with the old Burnham Bridge in background at right. Note land much more filled in. (c. 1900) Photo: Wallof
Dingley Dock. Dingley Dock on the east bay of Cedar Lake. Long ago, mounds of rubbish replaced the dock. (c.1890)
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