Minneapolis, Minnesota
Before white men discovered St. Anthony Falls , Dakota Native Americans settled at this holy place along the Mississippi River. In 1680, Father Hennepin, while a Dakota captve, was the first white man to see the Falls. When the city was incorporated in 1852, it was given the name Minnehapolis after the Dakota name "Minnehaha" or "laughing waters" and the Greek work "Polis" or "city (the "h" was later dropped from the name.) The Mississippi River was the first mode of transportation of lumber, wheat and people to the city. The first tracks of what would become the Great Northern Railway (the line Amtrak's Empire Builder travels on) came to Minneapolis in 1862. At its peak, twenty railroads served Minneapolis that reached all parts of the United States and Canada. Today, Minneapolis has a diverse industrial and service base. Although seasoned companies such as General Mills, Cargill and Munsingwear are still headquartered in Minneapolis, companies such as Medtronic, Best Buy and Target has brought modern retailing and technology to the country.
Please see Minneapolis, Minnesota: Five Tips to Enjoy a Twin Cities Stopover on Amtrak's Empire Builder for more detailed information.
Minneapolis Hotels
The Minnepolis area has hundreds of quality hotels to serve the traveller. Our favorites include:
The Depot Minneapolis, A Renaissance Hotel
225 South 3rd Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55401
The Depot Minneapolis hotel is located in the historic Milwaukee Road Depot. Built in 1899, the depot served passengers travelling across the country for over 70 years. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. Besides comfortable rooms, the Depot Minneapolis' amenties include an indoor water park and a seasonal ice rink.
Book here for the Depot Minneapolis hotel