Stone Arch Bridge

State: Minnesota. Type: former railroad, now pedestrian and bicycle bridge, at Saint Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis. Built 1882-1883 for James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway, at a cost of about $650,000 (roughly $22.5 million in modern dollars). Spans 2,100 feet with 21 stone arches plus one steel-deck truss span; the longest arch is 197.5 feet. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 as part of the Saint Anthony Falls Historic District, and designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1974. Converted to a pedestrian walkway in 1994 after rail service ended in 1978; maintained by the Minneapolis Park Board. Free to visit, generally accessible 6 a.m. to midnight.

The Stone Arch Bridge is a former railroad bridge spanning the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis, built between 1882 and 1883 for railroad magnate James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway. Engineer Charles C. Smith designed its 21 stone arches, plus a single steel-deck truss span, using granite from Sauk Rapids for the piers and magnesian limestone from Mankato and Iowa for the upper structure; the arched-stone design was chosen specifically to avoid the erosion risk an iron bridge would have posed to the falls. At 2,100 feet long and 28 feet wide, it remains, according to Wikipedia, the only stone-arch bridge on the entire Mississippi River. The bridge carried trains connecting the Great Northern Railway to a new Union Depot until rail service ended in 1978; it was converted into a pedestrian and bicycle walkway in 1994 and is now maintained by the Minneapolis Park Board. Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places since 1971 as part of the Saint Anthony Falls Historic District, and as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark since 1974, the bridge underwent stone and mortar repairs in 2024-2025 and remains one of the most recognizable structures on the Minneapolis riverfront, linking Father Hennepin Bluff Park on the east bank with West River Parkway.

The bridge crosses the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, linking Father Hennepin Bluff Park on the river's east bank with West River Parkway, within the Saint Anthony Falls Historic District.

Minneapolis has a continental climate with warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters; specific temperature figures were not pulled from the sources used for this entry. Because the bridge is an outdoor, exposed walkway, winter ice and wind can make crossing colder and potentially slippery, while summer offers the most comfortable conditions for a leisurely walk.

Spring through fall offers the most comfortable walking conditions and the best river views without ice or heavy wind chill. Sunset and evening visits are popular for skyline views of downtown Minneapolis from the bridge deck.

James J. Hill commissioned the bridge to connect his Great Northern Railway to a new Union Depot, and it was built over 22 months in 1882-1883 at a cost of about $650,000. Engineer Charles C. Smith's arched-stone design, using granite from Sauk Rapids and magnesian limestone from Mankato and Iowa, was chosen over an originally proposed iron bridge specifically to protect Saint Anthony Falls from the erosion an iron structure's piers might have caused. The bridge carried rail traffic until service ended in 1978. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 as part of the Saint Anthony Falls Historic District and named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1974. In 1994 it was converted into a pedestrian walkway, and the Minneapolis Park Board has maintained it since, with a stone-and-mortar repair project completed across 2024-2025.

Most visitors walk or bike across the bridge deck, stopping to take in views of Saint Anthony Falls, the Mississippi River, and the downtown Minneapolis skyline. Informational displays developed by the Saint Anthony Falls Heritage Board along the bridge explain its history and that of the falls and river. The bridge connects to Father Hennepin Bluff Park and Mill Ruins Park, including the newer Water Works park and pavilion (completed 2021), which hosts outdoor events, free drop-in activities and self-guided tours.

The bridge's 21 stone arches and single steel-deck truss span are the main attraction, alongside historical information panels covering the bridge, the river, and Saint Anthony Falls. Nearby, Mill Ruins Park and its Water Works pavilion, and Father Hennepin Bluff Park at the bridge's east end, extend a riverfront walk beyond the bridge itself.

The bridge sits in downtown Minneapolis and is reachable on foot or by bike from the Mississippi riverfront trail system, or by a short drive/rideshare into downtown followed by a walk to the riverfront. Parking is available nearby, according to Minneapolis Parks-adjacent visitor information.

As of research, the bridge is generally accessible from 6 a.m. to midnight and is free of charge; a nearby self-guided audio tour building is generally open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. when open. Confirm current access hours with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board before a very early or late visit.

The bridge is free to walk or bike across at any time within its open hours.

Crossing the bridge and pausing for photos typically takes 20 to 40 minutes; adding a walk through neighboring Mill Ruins Park, Water Works, or Father Hennepin Bluff Park can extend a visit to an hour or two.

Downtown Minneapolis, directly adjacent to the bridge's west end, has a wide range of hotels within walking distance, given the bridge's central riverfront location. Specific hotel names were not verified from the sources used for this entry.

The bridge is close to downtown Minneapolis and the Mill District/Saint Anthony Main areas, both of which have a range of restaurants and cafes within walking distance on either bank of the river. Specific current restaurant names were not verified from the sources used for this entry.

Mill Ruins Park and its Water Works pavilion sit just off the bridge's west end, and Father Hennepin Bluff Park anchors the east end. Saint Anthony Falls itself, the reason the bridge exists in its stone-arch form, is visible directly from the span. The wider Mississippi riverfront trail system connects onward toward other downtown Minneapolis attractions.

The bridge is within downtown Minneapolis, reachable by Metro Transit bus routes serving the downtown riverfront, by bike via the Mississippi riverfront trail system, or by a short walk from downtown parking and hotels. Specific bus route numbers were not confirmed in the sources used for this entry.

The bridge deck can be slippery in wet or icy weather, so use caution, especially in winter. Watch for cyclists if walking, and pedestrians if cycling, since the path is shared. For any emergency, dial 911.

Comfortable walking or biking shoes, a camera or phone for skyline and river photos, and weather-appropriate layers, since the bridge is fully exposed to wind and sun with no shade cover, are all worth bringing.

Visiting near sunset offers some of the best light for downtown skyline photos from the bridge deck. Combining a bridge crossing with a walk through Mill Ruins Park, Water Works, or Father Hennepin Bluff Park makes for a fuller riverfront outing. Because the bridge recently underwent stone and mortar repair work in 2024-2025, check for any residual construction notices before a visit.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For questions about the bridge or its recent repairs, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is the relevant contact through its official website; a specific dedicated phone line was not confirmed in the sources used for this entry.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board - https://www.minneapolisparks.org

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.