National Parks:
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area

Saint Paul, Minnesota -- In recognition of the national significance of the Mississippi River, Congress established the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area in 1988. With Minneapolis and St. Paul at its center, this 72-mile stretch of the river encompasses a variety of public places administered by state or local agencies and organizations. Together these sites interpret the natural, cultural, and economic history of the river corridor while offering a variety of recreational opportunities ranging from boating and fishing to hiking and birdwatching.

DID YOU KNOW

• The National Park Service owns only about 35-acres - mostly islands - of the 54,000-acres of public and private lands that make up the park.
• River ecologists consider this stretch of the Mississippi one of the last, best big river refuges for native mussels, including the federally endangered Higgins eye (Lampsilis higginisi).

DON'T MISS ATTRACTIONS

• The Mississippi River carves its way through the Twin Cities providing an escape from the everyday routine. You can follow many trails alongside of, or connecting to this great river, passing sandy shores and wooded bluffs, or fully loaded barges and paddleboats traveling through the locks.
• Explore Fort Snelling State Park, Historic Fort Snelling and other parks at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, a place sacred to Dakota people and an early outpost during European exploration and settlement.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PRIORITIES

On August 9, the Director of the National Park Service cut the ribbon on the park's first visitor center. The Mississippi River Visitor Center, located in the Science Museum of Minnesota in downtown St. Paul, represents an extraordinary public/private partnership. Rather than building an independent, freestanding visitor center, the NPS teamed up with the Science Museum of Minnesota. The partnership resulted in a more economical way for the NPS to interpret life on the Mississippi. The Science Museum's Mississippi River Gallery and outdoor science park available to the 800,000 visitors each year is an ideal location for the visitor facility.

A life-sized sculpted blue heron taking flight and a real river buoy greet visitors at the Visitor Center's entrance. On what may be the world's largest welcome mat, a floor mounted composite aerial photograph some 40 feet long shows the 54,000-acre park. With maps, virtual tours, updates on leisure activity areas and staffed by National Park Rangers, the Visitor Center features interactive displays and informative exhibits illustrating the river's history, its peoples, and its music, art and literature. The Visitor Center serves as a gateway to learn about stories such as Reverend Robert Hickman bringing his people north to freedom on an heroic journey up the Mississippi. Another exhibit shows how good stewardship (cleaning up the river) is bringing new signs of life to the Mississippi such as the coming of the mayflies and the return of the native mussels, both positive signs in progress toward restoring the river's health. Visitors also find the latest information and merchandise relating to the 16 partner sites within the 72-mile river corridor stretching from the Cities of Ramsey and Dayton to Hastings, Minnesota.

Source: National Park Service