Minnehaha, Historic steamboat in Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Minnehaha is a wooden steamboat on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota that measures 70 feet long and retains its original steam engine and hull. The vessel now operates on scheduled summer routes, departing from the port at Excelsior.
Built in 1906 by the Twin City Rapid Transit Company, the steamboat carried passengers between lakeside towns until 1926 when service stopped. The sunken wreck was raised from the lake bottom in 1980 and later restored to working order.
The steamboat represents how early 1900s communities relied on water transport to connect with each other across the lake. Walking aboard today, you experience the same journey that passengers once took as their main way to travel between towns.
Trips depart from Excelsior during the warmer months, and the open deck can be breezy out on the water. Dress warmly and arrive early, as boarding happens on a first-come basis.
The vessel sat on the lake bottom for 54 years after sinking in 1926 before volunteers discovered and raised it. This recovery effort transformed a forgotten wreck into a fully operational ship that still carries passengers today.
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