Bohemian Flats

Bohemian Flats is a historic riverside settlement that now operates as a park with walking paths located beneath the Washington Avenue Bridge near the University of Minnesota campus. The site features picnic areas, canoe racks, and restroom facilities for visitors to use.

Between 1880 and 1940, immigrant families from Sweden, Norway, Czechoslovakia, Ireland, Poland, and Slovakia established this settlement while seeking work in nearby mills. This period created a thriving community with strong European roots along the Mississippi riverbank.

Residents from different European countries maintained their native traditions while building a shared community life in Minneapolis. This cultural diversity shaped the character of the settlement and created a place where different groups coexisted and influenced each other.

The park is open daily from 6 AM to midnight in developed areas and provides basic facilities for outdoor activities. Since the site sits directly along the river, water activities are common and sturdy footwear is recommended for the walking paths.

The wooden houses without permanent foundations were regularly submerged during spring floods, forcing residents to temporarily move to higher ground. This seasonal pattern was so predictable that it became an accepted part of living in the settlement.