Directions: This Lock and Dam is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis just south of the Ford Bridge crossing. It can be reached via West River Parkway, just north of the Ford bridge from St Paul. Cross the Ford Bridge, take your first left and, at the stop sign, turn left onto West River Pkwy. for a few hundred feet. If coming from the Minneapolis lakes area on Minnehaha Parkway, continue past Minnehaha Regional Park to the Lock and Dam entrance.

Open: The Locks and Dam Visitor Promenade and Center are open 8 am to 10 pm daily, April through October.

Admission: Daily: free

Description: Originally authorized by Congress in 1899 to improve navigation between Minneapolis and St. Paul, construction was completed in 1917. It has recently been rehabilitated, extending its useful life an estimated 50 additional years. Of additional note is the exposed sandstone and limestone cliffs from which the locks and dam facility was carved out. Visitors will get a good look at the geology of the area while examining the layers found in these cliffs. Enjoy the maneuvers of the swallows which carve out their nests in the cliffside.

The locks are used by both commercial shippers (barges) and pleasure craft. The dam provides hydroelectric power to the Ford Motor Company situated on the St. Paul side. The Visitor Promenade and a roofed catwalk, accessible by elevator, enables visitors to walk out over top of the locks for better views. Interpretive displays may be found along the catwalk, as well as lock-side. The building includes modern restroom facilities, water fountains, and refreshment machines. If you only have time to visit one lock and dam system in the Twin Cities area, this is the best one to visit!

Parking:

top of page Designated accessible parking is plentiful, but users must travel down (and back up to return to your vehicle!) a grade of 8% for several hundred feet. A drop-off loop is located at the promenade level, if someone more ambulatory is available to park the vehicle. People desiring to sit on the benches on the access walk between parking and the promenade will be doing so at a 7-8% angle, as well, since the benches match the running grade of the walk.

Buildings:

top of page The Visitor Promenade provides visitors with a "bird’s-eye" view of the operation of the lock and dam, as well as takes visitors on a self-guided tour of interpretive displays situated along a scenic and attractive promenade. Trees, floral plantings, and attractive bench seating welcome visitors. Various mechanical devices formerly used are on display and can be touched. Text signage distributed throughout explains the history, purpose, and current use of the locks and dam system. Many of them will be understandable, because of simpler text and picture graphics, to visitors who are younger or could benefit from "less is more" interpretation. A roofed catwalk, accessible by elevator, enables visitors to walk out over top of the locks for better views. Additional interpretive displays may be found along the catwalk, as well as modern restroom facilities, water fountains, and refreshment machines. A second promenade area, very similar, including displays, to the one at the visitor center entrance, is located across the catwalk on the outside of the locks. Unfortunately, visitors must use a long set of steps to access to this area as no elevator was added here.