Cedar Lake

From a buffer zone between Dakota and Ojibwe tribes, Cedar Lake has transformed remarkably. Today, we stand before Cedar Lake, a vital part of Minneapolis’s Chain of Lakes. Originally known as Lake Leavenworth, named after Fort Snelling’s first commander, Cedar Lake’s history is filled with fascinating twists and turns. Imagine its water level twelve feet higher than today, its marshy shores stretching out to touch what is now France Avenue and Thomas Avenue. A small island, Louise Island, once existed, later becoming a peninsula due to the lowering water levels and canal construction. The lowering of the lake’s water, partly due to extensive ice harvesting in the late 1800s and early 1900s, drastically reshaped its boundaries. The construction of the Cedar Lake Canal in 1913 further contributed to this change. The railroads, specifically the St. Paul & Pacific and James J. Hill’s Great Northern Railway, played a significant role in Cedar Lake’s development. They built causeways and railyards, forever altering the lake’s northern and eastern shores. Hotels like the octagon-shaped Oak Grove House and the grand Hotel Kenwood sprung up, catering to both tourists and railroad workers. Ed Dingley’s boat livery on the eastern shore was a local hub, later becoming the infamous Hidden Beach, now Cedar Lake East Beach. Cedar Lake witnessed the rise and fall of industries, the growth of neighborhoods like Kenwood, and even a transient community known as Bum’s Ridge. The lake also suffered environmental damage from a city dumping ground, a stark reminder of the impact of human activity. Today, Cedar Lake is a testament to resilience. It has evolved from a contested territory to a beloved recreational area, a jewel in the Minneapolis park system.