St. Louis Park Historical Society

09/01/2026

For just over a year, we’ve been an ad hoc advisor for the creation of a new e-newsletter for the University of Minnesota’s Northwest Architectural Archives.

The first issue of “Renderings” just dropped, and it features an article about the Globe Mill in St. Louis Park. Enjoy.

Material from the Northwest Architectural Archives has grounded my writing for several articles over the decades, most recently regarding our Society’s research on the 1874 Globe Mill on Minnehaha Creek.

08/27/2026

Our latest Century House plaque!

08/20/2026

08/11/2026

https://kstp.com/minnesota-sports/wnba-star-paige-bueckers-returns-to-hometown-st-louis-park-to-unveil-refurbished-basketball-court/

Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers stayed in town on Monday after playing the Lynx at Target Center on Sunday. She did so to help unveil a refurbished basketball court in her hometown of St. Louis Park. KSTP was there Monday morning.

08/04/2026

We had a great turnout for the depot open house on Saturday. A train even showed up as we opened the festivities! Here are a few highlights.

07/30/2026

Join us on Saturday August 1 from 1-4 pm for open house at the depot. Here are some highlights!

07/22/2026

When we published our Native Land Statement last year, we noted the importance of the Jeffers Petroglyphs in Minnesota and native history, and said this:

“Today we have the power to instantaneously connect to communities around the world. New information is being added daily. It is incumbent on us all to continue the study of our origins.”

https://slphistory.org/native-land-statement/

Our journey led us to a Facebook post that told us something we didn’t know. Another step in our journey, and direct evidence of native occupancy of the future Minnesota River valley nearly 10,000 years ago when a person might have seen the retreating glaciers that formed our current landscapes:

07/19/2026

Our hearts go out to Park residents driven from their homes by the tragic fire at the Helix apartments. People who wish to donate to their immediate needs and eventual recovery can do so through S.T.E.P. at:

https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_4ce33240-1bdf-11ec-a6d8-06c9b1bbd9b1&WidgetId=503885824&blm_aid=0

In 1936, the hottest year in state history, fires raged across the state, and smoke from peat fires in swamps along Hwy 12 and Hwy 7 in the Park caused traffic back-ups.

In 1939 and 1964, creosote pools at the Republic Creosote plant next door to the Helix site caught fire and burned for days.

In 1938, the Park’s all-volunteer fire department showed off its equipment at 37th and Alabama, just east of the Village Hall.

06/28/2026

We like our history with a bit of context. St. Louis Park citizens petitioned Hennepin County to become a village on October 4, 1886. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated three weeks later.

But the Park’s land speculators got a head start in April 1886. Residential lots were advertised for sale in July.

06/28/2026

On our walking tour of “The Great Swamp” yesterday, we told the story of the Monitor Drill Company, moved in 1891 by its owner, Spencer E. Davis, from Horicon, Wisconsin to a Thomas B. Walker swampy industrial site in the new Village of St. Louis Park.

After living in Horicon, arguably America’s biggest marshland, we imagine Mr. Davis was not impressed – “You call this a swamp?” While Monitor was sold to Moline Plow Works in 1908, it remained the Park’s largest employer until 1920.

But Davis left his ultimate mark in another way. The home he built for his family on Mt. Curve in Kenwood is now famous as The Mary Tyler Moore House.

Thanks to Hennepin History Museum for partnering with us on the tour, and special thanks to Phil Weber and Park Tavern, who hosted us for the third year.