Many People, Many Paths, 1 River In Shakopee

Press release from the City of Shakopee:

June 7, 2021

From the first Dakota people to European-American immigrants arriving by steamboat, the river has drawn people to this place for thousands of years, weaving a rich story of the many people who have called this place home.

And that story continues today.

The Shakopee Riverfront Cultural Trail will tell the story of Shakopee’s past through the voices of its people. The 2.5-mile trail, which follows the Minnesota Valley State Trail from the Holmes Street Bridge through The Landing, is anticipated to draw visitors to celebrate the area’s rich cultural heritage through an immersive, guided trail experience.

“You can’t tell Shakopee’s story without starting with the river,” said Shakopee Mayor Bill Mars. “It’s a part of who we are as a city and region.”

The Shakopee Riverfront Cultural Trail is bringing together a partnership of local entities with a shared interest in the region’s history. The city, Scott County, Scott County Historical Society, Three Rivers Park District and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community are working together to ensure all voices are represented in the unique trail project.

“It is important to have a well-rounded, accurate portrayal of history. The Shakopee Riverfront Cultural Trail will be a way to build understanding of cultures,” said Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Chairman Keith Anderson. “We are serving as a cultural consultant to this one-of-a-kind project and can appreciate the city’s recognition of and commitment to this historically and culturally significant area.”

The story of the river

The story starts more than 10,000 years ago when the Minnesota River valley became what it is today. The melting of the last glacier left a wide valley and a meandering river that changed the landscape of southern Minnesota.

While today people move by highways, historically rivers have been the main route of travel for animals and hunters. The Dakota first came to the area following game. Later French fur traders came by the river, followed by European-American settlers.

“The river is the central thing that brings people to the space that today is the city of Shakopee,” said Bill Walker, supervisor of Three Rivers Park District’s historical interpretation and cultural resource management division. “We are here today because of the river.”

The riverfront trail will also be an opportunity to highlight the natural beauty of the river by inviting visitors to explore the role nature plays in moving people and crafting history. The hope is the experience will foster respect and reverence and inspire them to be better stewards.

“The river’s story is a story that’s better told by having people at the table who are most directly impacted,” Walker said. “You see all the interconnection when you can stand back and look at that bigger picture.”

Drawing visitors

The Shakopee Riverfront Cultural Trail builds on the ideas presented as part of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and the city’s Parks, Trails and Recreation Master Plan to recapture the river and area’s history.
The consortium partners are currently developing a visitors’ experience plan that outlines what trail users might do, see and learn while traveling along the cultural trail.

The partners hope the trail becomes a destination and a complement to the area’s other recreational attractions.

“We look forward to building strong connections that invite visitors to explore not only the rich history of the Minnesota River but also the trails, parks, and other amenities throughout the county,” said Jacob Grussing, who represents Scott County on the consortium committee.

Learn more about the trail at www.scottcountyhistory.org/trail.

This story appeared in the Summer 2021 Hometown Messenger.

This press release was produced by the City of Shakopee. The views expressed here are the author’s own.