Though Minneapolis is one of the “Twin Cities”, there is no mistaking it; this Minnesota town is quite unique and very much its own city. Minneapolis is located within a truly diverse metropolis, with beautiful sights, fun shopping, a vibrant nightlife, and a unique culture. Bigger than St. Paul, the other “twin”, Minneapolis has a distinct city skyline, with large skyscrapers and many historic buildings. To the tourist and the resident alike, Minneapolis has a lot to offer.
If you’re looking for the source of the Mississippi River, you have arrived; the Mississippi River comes out of the Minnesota River, and the great city of Minneapolis surrounds it, lying against both banks. The Mississippi River is hardly the only water feature in the city of Minneapolis, this is the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, after all! Boasting over a dozen natural lakes within the city limits, Minneapolis also has a wetlands area, and don’t even get me started on all of the creeks and smaller ponds. A few of the local parks here in Minneapolis also feature waterfalls from these local creeks.
When it comes to the arts, Minneapolis is arguably the best city in the entire state of Minnesota. Boasting many performing art and music venues, Minneapolis is home to the historic Guthrie Theatre. Many popular and famous musicians got their start here in Minneapolis, including big names like Prince and Bob Dylan. As far as art museums and galleries are concerned, you’ll never be wanting for places to go in Minneapolis. The Walker Art Center is a popular, large art museum in Minneapolis, as well as the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Both boast large gallery openings and big art names, and are open throughout the year.
Looking back in history to long before white settlers came to this region of Minnesota, the Sioux Native American tribe lived on this land. That’s actually also where Minneapolis got its name… “mni” is a Sioux word that roughly translates to mean water. Of course, the “polis” is Greek and was an addition to the end of the name, commonly used throughout other cities that end in “polis” throughout the country. The first white settlers to this region were French, back in the late 1600, and the primary reason for their arrival had to do with the fur trade.
Families that live in Minneapolis appreciate the wide selection afforded them when it comes to education. Served by the Minneapolis Public School District, as well as several private schools and charter schools, parents have a wide selection between various options. When it comes to continued education, Minneapolis is home to a number of big universities, and several smaller colleges as well. For students of any education level that need a little extra help, local Minneapolis tutors are available. These local tutors can meet one-on-one to help each student reach their educational goals.