A Grain Belt Beer sign on the shores of the Mississippi River and the Hennepin Avenue Bridge. March 2024.

Hennepin Ave Bridge, seen from the Merriam Street Bridge to Nicollet Island. The Merriam bridge dates back to 1887, the now decorative truss span is actually a saved portion of the former Broadway Ave bridge. It was moved here 100 years later in 1987. (Minneapolis, January 2024)

Nicollet Island East Bank in Minneapolis.

The Nicollet Island Inn, a landmark along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, occupies a 19th-century brick and limestone structure originally built in the 1890s as an industrial facility. Converted into a hotel and restaurant in the 1970s, it retains its historic character with exposed stone walls and vintage architectural details. Illuminated signage and soft outdoor lighting highlight the inn’s distinctive facade, with the iconic Pillsbury’s Best Flour sign visible across the river, linking the scene to the city’s milling heritage.

An abandoned wooden railroad bridge curves over the Mississippi River at Nicollet Island in Minneapolis, a quiet remnant of the city’s industrial past. Once part of a freight spur serving nearby mills and factories, the structure now stands unused, adorned with graffiti and framed by spring foliage. In the background, the tan brick towers of Riverplace and surrounding condominium developments reflect the area’s transformation from rail and river commerce to modern urban living.