LAKE MINNETONKA
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2025
Lake Minnetonka and its abundant history
50 | LAKE MINNETONKA | COMMUNITY GUIDE | 2025
As Minnesota’ s ninth-largest lake, Lake Minnetonka carries a significant piece of Minnesota history at more than 14,000 acres in size. Historical organizations have worked hard to understand the more than 160 years of lake history and the communities circling it. Residents with a curiosity in lake history can learn about the many historical sites that still surround the lake today.
Lake Minnetonka is full of relics from the past with several sunken vessels resting at the bottom of the lake.
The streetcar steamboat Minnehaha bustled with use on the lake from 1906 – 1926 before it was scuttled. The steamboat found new life after being raised in 1980 and was restored and returned to service from 1996 – 2019.
The launch previously used for the steamboat stopped being available and the search for a new launch site has been ongoing. A new launch site will hopefully be found in the near future so that the historic vessel can return to the water.
History is on display further up from the shores of Lake Minnetonka, too. Visitors and residents can take a drive, walk or bike ride to get a peek at the historic homes and buildings ranging from the Excelsior Elementary School to the Cottagewood General Store in Deephaven, established in 1895.
The Excelsior Streetcar Line is located in downtown Excelsior on Water Street between Third and George streets. The line offers a ride back in time, a callback to when streetcars used to bring people from the Twin Cities to Lake Minnetonka. Following a ride on the half-a-mile of built track, the car makes a stop at the carbarn so passengers can view a photo gallery of hotels, trains, paddlewheel boats and landmarks from the 1800s and see work in progress on a streetcar restoration. An updated schedule can be found at trolleyride. org / excelsior-streetcar.
Lake Minnetonka: A sacred place
In the early 18th century Lake Minnetonka was a secret to almost everyone except the Native Americans, although they were never permanent settlers around the lake. The woods around the lake provided lots of game, the shores provided lots of edible plants, and the lake provided an abundance of fish. In 1822, the first recorded people of European descent
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