LAKE MINNETONKA
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2026
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 game, the shores provided edible plants, and the lake provided an abundance of fish. In 1822, the first recorded people of European descent discovered Lake Minnetonka via the Minnehaha Creek, the only navigable outlet known at that time.
In 1851, the U. S. government acquired land from the Dakota people through the Treaty of Mendota. The Dakota considered the land around Lake Minnetonka sacred and wanted to keep it for themselves. Several Dakota chiefs refused to sign the treaty, yet Lake Minnetonka was still included in the 2 million-acre acquisition.
Breezy Point in Woodland was known to the Dakota as Spirit Knob, an especially sacred site, according to historians.
As time went on, Lake Minnetonka became a homestead and retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. The city of Excelsior was established in 1852, just one year after the land acquisition. Soon after, the first hotel opened, followed by the first steamboat and railroad tracks.
The area continued to grow. More hotels opened, including the Hotel St. Louis, Lake Park Hotel and Hotel Lafayette, and steamboats were added. The Lake Minnetonka area became a peaceful getaway and a refuge for the region’ s wealthiest residents. Many preferred railroad travel, as a commute to Minneapolis was only a 45-minute ride. Steamboats ushered residents to more than 20 locations on the lake’ s bays. Automobile use eventually superseded railroad and steamboat use.
All of the communities along the lake have a special story to tell. People can visit many spots to acknowledge the past and see how the area has grown.
National Register of Historic Places:
• Excelsior’ s Downtown Commercial District, with buildings dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• Excelsior Elementary School, 261 School Ave., Excelsior, built 1899-1901
• Wyer-Pearce House, 201 Mill St., Excelsior, built circa 1880
• Peter Gideon Farmhouse, 24590 Glen Road, Shorewood, used 1854-1899
See HISTORY | PAGE 54
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