| “Look
forward for a century, to the time when the
city has a population of a million, and think
what will be their wants.
They will have wealth enough to purchase
all that money can buy, but all their
wealth cannot purchase a lost opportunity,
or restore natural features of grandeur
and beauty, which would then possess priceless
value...”
— Horace Cleveland
Minneapolis Park System Landscape Gardener,
1883
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| The
Grand Rounds National Scenic
Byway |
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Nearly 120 years
have passed,
yet Horace W.
S. Cleveland’s
perspective of
the challenges
our society now
faces in conserving
its natural and
cultural heritage
could not have
been more in
focus.
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Led by Cleveland’s
vision and that
of many others
who followed,
the Minneapolis
Park and Recreation
Board’s early
‘down payment’
to protect many
of the intrinsic
resources of
Minneapolis by
creating The
Grand Rounds
has returned
immeasurable
benefits to generations
of city residents
and millions
of city visitors.
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Among many other
national and
international
distinctions,
that early ‘investment’
in The Grand
Rounds today
also manifests
itself as America’s
most important
urban scenic
byway.
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The Grand Rounds — Byway Composition |
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- Seven Byway Districts
— Distinct segments
of The Grand Rounds
that exhibit unique
landscape characteristics
and cultural resources
- Twenty Byway access
areas from interstates
and major thoroughfares
- More than fifty identified
Interpretive Sites
— Discovery areas
where the public will
have opportunities
to experience interpretation
programs and exhibits
- A dozen lakes and
ponds, four golf courses,
two waterfalls, natural
and planned gardens,
creek and river views,
and 50.1 miles of
hiking, biking, skiing
and driving paths.
- Five Grand Rounds
Interpretive and Information
Centers
- New and Refurbished
Grand Rounds Information
Kiosks
- For specific information
on recreational activities
along the Grand Rounds,
explore the district
sections on the Grand
Rounds Home
page.
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| The
Grand Rounds — Historical Milestones |
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- Designated as a Minnesota
State Scenic Byway
(1997) According to
the Federal Highway
Administration, “Scenic
Byways are public
roads having special
scenic, historic,
recreational, cultural,
archeological and
natural qualities
that have been recognized
as such through legislation
and other official
declaration. Scenic
byways refer not only
to the road, street
or highway itself
but also to the corridor
through which it passes.”
- Received two federal
grants for the development
of the Interpretation
Program (1997) and
a model volunteer
and hospitality program
(1998)
- Designated as a ‘National
Scenic Byway’ by the
Federal Highway Administration
(April 1998)
- Recognized by the Federal
Highway Administration
as the premier national
urban scenic byway
(1998)
- Provided the key link
in completing the
Great River Road (1998)
- Longfellow House opened as an Interpretive and Information Center (2000)
- Grand Rounds "Enchanted Journey" exhibit installed at the Longfellow House Interpretive and Information Center (2002)
- Collaboration with Hennepin History Museum brought new historical exhibits to the Longfellow House as well as expanded the traveling exhibits for the Byway (2002)
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