When Minnehaha Flowed With Whiskey: A Spirited History Of The Falls

The MISF Annual Rhoda Lewin Lecture
Drunks, criminals, and rowdies went to Minnehaha Falls to raise a ruckus, dance, and have fun. From the 1860s until the early 20th century, Minnehaha Falls was not a family-oriented destination. Rather, it was a scene of scandal and disreputable behavior. By 1891, things had gotten so bad that “Father of the Parks” Charles Loring said, “Minnehaha had become the rendezvous of the most depraved of both sexes.” Find out what the heck was going on at the falls, and how all was eventually redeemed.
Karen E. Cooper is an author, historian, and researcher who uncovered the lost disgraceful past at Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis. Her work reveals the power structures in the city that allowed Minnehaha to become a criminal haven and the battle with those who wanted Minnehaha to be a place where families felt safe and welcome. Her first book, When Minnehaha Flowed With Whiskey: A Spirited History Of The Falls, won the Emile Buchwald Award for Minnesota Non-Fiction in 2023.
Karen E. Cooper's background is in Spanish and Economics, but the hints of improper behavior at Minnehaha Falls were such a captivating story that she undertook to discover what had happened and what had been forgotten. She became a historian because she has a good eye for detail and a lot of curiosity. Furthermore, she has written dozens of newspaper columns on restaurants and local history and collects old Minnesota photographs. And she would like you to know that she is very nearly a native Minnesotan.
Preceding the presentation will be the MISF annual meeting. This will be a short meeting covering reports from the previous year, elections, and discussions of any major problems and/or plans.