August 12, 2004: Hopkins/Minnetonka Ramble (Hopkins/Minnetonka)

Join Bill and Sue Clark for a rambling hike in the Hopkins and Minnetonka area. "Minne-tonka" meant "big water" to the Dakotah Indians. The area was opened for non-Indian settlement after the 1851 Traverse des Sioux treaty. Early settlement was centered around Minnetonka Mills, where a flour mill was built on Minnehaha Creek. The first settlers of Hopkins arrived in 1854. The town really began in 1887 with the building of the Minneapolis Moline farm machinery factory, which once employed most of the city's residents. The West Minneapolis Land Company was also founded in 1887 to build tenement housing for the Minneapolis Moline factory workers. The community was incorporated in 1893 as the village of West Minneapolis and was renamed in 1928 for Harley H. Hopkins, one of its first homesteaders and the community's first postmaster. Dominick Drive derives its name from a pioneer farm family that emigrated from Bohemia and settled in the Minnetonka-Hopkins area in the 1850's.

If coming by car: We will meet at the house of Bill and Sue Clark, 5179 Dominick Drive, Minnetonka (612-382-2837). From Highway 62/Crosstown Highway, past the I-35W interchange, continue about five miles on the Crosstown Highway to where it bears northwest (right), then continue onto the exit ramp to Shady Oak Road and turn north (right). Proceed on Shady Oak Road for one mile and turn left onto Dominick Drive.

The group will reconvene at the Clark's house after the hike for potluck snacks. Bring something to share.

Maps on Us map to the hike starting point

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This page was last updated on July 30, 2004.