The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) is the only national park dedicated to the celebration and conservation of the Mighty Mississippi. Established in 1988, MNRRA encompasses the 72-mile stretch of the river that runs through the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

The character of the river changes more throughout these 72 miles than anywhere else along its 2,350-mile course. The river enters the northern corridor as a free-flowing prairie river and moves downstream to plunge over St. Anthony Falls and into the river's narrowest gorge. Eight and one-half miles later, the river exits the gorge to become the country's dominant floodplain river and part of the largest inland navigation system on earth.

This stretch of the upper Mississippi River includes natural, historical, recreational, cultural, scenic, scientific, and economic resources of national significance. Some of the most prominent attractions within the park include the St. Anthony Falls Historic District, Historic Fort Snelling, Indian Mounds Park, and Minnehaha Falls.

Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1993 to engage citizens to protect, restore and enhance the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities region. A close partner of the National Park Service, FMR works to improve water quality and watershed health; protect and restore critical natural areas throughout the corridor; advocate for smart, river-friendly development and vibrant communities; and educate the public and grow the next generation of river stewards.  

Every day, FMR works in pursuit of a river that is clear and clean and safe to swim in, where fish and wildlife are healthy and abundant, where scenic bluffs and cultural treasures are protected, and where people – young and old, this generation and the next – can escape the rush of daily life and enjoy, explore and engage with this globally significant treasure.

Statement copyright Friends of the Mississippi River 2016

20% of your purchase will be donated to Friends of the Mississippi River