History:
"Early in the 19th century, Lake Minnetonka was a secret lake to all but the Indians. It was not only secret, but sacred; a place to worship the Great Spirits and build mounds for last resting places. The 'Big Woods' offered game, the clear lake provided fish, and edible plants and herbs grew in profusion along the shore. This was the land that white men found in spite of the reticence of the Indians." The Indians were never permanent settIers around Lake Minnetonka. The Dakota Indians lived along the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, at Lake Calhoun, and Shakopee. They came to Lake Minnetonka often to hunt and fish and to gather wild rice, roots, and berries.

Minnehaha Creek is the only outlet of Lake Minnetonka, and the lake was not discovered until in the year 1822 a young drummer boy from Fort Snelling, Joseph Brown, and his young friend, John Snelling, son of the commander, went into the Indian Country down Minnehaha Creek in their canoe. They worked their canoe to Minnehaha Falls, made portage, and finally came to an Indian camp on Big Island in Lake Minnetonka.

Thirty years later, a period of rapid settlement began, and crude boats went up the creek to the lake. Among the first making this trip were Governor Ramsey, Col. Stevens, and Dr. Alonzo Ames.