The Bohemian Flats have been a part of the history of The University of Minnesota since the beginning. However, most people do not know what the park lying below the West Bank of the University once was. 

When Europeans first started to develop what is now our great state of Minnesota, it was a necessity to be close to water, and the area by the Mississippi was just the place. Known as the Bohemian Flats because of its mix of different European cultures, the area was home to many in the working class. This working class was mostly employed upstream by the flour and saw milling industries. With it being so close to work, the flats were a great spot to raise a family at minimal costs. 

However, living in the flats was no easy task. The flats were built in decks meaning that there was an upper and lower area of establishment separated by a cliff. Living in the upper flats was no problem; close to the nearby riverside community, they had quick access to transportation and a larger community. However, down in the low flats, life was tough. Because of flooding from the river, people’s homes could be underwater when the river rose. Furthermore, in the wet environment disease was easy to obtain, leading to many deaths. Finally, getting out of the flats was no easy task as you had to take a climb up many stairs to rise into the city.

At its maximum the Bohemian Flats were home to 1,000 residents, but changes would soon be coming for the area. Because of new laws to avoid the dumping of waste by the milling industry into the river, a new place for waste was needed. Lucky for them the river banks were a perfect way around this. This ruined the Bohemian Flats making it a place of waste and sorrow from the naked eye. 

While people did continue to live in the flats, that would soon come to an end. New ideas of how to route the river, such as adding dams upstream to stop erosion and keep the rivers integrity, would quickly inhibit the area’s ability to be a home. With these thoughts in mind, many people decided to move out of the area. However, some needed an extra push. This led to the government evicting all housing members in 1931 to build a coal barge facility. As for the housing itself most of it was slowly destroyed until the last owners left the neighborhood during the building of the Washington Ave. Bridge. 

The building of the Washington Ave. Bridge showed a turning of times for our campus. The University started to grab more land and the west bank was built. Housing was no longer needed for workers as the mills were closing. So what to do with the land that many settlers once called home?

Today, the area has been used as a storage place in many cases. This included an area for debris after the falling of the I-35W Bridge just upstream. However as of late the area has become a park. It offers a large view of the river along with places to grill and have lunch under a shelter. Furthermore the park offers sand volleyball courts which can be used by the public. 

Therefore, the next time you walk over the Washington Ave. Bridge, take a look down. Think about what the area once was and how the water supported a whole neighborhood. Furthermore, do not let the steep slope become a burden, and enjoy this beautiful park with a very rich history of Minnesota’s development.