Crystal Bay From Above

Real photograph of Lower Lake & Crystal Bay

Today, we look at a somewhat rare aerial view of Lower Lake and Crystal Bay. This real photo postcard was taken in 1934.

From here, you can see the original Arcola bridge for Shoreline Drive, the Great Northern Railway bridge, Lafayette Club, and “Grandpa’s Cove” branching off to the right. In the modern era the cove is somewhat grown in with cattails.

For reference of what was going on, relative to this photo, around the time this photo was taken:
- Lafayette Club’s current clubhouse was 10 years old. (Built 1924)
- The original Minnetonka Beach water tower was 5 years old. (Built 1928 & demolished 2023)
- Great Northern’s bridge was already 53 years old. (Built 1881)
- Steamboat Minnehaha & her sisters had been at the lake bottom for 8 years. (1926)
- James J. Hill had been dead for 18 years. (1916)

Unlike most postcards and photos of the area, these aerial photos are somewhat uncommon, due to the relative rarity of the airplane. (Invented 1903)