These are the 20 essential reads of Lake Minnetonka’s history! Each entry offers something unique and the list is bound to pique the interest of any lake resident.

The story of one of Minnetonka’s most beloved steamboats is on full display. Not to mention her short lived life and abrupt end.

It’s 1909 and steamer Excelsior has reached her final day. What will happen and what events led to her demise?

Peter Gideon’s creation of Minnesota’s first apple variety, the Wealthy, creates a booming fruit industry that we still see in action today!

Today, we take a walking tour of Big Island Park’s grand entryway. The structures, features, and quirks of this unique scene are right in front of us on a warm summer day in 1907.

Discover beautiful Hotel Del Otero, the story behind its success, and its untimely downfall.

How did Spring Park come to have their city hall building? The story is more complex than you might expect!

Dredging has been a part of Minnetonka life for nearly 150 years!

A heartwarming, article about a little pup finding a new home! Lost to time but brought back to the spotlight once more.

What made the Radisson Inn such a controversial establishment?

What did fishing look like across the last 1,000 years of Minnetonka’s history?

The story behind Excelsior’s last standing major gilded era hotel.

How did lake residents get home in a time before cars and well built roadways?

Do you know the truth behind this common Minnetonka myth?

Doctors would recommend their patients to this lakeside retreat while fishermen would book a stay for the good game!

This lengthy quote perfectly sums up the way many of us feel about our favorite summer retreat!

Over a half century ago, a collection of humorous postcards entertained tourists and their loved ones alike.

See how development got its start on this massive island.

What made Lake Minnetonka a place so fondly remembered?

You’ll never believe where this hotel once stood and what now resides in its place. . .