People who are relocating to the Twin Cities metro area often ask how far St. Paul is from Minneapolis. To be honest, some of the folks that live in these cities don’t have a clue either. What I mean by that is Minneapolians don’t come to Saint Paul, for fear of getting lost. St. Paulites have the same concern about going to Minneapolis.
This is a picture of the Lake Street Bridge which crosses the Mississippi River between the two cities, where Marshall Avenue in St. Paul, becomes the Lake Street Bridge, and then Lake Street in Minneapolis. Minneapolis streets are on a grid, they are numbered or named. The names are alphabetical, and the numbers sequential which makes it easy for Minneapolis residents to navigate. Saint Paul streets have names, but they are not labeled or numbered in any logical order, which is fine with us because we just know where everything is.
There are people who live in St. Paul who would never consider going to Minneapolis, for any reason, and people who live in Minneapolis who have never been to St. Paul, why would they need to go to St. Paul and get lost? The news media often uses: "Minneapolis-St. Paul" to describe the Twin Cities that are not really twins. I am fond of reminding people that there is not such city.
I sell real estate on both sides of the bridge and on some level live in both cities. One of the great things about being a St. Paul resident is that I can go to Minneapolis and enjoy the nightlife, and then come home to St. Paul, where is is quiet and get a good nights sleep.
Now THAT makes sense! (and I had no idea St. Paul was so close to Minneapolis either) – will have to go visit someday.
Great post and pics.
I live four blocks into Minneapolis from the Lake Street Bridge and venture into St. Paul all the time. A mile into St. Paul from that bridge is Trotter’s, which has a great breakfast menu. Great enough to cross the bridge!
Ines – no one understands us. 🙁
Ed – you are welcome to spend your money here any time you like. 🙂
The best way to think of it is that the Mississippi River divides us, for the most part.
Saint Paul is East of the Mississippi, and as such has always been part of the United States. That border was recognized by the Treaty of Paris in 1789. Our part of the nation was called the Northwest Territory back then.
Minneapolis, however, is in the Louisiana Purchase, which we picked up at Napoleon’s garage sale. I think he needed it to fund his Courvoisier habit.
. . and I could add the St. Paul is sometimes called the last great city of the east . . funny Erik. I think we should trade this week. I’ll do Sunday and you can do Friday.