How long is the tour and how far do we walk?

The tour is about 1.5 hours and covers roughly 1.5 miles along paved paths and cemetery edges.

The guide is Peter Sussman, an architect and urban historian who participated in the public art recognition with the Minneapolis Park Board and Dakota representatives.

Is the tour suitable for children or students?

Yes; the pace is moderate with frequent stops, making it suitable for older children and student groups with supervision.

Is the cemetery accessible?

Paths are generally paved and level, but accessibility details are not specified—contact the operator for accommodations if needed.

How large are tour groups?

Groups are capped at about 25 people to keep the conversation manageable and respectful of the grounds.

Bde Maka Ska: From Dakota Village to Cottage City — Guided Lakeside Walking Tour in Minneapolis | Walking Tour | Guided Tour

Q: Where exactly is the meeting point?

Meet at the southeast corner of West Bde Maka Ska Parkway and Thomas Avenue S.

Bde Maka Ska sits on the west side of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a broad urban lake whose shoreline remembers Indigenous occupancy and 19th-century settlement. On the Bde Maka Ska: From Dakota Village to Cottage City Walking Tour you move about 1.5 miles along original lake edge and public parkway, beginning at the southeast corner of West Bde Maka Ska Parkway and Thomas Avenue S. The walk threads Lakewood Cemetery’s sculpted monuments, the Cottage City shoreline developed beginning in 1883, and a cluster of public art that recognizes the Dakota village Heyata Othunwe/“The Village Set Back,” a community that once stood nearby. Peter Sussman leads the tour; an architect and urban historian who helped collaborate with the Minneapolis Park Board and Dakota representatives on the public art recognition, he frames the route as layered stories: glacial lake formation, Indigenous place names, immigrant settlement, and civic design. You’ll stop to read masonry inscriptions and examine markers that honor Mahpiya Wichasta/Cloudman’s lineage and Ohiyesa/Dr. Charles Eastman, alongside memorials to Norwegian emigrant Andreas Ueland and other settlers. The result is not a single narrative but an active conversation about who is remembered and how public space holds memory. Expect wide, paved paths and well-kept cemetery grounds punctuated by mature elms and lakeside reed beds. Bde Maka Ska itself is a glacially carved lake typical of Minneapolis’s Chain of Lakes; its shallow bays and bands of cattails attract waterfowl and make for reflective photo opportunities at low light. The cemetery’s architecture ranges from simple headstones to carved mid-century monuments and gatework visible from the walk. This tour is as much about attention as distance: you’ll practice reading urban landscape—where shoreline was moved, which buildings rose in which decade, how public art creates a visible reckoning with Dakota presence. Practical details matter: the group is capped (about 25), the route is roughly 1.5 miles, and the meeting point is clearly stated, so arrive a few minutes early. Wear shoes suited to paved paths and dress for Minnesota weather; summers are popular, springs and falls offer quieter moods. For visitors who want history woven into place, this guided walk offers a compact primer on Minneapolis’s lakes, civic memory, and local stewardship. It’s ideal for residents and visitors alike who want to leave the jogger circuit and grow a deeper sense of how landscapes carry competing pasts into the present. Tours are offered by Preserve Minneapolis and often timed to connect with park programming; Sussman chaired the Preserve Minneapolis Summer Tour committee through 2021 and brings archival sources and neighborhood memory to each stop. Families, students, and anyone curious about civic change will find the cadence approachable—bring curiosity, a notebook, and respect for both gravesites and living shorelines. Always.

About Preserve Minneapolis

Preserve Minneapolis is a nonprofit-focused organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, dedicated to documenting and sharing the city’s architectural and social history.

Through guided walking tours and community receptions, Preserve Minneapolis showcases neighborhood stories, historic buildings, and the people who shaped them.

Tours include focused experiences such as the Healy Block Residential Historic District Walking Tour, highlighting Queen Anne houses and Theron Potter Healy’s legacy; the Bryn Mawr Walking Tour, exploring bungalow-era streetscapes west of downtown; and the Minneapolis Railroad History Walking Tour, tracing the first rail line established in 1862 and its role in the mill district. Additional offerings include a tour of African American history along East 38th Street, the Sunnyside Addition streetcar suburb exploration, and an Exclusive Donor Reception that brings supporters together.

Each tour is led by local historians and experts who use archival research, visible architectural features, and neighborhood context to explain historic significance and preservation challenges. Preserve Minneapolis emphasizes fact-based storytelling, site-specific interpretation, and community engagement. Information presented on tours draws from documented sources, historic records, and surviving built fabric.

Preserve Minneapolis partners with community members and preservation professionals to identify priorities, promote awareness, and encourage stewardship of historic resources. Audiences range from architecture enthusiasts to neighborhood residents and visitors seeking an informed understanding of Minneapolis history. The organization’s public programming and donor events support ongoing research, education, and local preservation initiatives. Programs are scheduled seasonally and announced publicly; tickets and donor details are available through Preserve Minneapolis communications and partner listings for interested supporters.