How long is the tour?

The guided walk lasts about 1 to 1.5 hours and covers roughly one mile on mostly flat terrain.

Is the route accessible?

Much of the route is accessible, but there are grassy crossings and some uneven curbs that may be challenging for mobility devices.

Local historians and preservationists Richard Woldorsky, Linda Platt, and Aaron Rubenstein lead this tour.

Is the tour appropriate for children?

Yes; the content is family-friendly, though caregivers should account for the walking distance and outdoor conditions.

Policy on dogs varies; check with Preserve Minneapolis or the tour operator before bringing pets.

Victory Memorial Drive: Minneapolis World War I Parkway Walking Tour

Q: Where do we meet?

Meet at the Victory Memorial Drive flagpole, 4500 Victory Memorial Drive North, Minneapolis.

Victory Memorial Drive runs through far northwest Minneapolis, Minnesota, a broad L-shaped parkway that honors Hennepin County residents lost in World War I. The 1.5-hour Victory Memorial Drive Tour meets at the Victory Memorial Drive flagpole, 4500 Victory Memorial Drive North, Minneapolis, and unfolds along roughly one mile of flat, grassy parkland that is part of the city’s Grand Rounds.

The walk begins at the monument and flagpole where rows of memorial markers once stood alongside 568 elms, each planted to remember a life taken in the Great War. Though Dutch elm disease and time have changed the canopy, the linear planting pattern, the large flagpole, and a 1930 statue of Abraham Lincoln make the bend in the parkway a compact history lesson and a striking civic landscape. Guides trace how landscape designers and city planners used boulevards, trees, and memorials to shape neighborhoods and civic identity in the early twentieth century.

Local historians lead the tour: Richard Woldorsky, Linda Platt, and Aaron Rubenstein narrate episodes about the conception of the parkway, the markers and monuments, and the push to connect parks and lakes across Minneapolis. They explain how Victory Memorial Drive spurred residential development, how design choices reflected mourning rituals of the era, and how the parkway fits into the larger Grand Rounds network.

Expect a lively mix of landscape analysis, urban planning history, and neighborhood stories. Highlights include the flagpole and World War I memorials, surviving elms and mature oaks, period-era houses that line the parkway, and the Lincoln statue dedicated by the Grand Army of the Republic in 1930. The route is largely flat and accessible, with short sections of grass to cross; reasonable footwear is recommended.

This tour is a strong pick for travelers who appreciate urban history, landscape architecture, or civic memory expressed through public space. It’s small enough to feel intimate and long enough to deliver a compact narrative of how a city remembered its dead and built community infrastructure in the interwar years. Guides draw connections between design, commemoration, and daily life so visitors leave with both stories and a sharper eye for landscape cues.

Practical details: the walk lasts about 1 to 1.5 hours, accommodates up to 30 people, and is best taken in spring through fall when plantings are visible and paths are dry. The exact meeting point is the Victory Memorial Drive flagpole, 4500 Victory Memorial Drive North, Minneapolis. Bring a water bottle, comfortable shoes, and curiosity. Photographers find strong compositional lines in the avenue of trees and period homes, and visitors with limited mobility should note that while most of the route is accessible, grassy crossings and uneven curbs may require assistance or steady footwear during rainy winter days.

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.