Lake Harriet Peace (Rock) Garden
Address
4125 E. Lake Harriet Parkway Minneapolis, MN 55409
Directions
Within Lyndale Park
Phone Number
612-370-4900
Fax Number
(612) 370-4831
Website
Run by
Minneapolis Parks and Recreation
Date Established
1929
Designer
Theodore Wirth and Betty Ann Addison
Size
Part of the 61 acre Lyndale Park
Cost
No admission fee
Peak Season
Spring
Peak season (notes)
April 15 – June 1
Region
Metro
Garden Type
Other
Extras
Free street parking and fee parking lot nearby
Restrooms – near bird sanctuary and parking lot
Bird watching – Thomas Sadler Roberts Bird Sanctuary is adjacent
Hiking – walking paths around Lake Harriet
Biking – biking paths around Lake Harriet
Weddings can be arranged in the gardens
Comments
This garden was originally designed as a testing area for annuals and perennials that might survive Minnesota’s climate. In 1929, over 350 tons of Oneota dolomite were moved by train from Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin (near Redwing, Minnesota) to Minneapolis. This sedimentary rock, riddled with holes and creases is about 500 million years old. In 1983, a re-design of the rock garden began with an effort to re-create the bluff landscape from which the stones originated. Dwarf conifers create the backbone of the plantings with many examples of hardy, alpine plants adding color and texture.
At the lower end of the garden, is the Peace Garden. Within this Asian influenced area are two peace stones from Nagasaki and Hiroshima, a peace pole dedicated to peace between nations and a Japanese yatsu-hashi crooked path bridge. Paths are both paved and gravel.