When someone hears about Rochester, Minnesota, most people immediately think of Mayo Clinic. For decades, IBM was a huge giant in this town as well and employed thousands of people. The family picnic that IBM used to have for employees was the talk of the town for quite some time, especially in 1992 when about 20,000 people attended.
While these two companies have been huge assets to the Med City, another spot stands out as one of the most beautiful areas in Rochester – Silver Lake.
While you may know where Silver Lake is located in Rochester, there are a few fun facts about this historic feature that still may be a mystery to you. Enjoy diving into these 10 bits of history and knowledge about Silver Lake.
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1. In the mid-1930s, this public works project was put in place to create jobs during the Great Depression. Over 400 unemployed men helped hand-dig the basin to hold water. After that was completed, a dam was constructed to back-up the river water.
2. Today, Silver Lake is one of Rochester’s most scenic walking spots. The paved trail goes all around the lake and also connects to other various city trails. The trail system in the Rochester is pretty expansive too with about 85 miles of paved trails.
3. This used to be the home for watching fireworks in Rochester. The banks of Silver Lake would be completely full of people on blankets and lawn chairs as fireworks were shot overhead. The reflection of the fireworks on the water was an amazing site to see.
4. Fishing is allowed. During the summer months, you’ll often see someone with a fishing pole along the shoreline just waiting for a bite.
5. The stone bridges are part of the original construction of Silver Lake in the mid-1930s. If you want to try your hand at point #4 above, these bridges are another great spot to test your fishing pole. Learn more about the history at this Post Bulletin story.
6. Enjoy the playground and picnic areas. This gorgeous site isn’t just for strolling around the lake, There are a few different playgrounds for kids to enjoy, picnic tables, and also quite a bit of open green space.
7. It’s a popular spot for photos. Between the fall colors, summer sunsets, and winter snow scenes, this lake area is constantly being featured on social media posts, especially around the high school dances. Silver Lake is basically Rochesters’ unofficial backdrop.
8. You can rent boats, canoes, and paddle boats and cruise Silver Lake. Check their website to see when they are open and what rentals are available.
9. The Silver Lake Park area is going through a $10.5 million improvement project. hen completed, it will have new recreational facilities and community spaces, new playground, modernized aquatics area, basketball court, shelter renovations, indigenous gathering area, and more. See photos of the project here.
10. The geese are…kind of famous. If you have ever tried to navigate the geese while you are on the path, or are driving on the roads that go around Silver Lake, you know that the geese have the right away.
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