The John Harrington Stevens House, built in 1849 or 1850 near St. Anthony Falls (on the site where the Minneapolis Post Office now sits), was moved to Minnehaha Park in 1896.
 According to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the home has the distinction of being the first wood-frame dwelling built west of the Mississippi.
 John H. Stevens was granted permission to build his house on land controlled by Fort Snelling in exchange for providing ferry service across the Mississippi River.
 In subsequent years it became a hub of civic and social activity.
 Dubbed the "Birthplace of Minneapolis", both Hennepin County and Minneapolis were organized in Stevens' home; it was in this home that the name Minneapolis was suggested.

In 1896 over 10,000 school children helped pull the house to its present location in Minnehaha Park.
 The children were divided into seven relay teams, each consisting of around 1,000 pupils.
 As teams finished their designated distance, they dropped the ropes and boarded trolley cars for the park.
 All went well until "the lads from the South Side High School" refused to give up the ropes to the next relay team.
 The Minneapolis Tribune reported the event:
At this point there was something of unexpected interest.
Waving their school flag in triumph from the gable window of the old building the lads from the South Side High School shouted their school yell and BAD DEFIANCE TO ALL COMERS.
 At this point the Central High School scholars were billed to relieve the South Siders, and consequently surrounded the building.
 The spirit of school rivalry broke out, strong and bitter.
The South Siders refused to surrender the fortress and flaunted their banner from the window in spite of all entreaties and orders.
Contractor Pratt could not oust them.
Supt.
Jordan could not oust them, and finally Sergeant Martinson called for a detail of police and made a rush for the house.
But the South Side lads were still game, and did not give up until several had been made to feel the force of police authority.
Then they made a break.
As they dashed from one door the Centrals entered by the other, and their banner was soon flying from the gable amid vociferous cheers.
The South Siders were chased up the street by a detachment of Centrals, and for a moment it looked as if the rush would result in some bruised heads.
However, good nature was restored and again the house started on its way.

The house arrived in the park at 3 pm along with the last relay team of children, having covered a distance of four miles.
 In the evening, 1,000 Japanese lanterns were placed about the park and the festivities included fireworks and an illumination of the falls.
 The Tribune newspaper reported that some people complained about the children having a day out of school and  "...the park commissioners and the park policemen objected to the way in which the children took possession of the park and everything in it.
There was no such thing as controlling them, and they ran over everything in sight.
It would have taken a small regiment of policemen to have kept that throng in check."
The John Harrington Stevens House, built in 1849 or 1850 near St. Anthony Falls (on the site where the Minneapolis Post Office now sits), was moved to Minnehaha Park in 1896.  According to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the home has the distinction of being the first wood-frame dwelling built west of the Mississippi.  John H. Stevens was granted permission to build his house on land controlled by Fort Snelling in exchange for providing ferry service across the Mississippi River.  In subsequent years it became a hub of civic and social activity.  Dubbed the "Birthplace of Minneapolis", both Hennepin County and Minneapolis were organized in Stevens' home; it was in this home that the name Minneapolis was suggested.
In 1896 over 10,000 school children helped pull the house to its present location in Minnehaha Park.  The children were divided into seven relay teams, each consisting of around 1,000 pupils.  As teams finished their designated distance, they dropped the ropes and boarded trolley cars for the park.  All went well until "the lads from the South Side High School" refused to give up the ropes to the next relay team.  The Minneapolis Tribune reported the event:
At this point there was something of unexpected interest. Waving their school flag in triumph from the gable window of the old building the lads from the South Side High School shouted their school yell and BAD DEFIANCE TO ALL COMERS.  At this point the Central High School scholars were billed to relieve the South Siders, and consequently surrounded the building.  The spirit of school rivalry broke out, strong and bitter. The South Siders refused to surrender the fortress and flaunted their banner from the window in spite of all entreaties and orders. Contractor Pratt could not oust them. Supt. Jordan could not oust them, and finally Sergeant Martinson called for a detail of police and made a rush for the house. But the South Side lads were still game, and did not give up until several had been made to feel the force of police authority. Then they made a break. As they dashed from one door the Centrals entered by the other, and their banner was soon flying from the gable amid vociferous cheers. The South Siders were chased up the street by a detachment of Centrals, and for a moment it looked as if the rush would result in some bruised heads. However, good nature was restored and again the house started on its way.
The house arrived in the park at 3 pm along with the last relay team of children, having covered a distance of four miles.  In the evening, 1,000 Japanese lanterns were placed about the park and the festivities included fireworks and an illumination of the falls.  The Tribune newspaper reported that some people complained about the children having a day out of school and  "...the park commissioners and the park policemen objected to the way in which the children took possession of the park and everything in it. There was no such thing as controlling them, and they ran over everything in sight. It would have taken a small regiment of policemen to have kept that throng in check."
Minnehaha Park (Minneapolis)