Plan on spending a fair amount of time exploring this historic Minneapolis community made up of five individual neighborhoods: Cooper, Hiawatha, Howe, Longfellow and Seward. Longfellow is named after the American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, whose famous poem, “The Song of Hiawatha,” incorporated tales of the Dakota Native American tribe who inhabited this area for centuries before European settlers. Located along the breathtaking Mississippi River Gorge, the Longfellow community is rich in nature and recreation with scenic expanses including the fabled Minnehaha Falls and miles of parkland, biking, and hiking trails. It is also home to unique Craftsman-style and star architect residential housing and the Minnehaha Mile, a wide, bike-friendly retail boulevard hosting an abundance of antique, vintage, retro, and secondhand shops. All this along with great eating and entertainment establishments make for a great time for all!

When exploring Longfellow, you can’t miss Minnehaha Falls, an impressive, urban waterfall that changes with the seasons. Some think it’s most beautiful in the winter, when the falls freeze. In Minnehaha Park, Sea Salt is a neighborhood favorite for sea food and, most recently, gourmet sandwiches. Maybe you’re in search of a more historic dining experience. In that case, visit Hi-Lo Diner — an original 1957 Fodero Diner that was relocated from Pennsylvania to Minneapolis. Order a Hi-Top: savory breakfast flavors piled on a homemade donut. For shopping, you can’t miss Moon Palace Books, a colorful independent bookstore that carries new bestsellers and used favorites, and Turquoise Vintage for its kitschy, unique antique finds. The day can’t end without a visit to Arbeiter Brewing (next door to Moon Palace Books) for craft beer. In search of delicious craft coffee? Pay Dogwood Coffee a visit and hang out in their colorful, vibey café.

Getting to and Around Longfellow

Metro Transit

Bordered on the north by the Midtown Greenway, a bicycle and pedestrian trail linking the Mississippi River all the way to the Uptown Neighborhood, and the Chain of Lakes in the west, on the south by Minnehaha Park and Falls, on the east by the Mississippi River Gorge, and on the West by the Hiawatha (Blue) Light Rail line, Longfellow is easily accessible by public transportation to downtown Minneapolis, MSP International Airport, and the Mall of America. Because the Longfellow Community is rather sizeable, it may be advisable hire a car or ride share. Seasonally, bicycles are a perfect way to tour the area.

Public Transit Routes:
46th Street & Minnehaha Station
Metro Blue Line
SCHEDULE times for A Line buses

Connecting bus routes:

7 - serves south Minneapolis, downtown Minneapolis, north Minneapolis
9 - serves south Minneapolis, downtown Minneapolis, Golden Valley, St. Louis Park and Minnetonka
46 - serves Edina, 46th Street, Highland Park, Cleveland Avenue, Sibley Plaza
74 - serves Highland Park, Randolph Avenue, St. Catherine's University, downtown St. Paul, Sun Ray, Oakdale