With summer just around the corner and prime picnicking season already upon us, we present a century’s worth of images of that perennial warm-weather sightseeing destination: Minnehaha Falls. Tourists and naturalists alike have long appreciated the falls and surrounding parkland for their dramatic views, shady woods and abundant wildlife. Luckily for future generations, they documented their trips in photographs, many of which are preserved in the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society.

Music credit: Cian Nugent, “Grass Above My Head,” recorded live at WFMU on The Long Rally with Scott McDowell, December 16, 2011 (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)