Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a 72 mi and 54000 acre protected corridor along the Mississippi River through Minneapolis–Saint Paul in the U.S. state of Minnesota, from the cities of Dayton and Ramsey to just downstream of Hastings. This stretch of the upper Mississippi River includes natural, historical, recreational, cultural, scenic, scientific, and economic resources of national significance. This area is the only national park site dedicated exclusively to the Mississippi River. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is sometimes abbreviated as MNRRA (often pronounced like "minn-ruh") or MISS, the four-letter code the National Park Service assigned to the area. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is classified as one of four national rivers in the United States, and despite its name is technically not one of the 40 national recreation areas.

History
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area was established in 1988 as a new unique type of national park known as a partnership park. Unlike traditional national parks, the National Park Service is not a major land owner and therefore does control the land use. The National Park Service works in partnership with several partners (e.g., local, state, and federal governments, nonprofits, businesses, educational institutions, and individual people) who own land along the river or have an interest in the Mississippi River to achieve the National Park Service's mission to protect and preserve for future generations. Some of the park's most prominent attractions are the St. Anthony Falls Historic District (including Mill City Museum, the Guthrie Theater, the Stone Arch Bridge, and Mill Ruins Park), Fort Snelling and the adjacent Fort Snelling State Park, Minnehaha Falls, and the Winchell Trail. There are many additional attractions, trails, and programs in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area. The park spans Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington Counties, all within the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area.

As of 2016, the area has two visitor centers, one inside the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul and the other at Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam in Minneapolis, both staffed by National Park Service rangers. The Minneapolis visitor center offers three free tours daily of the Upper Saint Anthony Lock and surrounding area. Each year, the rangers manage community activities, including interpretive sessions, bike rides, and movies, to educate the local community about the area's natural and human history.

Sections
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is between River Miles 879 and 806. The National Park Service categorizes it into five approximate sections:


 * 1) The Wild and Scenic River (River Mile 879 to 863) — North of the Twin Cities the river is a state wild and scenic river, slowing as it reaches the Coon Rapids Dam. This segment begins at the confluence of Crow River and the Mississippi near Ramsey and Dayton and flows to Banfil Island at Brooklyn Park and Fridley.
 * 2) The River of the Falls/The Urban River (River Mile 862 to 852) — From Brooklyn Center the river approaches several falls, beginning with Saint Anthony, and enters the historic Milling District near downtown Minneapolis.
 * 3) The Gorge/Where the Rivers Meet (River Mile 852 to 843)  — After the Milling District, the river enters the Mississippi gorge that extends past Fort Snelling State Park to its confluence with the Minnesota River.
 * 4) The Working River (River Mile 840 to 833)  — From near downtown Saint Paul, the river begins to feature towboats and barge traffic as it winds to the Pig's Eye Lake Scientific and Natural Area.
 * 5) The Forested Floodplain (River Mile 833 to 806)  — From South Saint Paul, the river widens further with numerous backwaters and the bluffs are higher. Past Hastings and toward the Vermillion River, the Mississippi becomes wilder again.

Places to visit
The park's website lists the following locations or features as partner sites.