Raspberry Island (formerly called Navy Island) is located in the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...
in
Saint Paul
Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
, United States. Buildings for the Minnesota Boat Club have sat upon the island since 1885; the
Minnesota Boat Club Boathouse structure was built in 1910. Between 1949 and 1968, the island was used by the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
. The City of Saint Paul manages the island as part of the
Harriet Island Regional Park. Paths, a plaza, and a
bandshell
In theater, a shell (also known as an acoustical shell, choral shell or bandshell) is a curved, hard surface designed to reflect sound towards an audience.
Often shells are designed to be removable, either rolling away on wheels or lifting into ...
were installed on Raspberry Island during renovations by the city in the early 2000s.
Geographic features
Raspberry Island is located in the Mississippi River under the
Wabasha Street Bridge
The Wabasha Street Bridge is a segmental bridge that spans the Mississippi River in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. It was named Wabasha Street Freedom Bridge in 2002, to commemorate the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks ...
.
It has a total area of
and sits at an elevation of above sea level.
The Raspberry Island Bridge connects it to the mainland.
History
Raspberry Island was originally named for the
wild raspberries that grew on it, with the name appearing on the first map of downtown Saint Paul in 1851.
In 1885, a wooden structure was built to house the
Minnesota Boat Club, the oldest athletic club in the state. The club constructed a new home in 1910, the
Minnesota Boat Club Boathouse, designed by George H. Carsley in the style of
Mission Revival architecture
The Mission Revival style was part of an architectural movement, beginning in the late 19th century, for the revival and reinterpretation of American colonial styles. Mission Revival drew inspiration from the late 18th and early 19th century ...
.
The name Raspberry Island remained until 1949, when the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
built a small base on the eastern side of the island—the west side was owned by the Minnesota Boat Club—and it subsequently became known as Navy Island. Flooding in 1965 washed the wooden bridge connecting the island to the mainland from its moorings and away downstream. The Navy departed from the island in 1968.
Many
downtown Saint Paul
Downtown Saint Paul is the central business district of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. Its boundaries are the Mississippi River to the south, University Avenue to the north, US 52 to the east, and Kellogg Avenue to the west. It is bounded ...
employees used the island as an unofficial parking lot during the 1970s and 1980s.
A 1995
Saint Paul City Council
The Saint Paul City Council is the governing body of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, as part of a strong mayor–council government. There are seven members from seven wards who are elected to four-year terms. Amy Brendmoen is the current ...
resolution changed the name back to Raspberry Island.
Log jam
A log jam is a naturally occurring phenomenon characterized by a dense accumulation of tree trunks and pieces of large wood across a vast section of a river, stream, or lake. ("Large wood" is commonly defined as pieces of wood more than in diame ...
s were recorded near the bridge that connects the island to the mainland in 2010 and again in 2013.
These caused trouble for local boaters whose docking space was diminished by the presence of the logs.
The City of Saint Paul funded removal of the logs in both instances.
By the early 2000s, the island was described as a "rather scruffy, barren place". The City of Saint Paul renovated structures and added amenities in 2007–2008. The shoreline was strengthened with limestone
riprap
Riprap (in North American English), also known as rip rap, rip-rap, shot rock, rock armour (in British English) or rubble, is human-placed rock or other material used to protect shoreline structures against scour and water, wave, or ice erosion. ...
; public restrooms were added to the Minnesota Boat Club building; a plaza, trails, and an event lawn were constructed near a new bandshell designed for Saint Paul's Schubert Club; and 131 trees and numerous other shrubs, grasses, and flowers were planted.
The total project cost $5 million.
Media coverage
Local
WCCO-TV
WCCO-TV (channel 4) is a television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, broadcasting the CBS network to the Twin Cities area. It is owned and operated by the network's CBS News and Stations division, and maintains studios ...
named the island's boat club one of Minnesota's best places at which to hold a wedding reception, noting that " it might be located downtown, none of the bustle or the noise of the city reaches the island".
See also
*
History of Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, the county seat of Ramsey County, and the state capital of Minnesota. The origin and growth of the city were spurred by the proximity of Fort Snelling, the first major United ...
*
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a and protected corridor along the Mississippi River through the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro in the U.S. state of Minnesota, from the cities of Dayton and Ramsey, to just downstream of Ha ...
*
Upper Mississippi River
The Upper Mississippi River is the portion of the Mississippi River upstream of St. Louis, Missouri, United States, at the confluence of its main tributary, the Missouri River.
History
In terms of geologic and hydrographic history, the Upper ...
References
Further reading
*
*
External links
Raspberry Island on the City of Saint Paul website*
{{Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
River islands of Minnesota
Islands of the Mississippi River
Geography of Saint Paul, Minnesota
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Parks in Saint Paul, Minnesota
United States Navy schools and training
Landforms of Ramsey County, Minnesota