The high waters of spring and summer, however, made passage over the river slow and unsafe.

[1] In 1847, businessman Franklin Steele and his friend John Stevens established a rope ferry from Nicollet Island to the western side of the river to help travelers cross.

A short time later Steele and local business leaders took steps to build a bridge that would reach both sides of the river.

[2] On March 4, 1852, Steele and his associates were granted a charter by the Territorial Legislature to build a bridge.

[1] The design was "of a modern character" and compared to the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge.

At one o'clock a large parade formed in front of the St. Charles Hotel in Saint Anthony, complete with sleighs filled with people, banners, and a marching band.

After crossing the river, the parade moved through the business district of the municipality of Minneapolis and returned to St. Anthony.