[3] Minnehaha was built by the Twin City Rapid Transit Company (TCRT) in 1906 and provided fast and reliable transportation for the residents of Lake Minnetonka during much of the early twentieth century.

[4] She ran alongside five identical sister vessels named Como, Harriet, Hopkins, Stillwater, and White Bear.

The sleek, launch-style hull of the craft made the boats exceptionally stable and efficient as they cut through the water at a speed of approximately 12 miles per hour (19 km/h).

The primary function assigned to the Express Boats was to provide fast and reliable transportation for the seasonal residents of Lake Minnetonka who commuted to work in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area.

They were designed to closely resemble TCRT's streetcars from the details of their interiors to the yellow and red paint scheme of their exteriors.

In 1990, title of the vessel was transferred to the Steamboat Division of the Minnesota Transportation Museum and an effort to restore her to operational status soon began.

[6] Minnehaha finally returned to passenger service on May 25, 1996, and operated on Lake Minnetonka as an excursion vessel until 2019.