But hennepin is more than a name in minnesotas rich heritage. New discovery of a vast country in america rare book for sale. He gained fame in the seventeenth century with the publication of his dramatic stories of. In the case of father hennepin, as in the case of homer, columbus, and other historic figures, several towns have claimed the.
We help people understand their world through an exploration of local history with exhibits, public programs, a magazine, and a public research library. Niagara falls history tour the story of father louis. Hennepin, louis, one of the most famous explorers in the wilds of north america during the seventeenth century, b. Louis hennepin spent only a few months in minnesota, but his influence is undeniable.
Louis hennepin was born in the spanish netherlands in 1626. Anthony falls, and european catholics soon began to settle nearby. Our lady of lourdes church is the oldest continuously used church in the city of minneapolis. At this time hennepin lost the favor of louis xiv, and his books were dedicated to king william iii of england. The following are some of the most important and most recent studies on father louis hennepin. Hennepins explored the mississippi at a time when antient medicine was at a peak. Posted by ravenswood historical society webmaster on march 27, 20.
Born in 1626 in ath in the spanish netherlands, he is best known as an explorer of the interior of north america. Bookprinted material louis hennepin, the franciscan. Perhaps most amazing, hennepin is believed to be the first european to see the splendor of niagara falls, and at a minimum his journal account of seeing them in 1678 is the earliest known written reference to the famous falls. From an oil painting by an unknown artist in the museum. The book was printed at paris and was issued during the month of january in the year 1683. Father louis hennepin, jonathan carver, and zebulon pike, to name a few. Bibliographical notice of the works of father louis hennepin, a recollect of the province of st. Courtesy of the minnesota historical society painting of father louis hennepin at st. Historic photos of minneapolis by heather block lawton.
The 50foot drop was known as minirara curling water to the dakota, and kakabikah the severed rock by the ojibwe before father louis hennepin honored his patron saint anthony of padua by bestowing it with the boring modern name. The park is named after father louis hennepin, a priest who visited the area with a french expedition in 1680. History of hennepin county and the city of minneapolis. Catholic immigration to the region increased in the 1800s. Several pages on the indian country and the manners of the indians. In 1682, hennepin published an account of his travels to the area called a description of louisiana, newly discovered. Father louis hennepin at niagara falls world history. The stories are told on a system of kiosks and information signs. His first book, a description of louisiana, newly discovered to the. While his widely read travel accounts were more fiction than fact, they. Father louis hennepin and antoine auguelle discover st. Father hennepins legacy louis hennepin returned to europe, and several of his records from the new world were published as books between 1683 and 1698. This first edition by father louis hennepin is available at bauman rare books. There is enough evidence out there to indicate this book was pretty much copied plagiarized by hennepin, for whatever reason.
Louis hennepin attended the ecole latine in the town of ath province of hainaut. Economically, it created a city with no peer west of chicago to the rock mountains and south to st. Hennepin county, minnesota had a population of 1,152,425, as of the 2010 census, an increase of 3. On this date in 1852, hennepin county is created by the minnesota territorial legislature. This book is regarded as not only very interesting, but as fairly accurate. The remaining debate on the new father louis hennepin bridge was the style of the bridge. Anthony is the artists depiction of the moment that father louis hennepin. He wrote about his experiences in a book minneapoliss first travel guide and named the area st. In his writings he always refers to himself as a fleming. He became a catholic priest and missionary of the franciscan order. Father louis hennepins description of louisiana book. Central minneapolis the father of waters has only one natural waterfall, st.
Hennepin was also the first european to make a record of viewing niagara falls. Genealogy and local history learn about family and local history with research tools and resources highlighting minneapolis and its suburbs. While that would serve the purpose, city hall wanted a signature structure that would reflect the. In the spring of 1676 he went to lake ontario to replace father leonard. Father hennepin state park is a state park of minnesota, usa, located on the southeast corner of mille lacs lake. Contains historic information about local businesses, former. From father louis hennepin and saint anthony falls, to becoming the.
Neill, and outlines of the history of minnesota, by j. During his travels in minnesota during the late 1600s, catholic missionary father louis hennepin came across the only significant waterfall along the mississippis 2,340mile span. Father louis hennepin, a recollect friar, is best known as an early explorer of minnesota. Near this spot in 1680, father louis hennepin first sighted and named the falls of st. In may 1675 king louis xiv of france requested that four missionaries be sent to new france in north america. Father louis hennepin, missionary recollect introduction there is a controversy with this book by hennepin. In narrating the next ensuing events of his life, hennepin states. Father louis hennepin, a recollect friar, is best known for his early. Falls of the mississippi by a son of ath, the father hennepin. The city of champlin, minnesota, the site historians report where he first crossed the mississippi in 1680, holds an annual father hennepin festival on the 2nd weekend of june that includes a reenactment of father louis hennepin crossing the mississippi river. Marchand it is relatively unknown that in 1680, father louis hennepin, a priest from belgium, was the first european to walk on the ground of what would become minneapolis northwest of frontenac, one of americas largest cities, and to see the only natural falls on the upper mississippi which he named falls of.
Father louis hennepins description of louisiana by father louis. Louis hennepin article about louis hennepin by the free. The park was named for father louis hennepin, a franciscan priest who was the first european to view st. Local history resources focus on minnesota and hennepin county, including a large minneapolis history collection. Hennepin history museum brings the diverse history of people in hennepin county to life. Father louis hennepin 1626 1705, baptized antoine, was a catholic priest and missionary of the franciscan recollect order. Although father hennepin spent only a few months in minnesota, his influence is undeniable.
Father louis hennepin was born in 1626 as antoine hennepin in ath, spanish netherlands, what is now belgium. Some wanted an economical structure much like the plymouth avenue bridge. French explorer and naturalist source 2 background. Hennepins book proved to be an enormous success that. Painted by douglas volk in 1905, father hennepin discovering the falls of st. Recollets and an explorer of the interior of north america. Some believe he may have been as interested in attaining historic distinction and wealth as he was in his evangelistic commission. He gained fame in the seventeenth century with the publication of his dramatic stories in the territory. T o french explorers and traders probing westward from eastern canada in the early 1500s, rumors of a great river stirred fantasies that only the unknown can evoke. The county is named for father louis hennepin, a franciscan missionary who discovered and named the falls of st.
In 1698 hennepin received a grant of money from william, for whom he offered to guide a fleet to the gulf of mexico. Having returned to the netherlands, the reverend father william herenx, late bishop of ypres. This engraving appeared in the 1697 edition of his journal, and was reprinted the following year in the first english edition. Historians note that his reports were exaggerated and he sometimes gave himself undeserved credit. A historic resources study of the mississippi national river and. His first book, a description of louisiana, newly discovered to the southwest of new. Jean delanglez, hennepins description of louisiana, a critical essay institute of jesuit history pub. Father louis hennepins description of louisiana by canoe to the upper mississippi in 1680 by father louis hennepin and marion e. The city of minneapolis incorporated in 1867 is the county seat for hennepin county minnesota, and had a population of 392,880 as of the 2010 census. Father louis hennepin, a recollect friar, is best known as an early. Thus began the first printed description of niagara falls, originally published in 1678 by the franciscan missionary, father louis hennepin 1626 c.
203 1265 840 960 998 689 337 182 118 1287 1136 382 168 473 1369 916 1449 734 580 1125 1395 434 350 83 1433 643 372 43 1015 588 827 1464 238