This Small Northern United States Town Has The Best Downtown
Downtown Stillwater, and especially its Main Street, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has it all. Over 100 locally owned restaurants and businesses are dotted throughout five blocks running parallel to the St. Croix River, which forms the boundary between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Many of these local establishments are housed inside historic buildings and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, like the Freight House, a restaurant, beer garden, and tap room all in one.
As the birthplace of Minnesota, Stillwater is teeming with history. Downtown is laced with hidden historic staircases that rise high above downtown, leading to viewpoints and historical landmarks like the Warden’s House Museum. Stillwater’s combination of walkability, historic landmarks, and beloved locally owned establishments makes it a top contender for the best downtown in the Northern US.
A Walkable Historic Main Street
The corner of Myrtle and Main Street is the exact location where the first territorial convention that began the process of establishing Minnesota as a state was held in 1848. Today, the Birthplace of Minnesota tablet is embedded in the wall on Main Street, which commemorates the site where the convention was held, and the name Minnesota was selected, and the spelling was agreed upon.
Main Street showcases downtown Stillwater’s walkability, with several historic staircases laced throughout. The Stillwater Stairs were built in 1857 as a means for brewery workers to get to Main Street from atop the 100-foot bluff. It is now a popular tourist destination that is both a workout and access to the Scenic Overlook on Broadway Street, which grants those who reach the top with views of downtown and the St. Croix River.
At the other end of Main Street, cross over onto Laurel Street and climb the Laurel Stairs, where you will pass the Warden’s House Museum, Stillwater’s only museum. This 14-room house was built in 1853 for the Wardens of the Minnesota Territorial Prison. It opened as a museum in 1941 and contains artifacts from the lumber industry, early pioneers, and the Old Stillwater Prison.
Continue farther up the stairs to reach Pioneer Park, hidden high above downtown, revealing both views of the river valley and town below, as well as ample recreational space. The park is equipped with playground equipment, benches, picnic areas, and public restrooms.
Pedestrian-Only Areas
Chestnut Street Plaza is located between Main Street and the historic lift bridge. This open space offers different views of the river that do not require trekking up historic stairs. Instead, you can access the riverfront path in Lowell Park, which is wide, paved, and generally flat. Along the path, there are open grassy areas for relaxing, a gazebo, and shaded benches.
It also leads to a must-visit landmark in Stillwater, the Stillwater Lift Bridge. The bridge has spanned the river since 1931 and was later listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. While no longer open to traffic, it was converted to a pedestrian and bicycle bridge in 2020, with a wide and paved walkway permitting a smooth transition into Wisconsin. Only six vertical-lift highway bridges were built in Minnesota and Wisconsin prior to World War II, making the Stillwater Lift Bridge a rare and surviving example of bridges of its kind.
Beloved Local Establishments
After spending the day climbing stairs to bluffs high above town, visiting the town’s only museum, and walking along the riverfront, you will no doubt have worked up an appetite. Take in views of the river and lift bridge from the comfort of the Freight House’s outdoor patio. The restaurant occupies a former freight depot building, serving 24 local beers on tap, artisan burgers, and hand-cut fries. It is the perfect hearty meal for a strenuous day walking up and down historic stairs and along the river.
Venture underground to Stillwater’s only speakeasy, the Velveteen Speakeasy, where you can snack on small plates and sip handcrafted cocktails. Alternatively, fuel up on coffee at the Green Bridge Coffee Shop, which is just a few steps away from the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge.
However, there is more to downtown than restaurants, with many local specialty stores like Valley Booksellers, which celebrates local and Minnesota authors, with a selection of books that appeal to readers of every taste. The Stillwater Art Guild Gallery operates out of the Isaac Staples Sawmill Building at the north end of Main Street. Here, you can view art in a myriad of forms, including glassworks, jewelry, paintings, drawings, photography, pottery, ceramics, and sculpture.
A Downtown Like No Other
Stillwater’s downtown creates the perfect ambiance with the help of the gentle lull of the St. Croix River flowing in the background, pedestrian-only areas like the Chestnut Street Plaza, and homages to the arts inside historic buildings like the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery. Not everywhere can perfectly balance a bustling and compact, yet uncrowded, downtown area, while still having places to retreat to in the form of quiet overlooks of the town. Stillwater surpasses the status of the best downtown in Minnesota. It may just be the best downtown in the entire Northern United States.
