Overview

The Stevens House was the first wood frame house in the area that would become Minneapolis.  

• Location: 4901 Minnehaha Avenue 
• Neighborhood: Hiawatha 

Historic photo (1860)

Architecture

• Architectural Style: Greek Revival
• Architect(s): Unknown

Use

• Historic use: Residential
• Current use: Museum

Construction

• Construction date: 1849
• Contractor: Unknown

Significance

• Area(s) of significance: Undefined 
• Period of significance: Undefined 
• Date of local designation: 1983
• Designation: Exterior
• Date of National Register designation: Not individually listed

Historic profile

The Stevens House was the first wood frame house in the area that would become Minneapolis. John H. Stevens built it in 1849. It was located near St. Anthony Falls on the west side of the Mississippi River.  

Stevens was the first settler to this region that was under control of the U.S. military at Fort Snelling. This house is the second oldest house in Minneapolis. It has a Greek Revival design like the Ard Godfrey House, which was built on the east side of the river one year before. The design is simple with wood cladding and rectangular windows. There are prominent eave returns on the front elevation. 

The house was moved many times throughout its history. It ended up in Minnehaha Park. The Minneapolis Park Board helped with its rehabilitation around 1985. It became open to the public as a house museum. 

Three different fires damaged the Stevens House in 2022, but the home did not burn down. The building has undergone repairs to address the damage. 

Photo credit

• Circa 1860 photo: Courtesy of Hennepin County Library

Work cited

• Stevens House designation files 
• Star Tribune archives 
• Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board