Tug and barges leave the very deep locks next to the Ford dam on the beautiful Mississippi River at Minneapolis. The dam was built to power a Ford auto plant up on the bluff in Saint Paul.

The Ford plant is now closed. It once produced model T cars and I think finished up building the Ranger trucks (I got to visit then). There were sand mines under the plant where Henry quarried sand to make his own window glass in early days (I think UrbExers have occasionally gotten into them; check the web).

These locks are very welcoming to visitors. I love river action and the Twin Cities are a very cool place to hang. In summer!!! :)