Last Sunday Cam and I made the 45-minute drive northeast to Stillwater, a small town proudly nestled along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. A decidedly historic, yet vibrant river community, Stillwater which overlooks the St. Croix has been voted one of America’s Most Picturesque Small Towns, thus making it the perfect destination for a low-key day trip from the Twin Cities.
Life in Stillwater exploded during the height of the logging boom (1856 to 1914) when timber from upriver was sorted, stored, and then dispatched to sawmills downstream. In these days, lumberjacks populated the city, log jams peppered the water, and grand steamboats traveled up and down the river bringing both people and supplies to what was then the largest city in Minnesota. In fact, Stillwater hails as the official “Birthplace of Minnesota,” as in 1848 it hosted the territorial convention for establishing the 32nd state on the corner of Myrtle and Main Street.
Today, this vibrant history is evident everywhere you turn, and the river town teems with a mix of historical charm, modern amenities, and natural wonders. Stillwater’s Historic Main Street alone is the home of museums, art galleries, breweries, an abundance of local shops, and a seemingly endless offering of antique hotspots. In fact, in 2017 Fodor’s Travel named Stillwater one of the “10 Best Antiquing Towns in America” with numerous opportunities to explore Civil War era memorabilia, rare vintage light fixtures, and much, much more.
However, perhaps Stillwater’s most iconic feature is its impressive “olive green” lift bridge. Built in 1931, the historic bridge connects Minnesota and Wisconsin and is one of only three remaining national structures of its kind. The lift bridge was originally constructed to serve over 18,000 daily vehicles by connecting Minnesota State Highway 36 and Wisconsin Highway 64. However, in 2017 the newly constructed St. Croix Crossing Bridge adopted this purpose, ultimately allowing the Stillwater Lift Bridge to be historically preserved and converted for pedestrian and bicycle use. Notably, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and has since become an iconic symbol of Stillwater and everything the bustling historic town has to offer. In fact, Stillwater loves its bridge so much it even named a brewery after it: Lift Bridge Brewing began in 2008 with the mission of “elevating[1] life’s moments with the perfect pairing” and has since become Minnesota’s sixth largest craft brewery. Not too shabby for an old logging town!
With its rich history, natural beauty, and diverse shopping amenities there’s certainly no shortage of adventures to be had in Stillwater. That said, we knew our day trip would look a little different now versus if we had planned a visit in 2019 B.C[2]. Wanting to avoid large crowds and unnecessary indoor spaces, Cam and I conducted some preliminary research and hit the road, excited to spend time outside and explore a welcomed change of scenery.
In no time at all we found ourselves on the banks of the St. Croix, caught up in the quaint charm and historical flourish that pervades this slice of Minnesota. We made it our mission to get as close to the water as possible and were delighted by what we saw. With blue skies, brilliant boats, and endless opportunities for peoplewatching, we quickly found ourselves transfixed by the calming, restorative nature of this new setting.
Growling stomachs prompted us to temporarily forgo the riverfront in search of sustenance, and after exploring (and being deterred by) several more-densely populated dining options we settled on picking up sandwiches from a local co-op, River Market, so we could practice social distancing and enjoy an alfresco picnic alongside the St. Croix.
After lunch we strolled Main Street, popping in and out of a few shops and appreciating the abundant charm that colors downtown Stillwater. It didn’t take long for the soaring temperature and brilliant sun to convince us it was time for something cool and delicious, and we stopped by Minnesota Nice Cream for a refreshing reprieve. We enjoyed soft-serve cones that combined strawberry, almond, and lemon to create a pleasantly perfect flavor combination that was as surprising as it was scrumptious. My cone was even decked out with edible glitter, and we savored our sweet, shiny treats as we subconsciously migrated back to the water where we could once again view that spectacular “olive green” bridge.
Bridges carry a plurality of deeper meanings. Union. Adventure. Transcendence: They have long represented connective points of passage, links between one realm or state of being to the next, markers of progress and harbingers of life’s inherent, unavoidable, and natural propensity for change. Gazing up at the construction from a bygone era, I was struck by this symbolism and its natural connection to the passage of time. All narrative arcs—including the stories that comprise our lives—inevitably involve passage from one “thing”—place, mindset, state of being, etc.—to the next. In fact, the best stories in life frequently involve multiple “bridges” demanding to be crossed, with progress typically stalling until we muster the courage needed to tackle these milestones and overcome looming obstacles.
Often bridges invoke feelings of uncertainty and anxiety; we don’t know what lies above them, below them, or on the other side of them, and this gives us pause to ponder if we really need to take the next step forward, or if we are better off staying put in the familiar comfort of where we currently stand. Change is naturally ambiguous and never easy, and yet growth comes when we take definitive action and choose to cross over into new territory, despite—or in spite—of the unknown.
The effect is naturally freeing and unapologetically liberating, a symbolism that becomes even more fitting when juxtaposed with the “olive green” hue that characterizes the Stillwater Lift Bridge. Olives and olive branches have long connoted peace and victory from that which confines us, and the color therefore “elevates” this metaphor one step further: A point of connection that, if we choose to cross it, can bring us one step closer to a larger sense of peace, fulfillment, and transformational growth.
What a fitting reminder for this current period of anxiety and utter lack of “normalcy”:
Look up.
Take the leap.
Cross the bridge.
Though we might not yet know where it leads, making the
decision to embrace uncertainty, conquer our fears, and courageously forge
ahead indicates we are already on the right path and good things most certainly
lie ahead.
[1] A little bridge word play: I see what they did there!
[2] “Before Corona,” that is.
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