EXCELSIOR-LAKE MINNETONKA HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO PRESENT “WRITING ON THE WATER” CRUISE FEATURING STORIES ABOUT LAKE MINNETONKA ON STEAMBOAT “MINNEHAHA”

The Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society (ELMHS) will present “Writing on the Water,” a cruise aboard the historic steamboat “Minnehaha” featuring two of the Twin Cities’ finest voices reading passages about Lake Minnetonka, written by authors both famous and unknown. The cruise will take place on Monday, July 8, boarding at 6:45 pm and departing at 7:00 pm. Passengers will board at the “Minnehaha” charter dock behind 687 Excelsior Boulevard in Excelsior. Tickets are $22.50 for ELMHS members, $37.50 for non-members and may be purchased online at writingonthewater.eventbrite.com. For more information contact the Society at info@elmhs.org, 952-221-4766 or visit www.elmhs.org.

Lake Minnetonka has served as an inspiration to writers from Elizabeth Fries Ellet in 1852 to Henry David Thoreau in 1861 to Sinclair Lewis in 1942 and beyond. During the cruise, nationally-known stage, screen and radio actors Mark Benninghofen (Guthrie Theater, Theater Latte Da) and Sue Scott (“A Prairie Home Companion”) will read words about the lake written by various authors while the “Minnehaha” cruises by some of the locations described. Passengers will hear how impressions of this famous body of water have changed - and remained the same.

New this year, ELMHS is excited to partner with the Excelsior Streetcar Line of the Minnesota Streetcar Museum in order to offer ticket holders an authentic "streetcar to streetcar boat" experience at no additional cost. Passengers may take a brief tour of the ELMHS Museum (old Excelsior Depot) at 305 Water Street and check-in between 6:15 and 6:45 pm to take the trolley to Excelsior Boulevard, approximately a block away from the "Minnehaha" charter dock. Following the cruise the trolley will be waiting to pick passengers up and bring them back to the ELMHS Museum.