This is The Port of Minneapolis, a city-owned barge terminal that is operated by River Services, Inc. Truck traffic makes this a dangerous place. Almost any non-hazardous commodity may be present at this terminal, including grain, lumber, phosphate fertilizer, seed oil, steel, twine, paper, pipes, and salt. The igloo-shaped storage tanks are used for solids, and some are insulated to keep stored products from freezing into one large chunk. Several very large insulated liquid storage tanks are near the road. These tanks are not currently used, note the vegetation taking root on their roofs. These tanks were for asphalt oil and other heavy oils which need the insulation to keep stored product warm enough to be pumpable. Note the dike around the large tanks, required to keep the contents of the tanks from flowing to the river and streets if the tanks ever should rupture.

The Upper Harbor Terminal is one of only four remaining active barge facilities above the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. The others are Holcim Cement (RM 857.4), American Iron (RM 856.3) and Aggregate Industries (RM 855.9). The According to its “Above the Falls Master Plan” Minneapolis’ long-term plans for the property include converting the riverfront portion of the land to a new park and redeveloping the portion of the land further from the river as housing.

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Members: ToXiC & Brute
Photos by: ToXiC w/ Sony Cybershot DSC-H9 8.1
Written by: ToXiC
April 2009 Trip #1

The Brute and I had done a sight seeing tour of the area at some point in the past. Deciding to do so again we set off one day. Noticing the seemingly active Terminal I didn’t pay much attention until I noticed how much disarray cluttered the surrounding area. Deciding to take a further look during that day we noticed that there wasnt anyone around. After walking around the outside a bit more we decided we would come back that night and scope it out.

Parking a fair ways off that night we drove by and it seemed pretty quiet. We decided that walking straight up to it would be easy enough. Keeping a weary eye on the semi-trucks nearby we walked silently toward our mission. Through the soft black dirt and shadow we arrived in front of one of the domes. It was a massive alien looking structure from the base.

We headed around to the other side. As we rounded the corner I noticed an orange light emanating from the inside of a warehouse connected to one of the domes. I signaled to Brute that I was going to check it out. As I walked inside and looked toward the interior of the dome I was awed by its magnitude. I decided to come back on our way out to check it out more thoroughly. I headed back outside in an attempt to find Brute but he was nowhere to be found; so for 5 minutes I wandered around until I saw him.

We decided to roam towards the center of the complex. We encountered another Dome and a large Warehouse. We didn’t see any easy way in for Brute on the other Dome but I guessed it was more the same as the other and the Warehouse proved impenetrable. So as were about to head away from the Warehouse we heard a small whistle of sorts above us up the hill. It was so sudden that we both crouched by an electrical box next to the Warehouse. We waited to see what would happen if anything.

It was the night shift from a neighboring manufacturing business letting the employees know that the graveyard shift was over. They were all gradually leaving and entering their trucks to go home. So after about 10 minutes the coast was clear and we started our exploration again.

The first thing we both noticed was an outside shed of sorts. Not very interesting at first until we both looked under the roof to see a 1,200hp locomotive sitting underneath. My eyes burst with joy as I ran over to it in awe not believing any logical reason to its purpose here. My wits came back to me and I realized it was kind of in a location visible from both sides so we didn’t stay near the locomotive long. Brute took a couple snap shots of the inside and we went back towards the the main facility.

We were now checking the last side of the building. We noticed a ladder that led up towards the roof of what I believe was a head house for the operations of the area. We went up to the 3rd floor and tried out the metal grated floor. Brute, who has a fear of heights, also dosn’t trust metal grated floors and decided he wasnt up for all the climbing. So we headed down and decided to head around to the other side and check out the basement.

The door had been left open somewhat ajar. We were hoping to find an elevator to the top but were disappointed. So to the basement we went. Entering the familiar raccoon shit stained water logged basement (somewhat similar to Purina) of Mills we were faced with two possible directions, left or right, we went right. It ended into a corridor with a conveyor belt on it going to a dead end with a roof latch on it. I asked Brute to lift it and see what was out there. He climbed up a the ladder a bit and opened it to find a short roof. We headed back down the corridor and took a quick peak at the left side, it was the same thing not worthy of us checking out.

On our way out I was determined to show Brute the interior of the Domes. As he entered he was in complete fascination. We did what everyone else does in this situation… we started echoing. After some photos and more echoing we decided it was time to head out with the morning traffic picking up.

So we headed out with no trouble. Guess I still have to go back and finish the head house.

Sources
1) http://fieldguide.fmr.org/site_detail.php?site_id=60