Discover the story of Lilac Way.

The Lilac Way section of Highway 100 in Minneapolis has a great history.

It includes ‘beehive’ fireplaces, seven roadside parks, the Great Depression, a garden club, and thousands of lilacs.

Created in 1939, it’s still treasured today.

What was Lilac Way?

Highway 100 was part of a 66-mile ‘Belt Line’ highway built around the Twin Cities in the late 1930’s.

Lilac Way was a 12.5 mile ‘Showcase Section’ of Highway 100 between Robbinsdale and Edina. Lined with thousands of lilacs, it featured seven rustic roadside parks.

Why was Highway 100 called Lilac Way?

Inspired by the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., in 1935 a local newspaper encouraged the MN Highway Department to plant lilacs along the new Highway 100. They agreed, and a garden club helped raise money.

GRAESER PARK OWNERSHIP UPDATE

CCX Media: Graeser Park title transfer from MnDOT to Robbinsdale looks promising

Neil Pursley at CCX Media spoke with Robbinsdale City Manager Marcia Glick and MnDOT’s Historic Roadside Property Program Manager Andrea Weber. They’ve confirmed that most of the documentation to do a transfer to release MnDOT’s easement over the land is complete.

Take your own Lilac Way tour—three parks, eight miles, no entrance fees.

Beehive Fireplaces

Seven Parks

Graeser Park

Lilac Park, restored

Supporting preservation of two historic 1939 Lilac Way parks

Join the groundswell to restore Graeser Park and its rare beehive fireplace.

Graeser Park in Robbinsdale, MN has one of only two beehive fireplaces left in the U.S. Handcrafted in 1939 as one of seven of Lilac Way parks, this piece of history desperately needs to be saved and restored.

New non-profit group formed for future Graeser Park fundraising

The new Graeser Park Restoration & Preservation (GPR&P) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with one mission – future fundraising to restore Graeser Park.

Help preserve Rock Island and raise awareness of this 1939 park.

Saved from demolition, Rock Island is all that remains of the original Lilac Park on Minnetonka Boulevard. Its oval pool, 10′ footbridge to an island and handcrafted curved stone bench are hidden by a noise wall.

We encourage efforts to preserve and raise awareness for this park.

In 2008, the beehive fireplace in the South section of Lilac Park was moved and restored.

Where were the seven Lilac Way parks located on Highway 100?

If you grew up in the area, you probably remember the roadside parks with ‘Fred Flintstone’-style picnic tables. The barbecue fireplaces had rounded tops and were nicknamed ‘The Beehives.”

Only two of the seven parks remain today. Sadly, the other five parks were razed for Highway 100 reconstruction.

Check out the map to see their locations and get more info.