Discover the story of Lilac Way.

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

It includes beehive-shaped fireplaces, seven parks, the Great Depression, a garden club, and thousands of lilacs.

Creating it took a herculean effort, that we treasure almost 80 years later.

What was Lilac Way?

Built in the late 1930’s, Lilac Way was a 12.5 mile stretch of Highway 100 between Highway 52 (now 81) in Robbinsdale, and Highway 5 (78th Street) in Edina.

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.

Beehive Fireplaces

Roadside Parks

Restored Lilac Park

MnDOT’s Commitment

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.

Join the groundswell to save and restore Lilac Way’s Graeser Park.

One of only two beehive fireplaces left in the U.S. is located in Graeser Park in Robbinsdale, Minnesota.

Hand-built in 1939 by unemployed stonemasons as part of Lilac Way, this rare and historical beehive fireplace desperately needs to be preserved.

St. Louis Park, Minnesota has restored the other beehive, now in Lilac Park.

Encourage the St. Louis Park City Council to save Lilac Way’s Rock Island.

This 1939 Rock Island used to be part off the large original Lilac Park on Minnetonka Boulevard in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Also known as Monkey Island and Hidden Park, the large rock garden on the North end of park is hidden by a noise wall. We’d like the City of St. Louis Park to request that MnDOT transfer owner to SLP, so it can be restored.

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