Graeser Park featured videos
Graeser Park video playlist
Rock Island video playlist
Watch the documentary that inspired this website.
2001. “Highway 100 – Lilac Way” documentary. The film that inspired this website, Mn/DOT and TPT created this documentary film to record historic Lilac Way artifacts before they were lost to road construction.
It tells the story of the lilacs sold by the Golden Valley Garden Club to raise money, the MN Highway Department (now MnDOT), the Federal government and their collaborative effort to create a place that was more than just a highway. It was a destination. Length: 27:06
Lilac Way History
July 7, 2018. St. Louis Park’s Historic Rock Garden. ParkTV interview with Diane Steen-Hinderlie, talking about the historic Lilac Way ‘Rock Garden’ section of the original Lilac Park on Minnetonka Boulevard and Highway 100. Length – 19:36
July 15, 2009. Historic beehive fireplace moves to new Lilac Park. The City of St. Louis Park and partners moved the 75 year old beehive fireplace and other WPA-built park features to new Lilac Park and restored them to pristine condition. Bob Reiss and Bob Jorvig from SLP Historical Society pushed for the project for years, and Bob Jorvig was there to cut the ribbon for the new Lilac Park. Length – 4:44
2020. “Along The Way: Midwest Waysides and Rest Stops” with Joanna Dowling. Illinois historian Joanna Dowling tours the Midwest’s lesser-recognized roadside rest stops and waysides. Lilac Way is featured at 9:00-11:00! Really puts the seven Lilac Way parks in the context of a national wayside rest design. Learn the history of wayside rests along the heartland’s highways including Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and other spots. Length – 39:40
2015. Highway 100 has rich history. Short and sweet video about Highway 100’s history. Includes footage of Graeser Park and interview with Jamie Korf, AAA spokeswoman. Length – 2:26
1999. Gateway. Documentary of destruction of Gateway District in Minneapolis, MN. Frequented by the homeless and targeted by “urban renewal’, these were the men who helped build Lilac Way on the WPA Program. Length – 9:05