Nicollet Island, nestled in the heart of the Mississippi River between the east and west banks of Minneapolis, has a rich and layered history that stretches back centuries. Long before European settlers arrived, the island and surrounding riverbanks were home to Dakota people who used the area for fishing, travel, and seasonal encampments. With the arrival of white settlers in the mid-19th century, the island quickly became a strategic site due to its location near St. Anthony Falls, the only major waterfall on the Mississippi River. By the 1860s, Nicollet Island was platted for development and became a fashionable residential area as Minneapolis expanded rapidly with the rise of lumber and flour milling industries.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Nicollet Island evolved into a mixed-use area, home to stately homes, boarding houses, industrial operations, and rail infrastructure. Warehouses and factories sprang up, and the island became a key point in the city’s growing transportation and energy networks. However, by the mid-20th century, the island had declined significantly. Many homes and buildings fell into disrepair, and some were demolished to make way for new development plans that never fully materialized. In the 1970s, amidst growing concern over the loss of historic fabric in Minneapolis, preservationists and city planners began to see Nicollet Island as an opportunity for historic preservation and adaptive reuse.

Thanks to a coalition of civic leaders, neighborhood advocates, and historic preservationists, Nicollet Island experienced a revival in the late 20th century. Historic homes were restored, the DeLaSalle High School campus remained an anchor, and new parkland and trails were established as part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Today, Nicollet Island is a rare urban space where natural beauty, residential life, and remnants of Minneapolis’s industrial past coexist. It remains a vital part of the city's identity, serving as both a cultural landmark and a tranquil green space just steps from downtown.