Walk around the park and play at the play ground but once you get to this cache you may get frustrated by this cache but here's some history about this lake.
Plymouth's history can be traced back to the pre-Colombian period, 1400-1500 AD. The original inhabitants were the Dakota. Their encampment was at the north end of Medicine Lake. The name Medicine Lake is derived from the Native American word "Mdewakan", meaning "Lake of the Spirit." The Dakota named the lake after a warrior overturned his canoe and his body was never recovered.
Antoine LeCounte, a guide and explorer, was the first settler to this area. He arrived in 1848, but did not settle until 1852. He carried mail from the Red River country to points south, trading goods to Native Americans for horses on the way. LeCounte built the first cabin at what is now East Medicine Lake Boulevard at 29th Avenue North.
Plymouth’s Start as a Town
Plymouth's beginning as a town occurred in 1855 on the northwest shores of what is now known as Parkers Lake. A gristmill and other structures were built in the area. In the spring of 1857, when Parkers Lake flooded, the mill was taken down and moved to Freeport, Minnesota. Freeport is now called Wayzata.
As new settlers arrived in the area, they decided to organize. The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners named the new settlement Plymouth. On April 19, 1858, a group of townspeople met at the home of Francis Day to open elections for town offices. On May 11, 1858, the group voted to change the town's name to Medicine Lake. This was used once at the town meeting, but for reasons, which were not recorded, it was never used again.
In 1862, during the conflict between white settlers and the Dakota at Fort Ridgeley, near New Ulm, the settlers of Plymouth formed a militia. When the Civil War started, Plymouth paid its volunteers $25 to enlist. At about this time, Plymouth's growth began to take on a new look. Schools and churches were built and a post office was located in Plymouth. By 1863, hotels were being built.
More changes occurred after the Civil War. By 1880, Plymouth boasted a population of 1,074, and reaped $667 in annual taxes. Farming became the trade of most settlers. Roads were built across Plymouth, making access to other towns possible. Medicine Lake had become a major tourist attraction and resorts were built around its shores.
Local Government Timeline
As the character of the community evolved so did local government. Important dates in Plymouth’s local government history are:
- May 18, 1955 - Plymouth incorporated as a village.
- Aug. 1, 1968 - The city adopted the council-manager form of government.
- Feb. 7, 1974 - Plymouth became a statutory city.
- Nov. 3, 1992 - Plymouth became a home rule charter city when voters opted to adopt a city charter
- Jan. 1, 1993 - The Plymouth City Charter went into effect.
The charter continued the council-manager form of government, and increased the size of the city council. Prior to the adoption of the Charter, the City Council was made up of five members elected at-large. The charter increased the council to seven members elected from four wards.
Learn More: Plymouth Historical Society
To learn more about the history of Plymouth, visit the Plymouth Historical Society website or attend a meeting of the historical society. The group meets at the Plymouth Historical Society Building, 3605 Fernbrook Ln., on the fourth Monday of the month at 7 p.m. The society is housed in the original Plymouth Town Hall.