 When Minnesota purchased Minnehaha Falls and surrounding land in 1889 , it became one of the first state parks in the United States ; only New York had created a state park by that time . The next summer the park board began to furnish the park with tables , seating , and lavatories . By 1893 a pavilion had been built and the park approved funding for two bridges " of a rustic nature " , one above the falls and the other below . A refectory designed by noted architect Harry Wild Jones was built in 1905 to serve " refreshments of a clean and wholesome nature at a reasonable cost . " In 1926 the park board designated the park to be a center for winter sports activities ; plans were made to build a ski jump and the board purchased toboggans for rental . Major improvements including retaining walls , bridges , and stairs were made by federal Works Progress Administration ( WPA ) crews from 1932 to 1940 . 
