 Despite its name , the Longfellow House was never home to the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ; it was instead the home of Robert F. Jones , a Minneapolis philanthropist and entrepreneur . Built in 1907 , the house is a two @-@ thirds scale replica of Longfellow 's home in Cambridge , Massachusetts . Originally the home was part of Jones ' private 4 @.@ 6 @-@ acre botanical garden and zoological park near Minnehaha Falls . After Jones died , the home fell into disrepair . He had deeded the property to the city which used the house as part of the Minneapolis public library from 1936 to 1967 . The house was moved in 1994 and renovated . It opened as an information center in 2001 . Today the home serves as the public information center at Minnehaha Park . Photos of the home 's previous owner can be seen inside . The most popular photos are shots taken of him in his private " zoo " with lions , bears and birds . The Longfellow House Hospitality Center provide information about the falls and Minneapolis Grand Rounds , a 50 @-@ mile recreation loop which includes Minnehaha Falls . The Longfellow House and John H. Stevens House also co @-@ sponsor 90 @-@ minute historic nature walks around the park . 
