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| Como-Harriet Streetcar | |
|---|---|
| Name | Como-Harriet Streetcar |
| Caption | Restored streetcar on Lake Harriet line |
| Type | Heritage streetcar |
| Locale | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Owner | Minnesota Streetcar Museum |
| Operator | Minnesota Streetcar Museum |
| Opened | 1971 |
| Status | Operating |
Como-Harriet Streetcar is a heritage streetcar line operated by the Minnesota Streetcar Museum running along Lake Harriet and connecting neighborhoods in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota and adjacent to Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board properties. The line preserves early 20th-century electric transit equipment and infrastructure associated with the Twin City Rapid Transit Company, Twin Cities urban development, and the broader American street railway revival. It serves as a living exhibit for urban transportation history tied to figures, institutions, and sites such as Horace Cleveland, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., Harrison Ford-adjacent filming locations, and civic preservation efforts aligning with national trends exemplified by National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The streetcar operation traces its roots to the legacy of the Twin City Rapid Transit Company and the street railway era that shaped Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. Early influences include the expansion of interurban and urban lines like the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad and local franchises tied to municipal park planning by Horace Cleveland and later planning by Theodore Wirth. Preservation momentum in the 1960s and 1970s mirrored national movements led by institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and advocacy by organizations like the National Railway Historical Society and Historic American Engineering Record. The founding of the Minnesota Streetcar Museum built on volunteer efforts, municipal agreements with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and technical guidance from restoration specialists associated with the Illinois Railway Museum, Seashore Trolley Museum, and volunteers from the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society.
The line operates on a right-of-way adjacent to Lake Harriet, connecting termini near the Como Park area and the Lind-Bohanon vicinity through parkland under management of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Trackage, overhead wiring, and stops were reconstructed with reference to practices used by the Metropolitan Transit Commission (Minnesota), the historic Twin Cities Rapid Transit electrification standards, and safety protocols influenced by the Federal Transit Administration. Service patterns include seasonal schedules, special charters, and event operations coordinated with entities such as Minneapolis Institute of Art, Walker Art Center, Guthrie Theater, and neighborhood associations including the Linden Hills Community Organization. Interoperability and signaling follow precedents from heritage operations at the San Francisco Municipal Railway and the New Orleans Streetcars systems.
The fleet comprises restored PCC cars, Birney cars, and utility trailers sourced from collections and acquisitions involving agencies such as the Pittsburgh Railways Company, Twin City Rapid Transit Company archives, and municipal systems like Boston Elevated Railway. Notable pieces include cars reflecting design lineage from manufacturers such as Pullman Company, St. Louis Car Company, and J.G. Brill Company. Mechanical systems, traction motors, controllers, and braking equipment were refurbished referencing documentation from the American Public Transportation Association and parts donors including the Rock Island Railroad heritage groups. Volunteers trained in preservation techniques learned methodologies from the National Park Service conservation guidelines and engineering input from academics at the University of Minnesota and technical staff with experience from the Chicago Transit Authority.
Restoration projects involved collaboration with municipal preservation offices, the Minnesota Historical Society, and national standards promoted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Historic American Buildings Survey. Funding and advocacy drew support from foundations such as the McKnight Foundation, Gannett Foundation, and local corporate partners including the Target Corporation and U.S. Bank. Conservation work balanced historical authenticity with modern safety codes enforced by the Federal Railroad Administration and local inspectors from Hennepin County. Training programs and apprenticeships were developed in partnership with vocational programs at Hennepin Technical College and university departments such as the University of Minnesota College of Design, while documentation was archived with assistance from the Minnesota Digital Library.
The operation serves as a cultural asset linking community festivals, heritage commemorations, and civic programming such as Open Streets initiatives, Juneteenth celebrations, and collaborations with arts presenters like the Minnesota Orchestra and Bread & Circus-era performance groups. The streetcar has appeared in local media coverage alongside institutions like the Star Tribune and on regional broadcast by Minnesota Public Radio and WCCO-TV. Special events include vintage parades coordinated with the Historic Vehicle Association, educational outreach to school districts including Minneapolis Public Schools, and themed rides tied to holiday programming at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory and seasonal markets such as those promoted by the Linden Hills Business Association.
Visitor amenities and accessibility measures are provided in cooperation with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 compliance officers, and local transit partners like Metro Transit. Information on schedules, ticketing, volunteer opportunities, and group bookings is available through the Minnesota Streetcar Museum visitor services, with orientation materials produced alongside community partners including the Minneapolis Convention Center and regional tourism organizations such as Meet Minneapolis. Accessibility upgrades follow guidance from the U.S. Access Board and incorporate outreach coordinated with disability advocacy groups like ARC Minnesota and regional chapters of United Cerebral Palsy.
Category:Heritage streetcar lines in the United States Category:Transportation in Minneapolis Category:Minnesota Streetcar Museum