The falls became a tourist destination, especially after the publication of The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. However, Longfellow never visited the falls himself. He was inspired by the stories of Mary Eastman and Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and images of the falls.

Other notable attractions in the Park include the home of John H. Stevens (the first resident of Minneapolis) and the Longfellow House, which is a 2/3 scale replica of Longfellow's house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Longfellow House is now the interpretative and information center for the Minneapolis Parks System.

Minnehaha Falls is located in south-east Minneapolis and is only minutes from either downtown Minneapolis or Saint Paul, as well as the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. Conveniently located along the Hiawatha line light-rail transit system linking downtown Minneapolis, the MSP airport, and the Mall of America. If you're ever traveling through MSP and have an hour or so between flights Minnehaha Falls is just minutes away and is a worthwhile stop.