I believe this is one of the oldest images I have, and that it dates from the 1860's. Those tireless researchers in the Minnesota Historical Photo Collectors Group dated a carte de visite of the left-hand image (slightly cropped to fit the cdv format) to the period 1867 - 1870. At that point in his career, I don't think Joel Whitney had yet teamed up with Charles A. Zimmerman.

The text on the mount reads:

"Whitney & Zimmerman, Photographers", and "Third Street, St. Paul. Minnesota", and "Minne-Ha-Ha -- Laughing Waters". So the stereoview mount is likely newer than the image itself, which Whitney probably took before the Whitney & Zimmerman partnership.

Minnesota had been a state for several years when I believe this picture was taken, and Minnehaha Falls was one of its best known attractions, but development was nowhere to be seen.

Even now, when you visit the Falls and stand where this picture was taken, water seeps out of the retaining wall and rocks. The dark splotch running across this picture is ground water seeping out at the surface. The whole area has a lot of natural springs even today.

The top of the northside cliff. Nothing there to keep people from strolling off the edge, just some scrubby trees (and a slight scratch on the photograph).

This broken branch is the only sign of human action in this picture. I suppose that the photographer or someone broke it off to improve the view. Otherwise, this image shows what Minnehaha Falls looked like more than 130 years ago, and for many centuries before that.