Probably there are three generations of a family in this picture. They may have relatives living in Minnesota today; there's no way to know. The text on the mount reads: "Stereoscopic Views of Minnesota and Northwestern Scenery" and "Published by A.A. Palmer, Photographer, Minnehaha Falls, Minn." and "Minne-ha-ha". I'm pretty sure Palmer's studio was not precisely at the Falls, but I don't know where it was.
Like most photographs from this era, everybody's expression looks like they're having a mug shot taken. When did people start smiling in photographs?
I wish I knew if the chairs stayed at the Falls or if people brought them along from home. The wooden platform they have gathered on is the predecessor of the fenced-off view areas on the south side of the Falls today.
Here's another of those photographer's identifying marks.
