The Pond Gristmill is the oldest and only original building you'll see at The Landing - Minnesota River Heritage Park. It’s a great reminder of what life was like in Shakopee's early days.
Built between 1876 and 1877 by brothers Martin and Robert Pond, sons of missionary Samuel Pond, the mill was a very important business for local farmers. They would bring their grain to the mill to have it ground into flour.
The building itself is an impressive two-and-a-half stories tall and was made from big, rough-cut limestone blocks from right here in the Minnesota River Valley. This stone gives the mill its unique golden-brown color and rugged, old-fashioned look. It was built simply to get a job done, with thick, sturdy walls and a steep roof to let the snow slide off.
The mill was originally powered by water from the nearby river. Today, it stands as the historic heart of The Landing, giving visitors a real sense of the hard work and smart ideas that helped build this community in the 1800s.