MOUND — On Tuesday, May 6, the Lake Minnetonka Historical Society will present a special evening program commemorating the devastating tornadoes that struck the Lake Minnetonka area 60 years ago. The event, titled “Remembering the Lake Minnetonka Tornadoes of 1965,” will be held at 7 p.m. in the Lost Lake Room at the Gillespie Center, located at 2590 Commerce Blvd in Mound.
The featured speaker is Paul Huttner, chief meteorologist for MPR News and a former Deephaven resident. Huttner will discuss the meteorological science behind the storms that reshaped the communities surrounding Lake Minnetonka and share how that historic event influenced his path into weather journalism.
On May 6, 1965, two powerful F4 tornadoes tore through the western suburbs of the Twin Cities, with cities such as Deephaven, Greenwood, Shorewood, Spring Park, Mound, Orono, and Minnetonka Beach sustaining catastrophic damage. The storms claimed three lives, leveled hundreds of homes and businesses, and left an indelible mark on the lakeside region.
In addition to Huttner’s presentation, attendees are invited to share their own memories of the 1965 storms. Community members are also welcome to bring photographs or tornado-related artifacts, which may be donated to the Historical Society for preservation.
Light refreshments will be served. Tickets are $10 for LMHS members and $15 for the general public, available online at 1965tornadoes.eventbrite.com.
The Lake Minnetonka Historical Society was formed in 2023 through the merger of four longstanding organizations: the Wayzata Historical Society, Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society, the Museum of Lake Minnetonka, and the Westonka Historical Society. The new entity maintains archives in Wayzata and museums in Excelsior, Mound, and Wayzata, and is dedicated to telling the story of the lake and its communities through public programs, publications, and historic preservation efforts.
For more information, visit LakeMinnetonkaHistory.org or contact info@LakeMinnetonkaHistory.org.
