National monument in southwest Minnesota offers more than just hiking, there’s history here too

PIPESTONE, Minn. — House to each trails that reduce via the tallgrass prairie and layers of rocky outcroppings, Pipestone Nationwide Monument presents a phenomenal designation and a wealthy and storied historical past to guests.

Positioned on the sting of Pipestone in southwest Minnesota, the park has been a spot of cultural and non secular significance for Indigenous individuals for generations.

Lengthy earlier than the land was designated as a park in 1937, quite a few Native American tribes had been related to the realm for a sacred follow — the carving of pipes from the distinctive quarries discovered there.

“Native Individuals have been coming to the location particularly for at the least 3,000 years, simply to quarry the Pipestone,” stated park ranger Gabrielle Drapeau. “It’s a very essential thought for our spirituality and tradition right here on this space.”

The pipes carved from the Pipestone quarries are used for prayer, believed to hold messages to the heavens within the smoke. Right now, over 23 tribal nations are affiliated with the Pipestone Nationwide Monument from throughout the nation, and the traditions of quarrying and pipe carving are alive as ever.

“Pipestone is a really distinctive website as a result of we’re one of many solely nationwide park websites which have individuals actively digging into the bottom, whereas the Park Service normally works to protect areas,” stated Drapeau. “And we do this however we are also preserving the spirituality and tradition of this place as effectively.”

Members of federally-recognized tribes are in a position to apply for permits to quarry the catlinite discovered at Pipestone Nationwide Park, and for individuals wishing to be taught extra concerning the sacred follow, there are cultural demonstrations on pipe carving.

The educational alternatives do not finish there. A museum on the premises accommodates displays not too long ago renovated from their 1958 origins. In an replace that took almost seven years from begin to end, the museum was reopened in April 2020.

“Then, only a couple weeks later, the constructing closed for COVID and so no one was in a position to see our model new exhibit,” Drapeau lamented, however now the doorways are as soon as once more open, and guests are inspired to come back in and find out about petroglyphs, admire pipestone craftsmanship, and look at displays highlighting the cultural and non secular significance of quarrying and the sacred pipe.

Whereas Pipestone Nationwide Monument presents a number of studying alternatives, it’s additionally dwelling to the Circle Path, a 3/4 -mile lengthy paved path that takes hikers via the park. From the tallgrass prairie to the waterfall entrance and previous the traditional quarries, Pipestone’s path hosts a set of lovely views in nature.

Guided excursions can be found on the park through the summer season season, starting from half-hour to an hour. Guests get the prospect to listen to tales about Pipestone’s historical past and be taught extra about its cultural and pure assets from rangers whereas going via the park.

“They actually do a fantastic job of exhibiting the whole lot that now we have right here on the park,” stated Drapeau.