Owatonna in Steele County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

History of State School Rock Garden

Photographed by Connor Olson, May 29, 2020

1. History of State School Rock Garden Marker

Inscription. The rock garden holds special memories for many of the children who lived on these grounds.

The story is...that sometime around 1930, a black meteorite fell from the sky in this location. Soon after, Superintendent Merrill, an avid gardener, proceeded to build a rock garden around it. He employed Steve Burzinski of Landscape Nursery, Havana Road, Owatonna, to design the garden, complete with a waterfall and trickling stream. Supposedly, a great deal of money was invested to achieve "the proper look,"

After the institution closed, the rock garden was graded up. It was reconstructed in commemoration of the Owatonna Sesquicentennial and dedicated August 8, 2004. thanks to the efforts of:

Owatonna Foundation, Inc.
State Public School Orphanage Museum Board
West Hills Commission

Erected by Owatonna Foundation, INC., State Public School Orphanage Museum Board, West Hills Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Charity & Public Work. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.

Location. 44° 5.41′ N, 93° 14.26′ W. Marker is in Owatonna, Minnesota, in Steele County. It can be reached from West Hills Circle west of State Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 540 W Hills Cir, Owatonna MN 55060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Minnesota.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: There Were Many...I Was But One

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children (about 300 feet away); State School Buildings and Grounds (about 300 feet away); State Public School for Dependent & Neglected Children 1886 - 1945 (about 300 feet away); State Schoolers U.S. Military Memorial (about 300 feet away); Main Building (about 300 feet away); History of the State School Root Cellar (approx. 0.2 miles away); History of the State Public School Children’s Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Owatonna.

Also see . . . State School & Orphanage Restoration projects. (Submitted on August 12, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.)

Photographed by Connor Olson, May 29, 2020

2. History of State School Rock Garden Marker

History of State School Rock Garden image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, May 29, 2020

3. History of State School Rock Garden

Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 597 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 12, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.