Dayton's Bluff in Saint Paul in Ramsey County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Geology of Minnesota

Indian Mounds Park

Photographed by McGhiever, May 21, 2023

1. Geology of Minnesota Marker

Inscription. This point commands a view of one of the great water courses of North America. The stream which once filled this valley, named the River Warren, was larger than any river on the continent to-day.

During the past million years, Minnesota has been partly covered by glaciers at least 4 times. The short summers and long winters of the great ice ages caused an accumulation of snow and ice to a thickness of several thousand feet.

As the climate moderated and glaciation came to an end, enormous quantities of water were released to flow in rivers away from the ice field. The valley of the Mississippi visible from this point was eroded by such a stream about 12,000 years ago. Scoured to a depth of 100 feet below the present river surface, the valley was later filled by sand and gravel as the force of the torrent subsided.

Erected by the Geological Society of Minnesota
and the Department of Parks, City of St. Paul
Aided by a grant from the
Louis W. and Maud Hill Family Foundation

Erected 1954 by Geological Society of Minnesota and the Department of Parks, City of St. Paul.

Topics and series. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Minnesota: Geological Society of Minnesota series list.

Location. 44° 56.717′ N, 93° 3.291′ W. Marker is in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in Ramsey County. It is in Dayton's Bluff. It can be reached from the intersection of Mounds Boulevard and Earl Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is in Indian Mounds Park, at an overlook southeast of the pavilion. There is a small parking lot and abundant street parking nearby. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 Mounds Boulevard, Saint Paul MN 55106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

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,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At

Geology of Minnesota Marker and overlook image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, May 21, 2023

2. Geology of Minnesota Marker and overlook

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: This is a Burial Place (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Indian Mounds Park "Airway" Beacon (about 800 feet away); Riverside Hangars (approx. 0.4 miles away); Saint Paul Downtown Airport Seaplane Harbor (approx. half a mile away); Northwest Airways Hangar Passenger Terminal (approx. half a mile away); Saint Paul Downtown Airport (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Indian Mounds Park "Airway Beacon" (approx. half a mile away); Charles W. Holman (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Saint Paul.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 368 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 6, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.