Marcell in Itasca County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Civilian Conservation Corp

Photographed by McGhiever, October 2, 2022

1. Civilian Conservation Corp Marker

Inscription. The Civilian Conservation Corp was started on April 5th, 1933 by President Roosevelt. Also known as the "Tree Army" they would be mainly made up of unemployed men from rural settings during the Great Depression. The CCC was operated under the army's control and were issued WWI uniforms. By 1935 over 500,000 men lived and stayed at CCC camps anywhere from 6 months to 1 year. The main outcome of the CCC was planting millions of trees on land that was affected by fire, soil erosion, or timber harvesting. The CCC was responsible for over half of the nations reforestation on both public and private lands. Side tasks for them was digging canals and ditches, building wildlife shelters, stocked fish, restored battlefields, and cleared campgrounds. Through all of this they would make $30 a month.

The buildings you see on this site were built by the CCC at May and Day Lake camps between 1934 and 1938 under direction of the USFS. There were a total of 6 buildings built but only the Marcell Lodge, 2 workshops, an oil house, and a storage building remain today, the ranger building was replaced in 1967. These buildings show the quality and craftsmanship that was put into the construction of locations by the CCC. There are now 4 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places list.

Erected by United

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States Forest Service.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work. In addition, it is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1933.

Location. 47° 35.743′ N, 93° 41.251′ W. Marker is in Marcell, Minnesota, in Itasca County. It can be reached from Minnesota Route 38 north of Little Ranier Road, on the right when traveling north. The marker is at the edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center, facing the historic buildings to the east of the modern visitor center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 49554 State Highway 38, Marcell MN 56657, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Minnesota’s Northland. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest

Marker and (left to right) a CCC-built warehouse, garage, and ranger's residence image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, October 2, 2022

2. Marker and (left to right) a CCC-built warehouse, garage, and ranger's residence

Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Welcome to Suomi Hills (approx. 8½ miles away); Day Lake CCC Camp (approx. 8½ miles away).

Also see . . . Marcell Ranger Station on Wikipedia. (Submitted on June 10, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 232 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 10, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.