New London Township in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

First Missionary

August 26, 2023

1. First Missionary Marker

Inscription. American Indians lived in Kandiyohi County for thousands of years before settlers first arrived in the 1850s. Among the earliest Euro-Americans to visit this area were traders and missionaries as far back as the mid-1700s. The Missionaries came to share their Christian faith.

Father Guignas was one of the two missionary priests, from Canada, who were a part of Fort Beauharnois (Frontenac) on the Mississippi River near the city of Red Wing. He went up the Mississippi River in the 1740s then into the Minnesota River, where he visited all the American Indian nations along the river. It was from them that he learned of the village located here. According to best available records, he walked, alone, from the Minnesota River to visit the Dakota people here.

Erected by the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Historical Society from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the Kandiyohi County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures.

Location. 45° 16.469′ N, 94° 53.799′ W. Marker is near New London,

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Minnesota, in Kandiyohi County. It is in New London Township. It is on North Shore Drive (County Highway 30) 1½ miles west of County Road 4 Northeast, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11020 N Shore Dr, Spicer MN 56288, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Minnesota

and specifically in Southwest 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,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Indian Camp (approx. one mile away); How Irving Township Got Its Start (approx. 1½ miles away); Green Lake Mounds (approx. 1.9 miles away); Green Lake Village and Mill (approx. 2 miles away); Little Crow's Camp (approx. 2.8 miles away); Origin Of Crow River Dam and Mills (approx. 2.9 miles away); Early History of New London

First Missionary Marker, from the east image. Click for full size.

August 26, 2023

2. First Missionary Marker, from the east

(approx. 2.9 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New London.

First Missionary Marker, from the west image. Click for full size.

August 26, 2023

3. First Missionary Marker, from the west

Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2023. This page has been viewed 310 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 29, 2023.