William O'Brien State Park near Marine on St. Croix in Washington County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Native Cultures and the River

— Riverside Trail —

Photographed by McGhiever, September 15, 2021

1. Native Cultures and the River Marker

Inscription.

Long before French and British fur traders arrived in the 1600s, Dakota and Ojibwe peoples lived throughout the region, hunting, fishing, ricing, and traveling in birchbark canoes. A profitable fur trade flourished as heavily-laden canoes of furs paddled between Lake Superior and the Mississippi River by way of the St. Croix River.

An Ojibwe Family on the St. Croix River, Circa 1885

Here in the Park, archaeologists have found remnants of pottery and stone tools made 400 to 3,000 years ago by native cultures. Such items are protected by law and should never be disturbed or removed by Park visitors.

Daniel Greysolon Sieur Dulhut is thought to have been the first European to enter Dakota lands along the St. Croix River in 1679. Francis Lee Jacques painted this scene in the 1920s, which shows Dulhut on Lake Superior.

Erected by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1679.

Location. 45° 13.542′ N,

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92° 45.413′ W. Marker is near Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, in Washington County. It is in William O'Brien State Park. It can be reached from O'Brien Trail N. (County Route 33) east of Minnesota Route 95. The marker is on the Riverside Trail near the north end of the segment along the St. Croix River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Scandia MN 55073, 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 Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: White Pines (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lake Alice (approx. 0.2 miles away); William O'Brien State Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Wedge Hill (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Marine Township Hall (approx.

Native Cultures and the River Marker on the Riverside Trail along the St. Croix River image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, September 15, 2021

2. Native Cultures and the River Marker on the Riverside Trail along the St. Croix River

1.9 miles away); Historic Marine on St. Croix (approx. 2 miles away); St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (approx. 2 miles away); Marine (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marine on St. Croix.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Technological Revolution (was approx. 2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 4, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 191 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 4, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.