William O'Brien State Park near Marine on St. Croix in Washington County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
White Pines
— Riverside Trail —
Photographed By McGhiever, September 15, 2021
1. White Pines Marker
Reaching 250 feet into the sky, with a diameter of six feet, it is easy to see why the gigantic white pine was called the monarch of the forest. The large white pines you see here today were just seedlings in 1839, when the Marine Lumber Company cut the first log in the St. Croix Valley. The white pine forests that once grew north of Marine-on-St. Croix—once considered inexhaustible—were gone by 1900, and the heyday of lumbering in the St. Croix Valley came to an end.
This is also a good place to look for river otters sliding down the banks or swimming in the river.
White Pine
Marine Lumber Company, Marine-on-St. Croix, Circa 1890
Log Jam on the St. Croix River, 1884
You can distinguish the white pine from other evergreens—look for soft, greenish blue needles in bunches of five and four- to seven-inch cones.
Erected by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.
Location. 45° 13.388′ N, 92° 45.355′ W. Marker is near Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, in Washington County. It is in William O'Brien State Park. Marker can be reached
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lake Alice (approx. 0.2 miles away); Native Cultures and the River (approx. 0.2 miles away); William O'Brien State Park (approx. half a mile away); Wedge Hill (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Marine Township Hall (approx. 1.8 miles away); Historic Marine on St. Croix (approx. 1.8 miles away); St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (approx. 1.8 miles away); Technological Revolution (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marine on St. Croix.
Photographed By McGhiever, September 15, 2021
2. White Pines Marker on the Riverside Trail along the St. Croix River
Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 43 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 6, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
