Vineland in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Tourist Cottage

— Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post —

Photographed by McGhiever, May 29, 2025

1. Tourist Cottage Marker

Inscription.

Vacationers at Mille Lacs once stayed in a cottage like this.

From 1920 until the 1940s, the Ayers rented out cottages. The furnishings were simple—a couple of beds, a wood stove, a wash stand, table, and chairs. You could get a good meal at the dining hall east of the trading post.

Rental cottages, about 1930. Before building a house in 1941, the Ayers lived and kept an office in one of these cottages.

Crammed to the Gills

Mille Lacs Band member Letitia Caldwell worked at the Trading Post from 1929 to 1933. [In] walleye fishing season, we would be crammed to the gills. People would be doubling up in cabins—anything to get a place to stay so they could go out at daybreak.

Fishing at Mille Lacs, about 1920. Mille Lacs Band member Dick Gahbow (standing in boat) worked for the Ayers as a fishing guide.

Erected by Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.

Location. 46° 10.576′ N, 93° 45.312′ W. Marker is in

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Vineland, Minnesota, in Mille Lacs County. It is at the intersection of Oodena Drive and U.S. 169, on the right when traveling east on Oodena Drive. The marker is at the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, east of the museum entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 43411 Oodena Drive, Onamia MN 56359, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central 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 Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mille Lacs Indian Boat Works (a few steps from this marker); Harry & Jeannette Ayer House (within shouting distance of this marker); Meet the Three Sisters (within shouting distance of this marker); Okosimaan (within shouting distance of this marker); Mashkodiisiminag (within shouting distance of this

Tourist Cottage and Marker at the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, May 29, 2025

2. Tourist Cottage and Marker at the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post

marker); Mandaamin (within shouting distance of this marker); Izatys (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Kathio Villages (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vineland.

Former Tourist Cottage Marker with slightly different text image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, July 12, 2016

3. Former Tourist Cottage Marker with slightly different text

Former Tourist Cottage Marker with slightly different placement image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, July 12, 2016

4. Former Tourist Cottage Marker with slightly different placement

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 198 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 8, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 3, 4. submitted on December 13, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.