Park Rapids in Hubbard County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Park Rapids Post Office

— Park Rapids History Trail —

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 26, 2025

1. Park Rapids Post Office Marker

Inscription. As Park Rapids grew, residents petitioned their congressman for their own mail route. Weekly deliveries began in 1883. This Post Office™ was built in 1939. Alonzo Hauser, one of Minnesota's most prolific sculptors, carved 3 oak relief sculptures for the lobby. The panels are still here.

Erected by City of Park Rapids, Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Communications. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.

Location. 46° 55.185′ N, 95° 3.52′ W. Marker is in Park Rapids, Minnesota, in Hubbard County. It is at the intersection of Park Avenue South (U.S. 71) and 3rd Street West, on the right when traveling south on Park Avenue South. The marker is to the left of the main post office entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 Park Avenue S, Park Rapids MN 56470, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Minnesota’s Northland. 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 Great North Woods,

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 walking distance of this marker: Auditorium (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Tourism (about 400 feet away); Park Rapids Public Library (about 600 feet away); This Building (about 600 feet away); Fuller's Tackle Shop (about 700 feet away); Park Theater

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Bishop's Department Store (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hubbard County Courthouse (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Park Rapids.

Also see . . . Park Rapids Post Office. Park Rapids History Trail

Early in Park Rapids history, there was no regular mail. While Charles Rice had been named the settlement's first postmaster in 1881, no deliveries came to town. The mail only made it as far as Shell City, now a ghost town in Wadena County. Volunteers carried the mail to and from Park Rapids and Shell City.

As Park Rapids grew, residents petitioned their congressman to be granted their own mail route and were successful. Weekly deliveries began in 1883, and daily mail delivery began in 1886. Park Rapids residents received mail that had left Saint Paul only the night before.

This Post Office building you see at the corner of Park Avenue and Third Street was built in 1939. To commemorate the new building, Alonzo Hauser, one of Minnesota's most prolific sculptors, was commissioned to carve three oak relief sculptures to hang in the lobby. Hauser visited Park Rapids for inspiration and was struck by residents' interest in public art and his project.

(Submitted on July 14, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 26, 2025

2. Park Rapids Post Office Marker

Full view of Park Rapids Post Office image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 26, 2025

3. Full view of Park Rapids Post Office

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 77 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 14, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.