Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park near Preston in Fillmore County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Meighen Icehouse

Photographed by McGhiever, October 4, 2025

1. Meighen Icehouse Marker

Inscription.

During warm seasons, icehouses kept fresh food cold.

In the winter, ice was harvested from a nearby stream. To keep ice blocks from melting, they were packed in sawdust and stored in the icehouse. In the warm months, people used giant tongs to carry ice to the kitchen icebox.

Meighen icehouse, before 1899
The icehouse is visible in the background of this photo.
MNHS collections

Erected by the Minnesota Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.

Location. 43° 38.544′ N, 92° 12.944′ W. Marker is near Preston, Minnesota, in Fillmore County. It is in Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park. It is on the Sandbank Trail west of County Road 118, on the right when traveling west. The marker is just southwest of the Forestville historic site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21899 County Road 118, Preston MN 55965, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Minnesota

and in Greater Rochester.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn

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Belt,

and in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country.

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 walking distance of this marker: Historic Forestville (within shouting distance of this marker); Forestville Sawmill (within shouting distance of this marker); Bridges at Forestville (within shouting distance of this marker); Bridges (within shouting distance of this marker); South Branch of the Root River (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Meighen Store (about 300 feet away); Forestville (about 400 feet away); Forestville Gristmill (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Preston.

Meighen Icehouse Marker just southwest of the Forestville historic site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, October 4, 2025

2. Meighen Icehouse Marker just southwest of the Forestville historic site

Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 11, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 51 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 11, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.