Grand Meadow Township in Mower County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
A Truly Grand Rock
Photographed by McGhiever, October 5, 2025
1. A Truly Grand Rock Marker
After gathering Grand Meadow Chert from creek beds and hand-dug pits, Native people chipped it into spear tips, arrowheads, hide scrapers, knives, awls, and other tools.
Inside a nodule of Grand Meadow Chert.
Spear tip Hide scraper Knife
Wahiŋ kiŋ de wakpadaŋ k'a maḳa ok'e etaŋhaŋ mnayaŋpi h้ehaŋn, he uŋ wahuḳeza p̣ํŋkpa, wahiŋkpa wahiŋ, wahiŋpaḣpe, isaŋ, ṭahiŋṡpa k'a nakuŋ wํḳic̣aŋye uŋma kแġapi c้e.
You may notice prayer ties, tobacco, and other Indigenous offerings along the Trail. This tradition of giving in return for what the earth provides began thousands of years ago. Please respect these gifts by leaving them untouched.
C̣aŋku kiŋ de ohna tแku t๓nana wadake kte nec̣ece. Ikce Oyate kiŋ c̣aŋṡaṡa, c̣aŋdi, c̣aŋdi wap̣aḣta wadake kte nacece. Waŋna de ṭ้hahaŋn Ina Maḳa tแku ๓ta uŋk'upi c̣a Ikce Oyate dena wauŋyaŋpi c้e. W๓uŋye kiŋ dena ้paṭaŋ ṡni pi/po.
Our Community Supporters
Project Partners
Prairie Island Indian Community
The Archaeological Conservancy
The Mower County Historical Society
Supporting Organizations
Austin Audubon Society
Freeborn/Mower Electric Cooperative
Grand Meadow Schools
Grand Meadow Township Board
Hormel Nature Center
Izaak Walton League - Austin
KSMQ - PBS Austin
Minnesota Archaeological Society
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Mower County Board of Commissioners
Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District
Prairie Visions
Sentence to Serve - Mower County
St. Finbarr Cemetery
The Wanhi Yukan Trail is made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through grant-funded appropriations from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, administered by the Minnesota Historical Society, the Minnesota State Arts Board, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Any views, findings, or opinions expressed are those of the Project Partners and do not necessarily represent those of the funding agencies.
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Dakota translations were provided by
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.
Location. 43° 43.64′ N, 92° 35.354′ W. Marker is near Grand Meadow, Minnesota, in Mower County. It is in Grand Meadow Township. It can be reached from 730th Avenue, on the right when traveling north. The marker is on the self-guided interpretive trail at the Grand Meadow Chert Quarry. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25578 730th Avenue, Grand Meadow MN 55936, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast 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 Ruperts Land, the territory
Photographed by McGhiever, October 5, 2025
2. A Truly Grand Rock Marker (left) at the entrance kiosk to the Grand Meadow Chert Quarry
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Perfect Spot (here, next to this marker); Grand Meadow Chert Quarry/Wanhi Yukan (here, next to this marker); The Quarry Story/Maḳa Ook'e W๓yakapi Kiŋ D้e (within shouting distance of this marker); Everything is Related/Mitakuye Owas'iŋ (within shouting distance of this marker); Those Who Came Here/Ehaŋnah Tuweweka Ded Hํpi? (within shouting distance of this marker); Making These Pits/Maḳa Ok'e Kaġapi (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rock Stars/Waŋhi Icaptuġe (about 300 feet away); Not Just a Quarry/De Maḳa Ok'e Ec้edaŋ H้c̣a Ṡni (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Meadow.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 18, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 68 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 18, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
