Grand Meadow Township in Mower County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Grand Meadow Chert Quarry/Wanhi Yukan

Photographed by McGhiever, October 5, 2025

1. Grand Meadow Chert Quarry/Wanhi Yukan Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

For at least 10,000 years, Indigenous people came here to acquire Grand Meadow Chert. You are standing in the only place in the world where this high-quality, gray flint or "chert" is found. The Dakota name for this landscape is "Wanhi Yukan," meaning "There is Chert Here." Below is an artist’s rendition of the landscape at about 1,000 years ago.

Waŋna de ṭéhaŋn, waniyetu kektopawiŋġe wikcemna wahehaŋyaŋ kec̣iŋpi, ikce oyate kiŋ ded éṭipi k'a waŋhi k'ápi cée. Maḳa akaŋn nayażiŋ kiŋ de ecéedcaŋ waŋhi ic̣aġe kéyapi. Daḳota ekta oyaŋke kiŋ de "Waŋhi Yuḳaŋ" eyapi. Maḳowapi akaŋn itowapi káġa waŋ ehaŋna maḳoc̣e de (hékta waniyetu kektopawiŋġe wikcemna wahehaŋyaŋ) itowapi kiŋ de owa.

In the painting to the right, can you find…
Itowapi ed dena wadaka…

women carrying baskets used for moving dirt?
tukted wíŋyaŋ kiŋ maḳa kiŋ psa wóhnake kaiṡ ṭaha wóżuha ohnakapi k'a áyapi?

people telling stories around the fire?
tukted oyate kiŋ wóyakapi?

tipis where people camped?
Tukted ṭiikceya ohna éṭipi?

a place where stone tools were made?
tukted íŋyaŋ wíḳic̣aŋye okaġapi?

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 43° 43.639′ 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. 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 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: The Perfect Spot (here, next to this marker); A Truly Grand Rock (here, next to this marker); The Quarry Story/Maḳa Ook'e Wóyakapi Kiŋ Dée (within shouting distance of this

Grand Meadow Chert Quarry/Wanhi Marker (center panel) at the entrance kiosk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, October 5, 2025

2. Grand Meadow Chert Quarry/Wanhi Marker (center panel) at the entrance kiosk

marker); Everything is Related/Mitakuye Owas'iŋ (within shouting distance of this marker); Those Who Came Here/Ehaŋnah Tuweweka Ded Hípi? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Making These Pits/Maḳa Ok'e Kaġapi (about 300 feet away); Rock Stars/Waŋhi Icaptuġe (about 300 feet away); Not Just a Quarry/De Maḳa Ok'e Ecéedaŋ Héc̣a Ṡni (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Meadow.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 50 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on March 7, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 2. submitted on February 18, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.