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

Forestville Gristmill

Photographed by McGhiever, October 4, 2025

1. Forestville Gristmill Marker

Inscription.

Wheat was king in southeastern Minnesota in the 1850s. Most towns had active gristmills.

Forestville's gristmill ground wheat into flour. It operated from 1857 until the 1880s. When competition from Minneapolis mills increased and southeastern Minnesota's farms became diversified, small-town gristmills struggled to stay afloat.

Forestville gristmill, date unknown

This photo of the abandoned gristmill was taken before 1917, when a flood washed the building away.

MNHS collections

Erected by the Minnesota Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 43° 38.48′ N, 92° 13.102′ W. Marker is near Preston, Minnesota, in Fillmore County. It is in Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park. It can be reached from County Road 118, on the left when traveling east. The marker is on the south bank of the Root River near the picnic shelter. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Preston MN 55965, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in

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Southeast Minnesota

and in Greater Rochester.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn 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: Forestville Sawmill (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Meighen Icehouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bridges (approx. 0.2 miles away); Forestville (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic Forestville (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bridges at Forestville (approx. 0.2 miles away); South Branch of the Root River (approx. 0.2 miles away); Meighen Store (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Preston.

Forestville Gristmill Marker overlooking the Root River image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, October 4, 2025

2. Forestville Gristmill Marker overlooking the Root River

Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 19, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.