Marine on St. Croix in Washington County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Pineries are Gone
Photographed by Keith L, July 23, 2011
1. The Pineries are Gone Marker
A Great Pine Forest
The St. Croix River valley's sandy loam soil is ideal for growing pine. In the 19th century its forests were filled with white pines. Many of them were two to three hundred years old, four to five feet in diameter, and stood up to two hundred feet tall. These trees were strong, lightweight, resistant to decay from pests and rot, and easy to cut. They furnished the growing Midwest with abundant, cheap lumber for shelter, furniture, fences, and much more.
Restoring a Forest
The Woodland Stewardship Plan 2000, a partnership of the Minnesota Historical Society, the City of Marine on St. Croix, and the Forestry Division of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, is working to return this site to the appearance it probably had before the first sawmill was built. Beginning in the winter of 2001, non-native trees such as European buckthorn and black locust were removed and replaced with native species such as white pine and sugar maple.
Marine Mill
Erected by the Minnesota Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these
this page online
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 45° 11.872′ N, 92° 46.102′ W. Marker was in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, in Washington County. It could be reached from Judd Street south of Maple Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Marine on Saint Croix MN 55047, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. It was also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once Ruperts Land, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Marine Mill Site (within shouting
Photographed by Keith L, July 23, 2011
2. The Pineries are Gone Marker
Other markers no longer nearby. Boom, Then Bust (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Powerhouse and Kiln (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Technological Revolution (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Minnesota's First Commercial Sawmill (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
More about this marker. [photo captions]
What this area may have looked like before lumbering. David Geister rendering (2001), Minnesota Historical Society
A boy viewing a pine slashing area, 1900, Minnesota Historical Society
Also see . . . Marine Mill. Minnesota Historical Society website entry:
"Perched on the bluff of the St. Croix River, on a six-acre plot lie remnants of a booming industry long past. In the autumn of 1838 Illinois lumbermen David Hone and Lewis Judd arrived in the St. Croix River valley. Attracted by the area's abundant white pine, they selected this site to build a sawmill and named it after their hometown, Marine, Illinois." (Submitted on May 2, 2012.)
Additional keywords. National Register of Historic Places #70000311
Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 2, 2012, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 668 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 2, 2012, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. The replacement for this marker • Can you help?
