Near Atwater in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Red River Trail

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, August 27, 2014

1. Red River Trail Marker

Inscription. The Red River Trail was the nineteenth-century answer to communication over the frontier between the early settlements on the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers and Lord Selkirk's settlements (Winnipeg) in Canada. Trails, such as this, were not marked. They weren't even trails. Actually, they were a direction – running across what is now Minnesota from the present site of Minneapolis and St. Paul to Pembina. The Red River Trail followed three main lines, one of which ran through what is now Kandiyohi County in a northwesterly direction. Since the trail was not defined, it became a broad track (sometimes miles wide) over which the teamsters guided their oxcarts. It was only when the trail passed near a lake that all the cart tracks converged into a comparatively narrow band. The portion of the highway along the southwest shore of Diamond Lake has been built over one of these bands.

This project has been financed in part with funds provided by
the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Historical Society from the Arts and
Cultural Heritage Fund and the Kandiyohi County Historical Society.

Erected by the State

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of Minnesota and the Kandiyohi County Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Minnesota Historical Society series list.

Location. 45° 10.662′ N, 94° 51.749′ W. Marker is near Atwater, Minnesota, in Kandiyohi County. It is on State Highway 4 0.1 miles north of 135th Street Northeast, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6111 County Road 4 Northeast, Atwater MN 56209, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Minnesota

and specifically in Southwest 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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Diamond Lake Camp (approx.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, August 27, 2014

2. Red River Trail Marker

0.9 miles away); Diamond Lake Community Park (approx. 0.9 miles away); Gates Homestead (approx. 1.3 miles away); Train Wreck (approx. 3.2 miles away); Wheeler Lake Camp (approx. 3.4 miles away); 1872 Blizzard (approx. 5.2 miles away); Green Lake Mounds (approx. 5½ miles away); Backlund / Lorentson Monument (approx. 5½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atwater.

More about this marker. The marker has the Historic Site seal of the Kandiyohi County Historical Society · 1895.

Also see . . . Red River Trails. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on September 9, 2014.)

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, August 27, 2014

3. Red River Trail Marker

Diamond Lake is behind the marker.

Former Red River Trail and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, August 27, 2014

4. Former Red River Trail and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2014, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,088 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 9, 2014, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.