On Front Street at South 6th Street (Voyageur Highway) (Business State Highway 371), on the right when traveling west on Front Street.
Although never a city entity, this park was located on the east side of Sixth Street just south of the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks, also called NP Park as it was on Northern Pacific RR land. The first NP Depot was just to the north, . . . — — Map (db m213559) HM
On State Highway 371, 0.1 miles north of Seagull Road Northwest, on the right when traveling north.
Toward the close of the Wisconsin stage of glaciation about 12,000 years ago, the waning lobe of the ice sheet in the Brainerd area retreated westward, leaving in its wake many stagnant ice blocks which had become separated from the main ice field. . . . — — Map (db m155678) HM
On Unnnamed road north of State Park Road, on the left when traveling north.
Few spots in Minnesota are richer in historical lore than Old Crow Wing. Here in 1768, the Sioux suffered a significant defeat in their long struggle to regain central Minnesota from the invading Chippewa. A British fur trader wintered at the . . . — — Map (db m207134) HM
On South 4th Street at Front Street, on the left when traveling north on South 4th Street.
At this location, on July 23, 1872, a tragedy occurred and two American Indian brothers lost their lives to a vigilante group. These members of the White Earth Nation had been accused in the disappearance of a 22 year-old woman from Crow Wing . . . — — Map (db m213585) HM
On Laurel Street just west of Voyageur Highway (State Highway 371B), on the left when traveling west.
Founder Stewart C. Mills, Sr. December 6, 1891 – April 8, 1978 Lively Auto Company — 1922 Crow Wing Oil Company — 1924 Mills Motor, Inc. — 1931 Mills Fleet Farm — 1955 Mills Properties, Inc. — 1959 — — Map (db m238261) HM
Near State Park Road north of Voyageur Highway, on the right when traveling west.
Here stood the mission of that great servant of God, Father Francis X. Pierz, his log chapel of 1852, and his frame church of 1867 (demolished 1915). Stones that supported the original structures now support this stone, laid on Columbus Day in . . . — — Map (db m189779) HM
On East Front Street (State Highway 6 / 210) at Maple Road, on the right when traveling east on East Front Street.
Named for entrepreneur Cuyler Adams and his faithful dog Una, the Cuyuna Ranges lies at the westernmost edge of a ring of iron ore that circles Lake Superior. The smallest of Minnesota’s three northern iron ranges, the Cuyuna was also the last to be . . . — — Map (db m43934) HM
On Ferry Road, 0.2 miles south of Minnesota Highway 371, on the right when traveling south.
The establishment of Fort Ripley in 1848 represents the U.S. government’s effort to establish control on the northern frontier. Construction began on the west bank of the Mississippi River across from this point a year before Minnesota became a . . . — — Map (db m43935) HM
On U.S. 169 near Central Street, on the left when traveling south.
Legend has it this walleye was caught by Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox after a three day struggle. Paul finally wrapped his line around Babe's horns and Babe pulled the fish out of Lake Mille Lacs and up onto Garrison Beach. — — Map (db m78403) HM
On U.S. 169 at Central Street, on the left when traveling south on U.S. 169.
Names from the fur traders' phrase "The Thousand Lakes Region." This lake is 1250 feet above sea level and covers about 200 square miles. It formerly included much low ground and several adjacent lakes. When visited by Du Luth in 1679, Sioux . . . — — Map (db m78405) HM
On U.S. 169 at Center Street, on the left when traveling south on U.S. 169.
This memorial erected
in honor of
William A. Tauer
who sacrificed his life
to save others
during the storm on
Mille Lacs Lake
June 10, 1927 — — Map (db m78406) HM
On County Road 13 at Clark Lake Dam Road, on the right when traveling west on County Road 13.
The only open-air railway station remaining in the U.S.A. Built in 1896 by the Northern Pacific Railway preserved and maintained through the cooperation of local and summer residents. — — Map (db m126145) HM
On Lower Cullen Road north of Park Street (City Hall Street), on the right when traveling north.
This plaque dedicated to the founding pioneer families, and their contribution to the town of Smiley/Nisswa, on the occasion of its Centennial Celebration.
Settled in 1886. Became Village of Smiley in 1898. Organized as township in 1900. Became . . . — — Map (db m131673) HM
On County Road 13 at Clark Lake Dam Road, on the right when traveling west on County Road 13.
The depot had its birth in 1896, and was slated for demolition when the railroad discontinued service to the Lake Hubert region. It has been preserved through the cooperative efforts of Lake Hubert residents.
Mr. Hugh McCaffrey, who ran the Lake . . . — — Map (db m126147) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
"Plant Some Trees, Then Plant Some More" Art Savage worked as a Forest Ranger from 1939 to 1971. He was District Forester for the Department of Conservation, the agency that later became the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. . . . — — Map (db m237499) HM
On Government Drive just south of Main Street, on the right when traveling south.
Bean Hole Days brings a surge of people to Pequot Lakes every year, and we're often asked, What is Bean Hole Days? Bean Hole Days started in the fall of 1938. A group of Pequot Lakes businessmen prepared the first free bean . . . — — Map (db m237310) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
Though the fires noted on this panel are not considered among the most significant in the state's history, this area has experienced some harrowing and memorable wildfires. Over the years, the specialists we count on to deal with wildfires draw on . . . — — Map (db m237399) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
This picnic shelter is dedicated to Don Nelson, who served Crow Wing County, Sibley Township and the City of Pequot Lakes as a dedicated employee and volunteer. Don Nelson began his career as a logger, and operated a saw mill in Sibley Township . . . — — Map (db m237487) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
About one-third of Minnesota is covered with forest. These woodlands are incredibly diverse, with over 50 species of native trees and a wide array of plants that make up the understory and cover the forest floor. It is very important that we all . . . — — Map (db m237397) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry works with other agencies and fire departments, to provide wildfire protection for over 16 million acres of Minnesota forest. The Division of Forestry also administers burning . . . — — Map (db m237497) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
Forest Fires can be devastating, and they play a paramount role in Minnesota's history. Fires were a recurring event in the Pequot Lakes area, threatening the natural resources, structures, and the human population of the region. Throughout . . . — — Map (db m237498) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
Baudette-Spooner FireFire conditions in northern Minnesota were extreme in the autumn of 1910. Several small fires developed in the dry slash left in the wake of logging operations throughout Lake of the Woods County. The fires . . . — — Map (db m237400) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
Welcome to Paul M. Thiede Fire Tower Park. The main feature of the park is the historic Pequot Fire Lookout Tower. The 100-foot tower, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sits atop a tall hill, providing up to a 20-mile . . . — — Map (db m237392) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
For thousands of years, fire was an important component of the health of natural areas including prairies, oak savannah, wetlands and forests. Fires were started by lightning and were also set by Native Americans as a planned landscape management . . . — — Map (db m237398) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371.
On an early April morning in 1992, the last thing Caroline Monson expected to see as she climbed the Pequot Lakes Fire Tower to begin her fire-watching shift was a large black bear. The bear, which was being kept as a pet by Pequot Lakes Police . . . — — Map (db m238109) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
You are standing in a young forest of aspen trees. This portion of the park was logged in 2004. That's a short time for trees to grow this tall. When they are young, aspen trees can grow as much as 3 to 4 feet in one year. It's important for the . . . — — Map (db m237495) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
The hillcrest where you are standing is 1,378 feet above sea level, 70 feet higher than County Road 11 at the entrance to the park. Add another 100 feet to the floor of the tower cab, and you get a commanding view of the area. This site was . . . — — Map (db m237500) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
Art Savage came to Pequot Lakes in 1939 to serve as a Forest Ranger for the Minnesota Department of Conservation, where a significant part of his duties included staffing the fire tower. Art and Beatrice Savage lived in the Spotter's Cabin from . . . — — Map (db m237560) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
A 10-foot by 16-foot wooden building was built here in 1928, to house firefighting equipment. Forest Ranger Art Savage noted that in 1939 his firefighting equipment included 6 pump tanks, 6 shovels and 2 axes. He also recalled having to use his own . . . — — Map (db m237546) HM
Near County Road 11, 0.3 miles east of State Highway 371, on the left when traveling east.
Centuries of fire helped shape the forest we enjoy today. Scientists examining sediment cores from lakes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness found pollen and charcoal dating all the way back to the retreat of the glaciers. They noted that . . . — — Map (db m237396) HM
