This glacial granite boulder will far outlast all memory of man, I humbly ask of it to be the keeper of my message:
"Thanks for the miracle of life"
I dedicate this in memory of my grandparents, Jefferson and Mary Jane Hand . . . — — Map (db m180806) HM
The Wessington Springs Carnegie Library, built in 1917 at a cost of $7,000 is the last of 25 South Dakota public libraries financed by steel magnate Andrew Carnegie through the Carnegie Library Building Program. Since its formal opening on February . . . — — Map (db m180762) HM
Cleveland T. Hall is credited by records of historical societies and of the U.S. Department of the Army with carrying the message which saved our nation's capital at the only time it has been seriously threatened by an invasion of enemy forces. . . . — — Map (db m180766) HM
Wessington Springs is home to our state's 7th Governor who served from 1909-1913. He came to Jerauld County as one of the early pioneers, starting in the sheep business before entering banking and real estate. Robert & Florence Vessey built their . . . — — Map (db m180809) HM
Remnants of this historic trail can be seen just south of Hwy 34 along the ridge. In 1857 Nobles Trail was built by Col. W.H. Nobles, from Mendota (the mouth of the Minnesota) via Fort Ridgley to the Missouri River. It was to be a wagon road from . . . — — Map (db m180810) HM
This courthouse was built in 1930 at a cost of $120,000. It had an unusual design for a courthouse at that time, being Modern American instead of Classical. The exterior is brick, trimmed with Bedford Stone. The interior has terrazzo floors, . . . — — Map (db m124590) HM
In the year 1934, this hill was designated as Legion Hill to honor the veterans of World War I. In this year of 2007, this plaque is being placed on Legion Hill to honor these veterans and all men and women from all branches of service, including . . . — — Map (db m180756) HM WM
In 1934 this hill was designated as Legion Hill to honor the veterans of World War I with a stone monument still in its original location at the top of the hill. In 2007 a plaque was placed on the monument to honor these WWI veterans and all men and . . . — — Map (db m180807) HM
The Field House was built by the W.P.A. in 1936. The government formed the W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) to create jobs during the Great Depression. Native stone was hauled from local fields to keep the costs down. The building features a . . . — — Map (db m180706) HM
The area within about a 5 mile radius of this site was considered a neutral area by all Indians. French traders set up a trading post every fall near the big spring. There was no fighting; competing tribes camped side-by-side. However, it is fairly . . . — — Map (db m180747) HM
This marks a camp-site of Dakota's first highway 1857, known as Noble's Trail, from Ft. Ridgely, Minn., to the Missouri River.
Also marks the site of Levi Hain's log cabin, erected 1876. — — Map (db m180749) HM
Robert S. Vessey was born near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, May 16, 1858. His father was a minister-farmer with a family of 15 children. He attended common school, but dropped out at an early age to work and assist in the support of his father’s family. He . . . — — Map (db m180805) HM
A.J. Gebhart designed and built the ski lift assisted by Lloyd Marken. The electric powered apparatus was installed in February of 1956 and kept a 1,200 foot circle of rope rotating to safely pull sled, ski, toboggan, or scoop shovel users back to . . . — — Map (db m113045) HM
Shakespeare Garden
Modeled after Shakespeare Garden near Stratford-upon-Avon, England over 150 varieties of flowers, trees and shrubs. Only garden of its kind in South Dakota.
Ann Hathaway Cottage
This home was styled . . . — — Map (db m113051) HM
In 1916 Foster Stratton erected a two-story brick building on this site. It held a garage and machine shop on the lower level, with a photography studio and living quarters on the second floor. When the building was razed in 1989, the Stratton . . . — — Map (db m113050) HM
The Shakespeare Garden, founded 1927, was planned and developed by Clark W. and Emma Freeland Shay and is maintained as a memorial to them. Together they served the Wessington Springs College as instructors and advisors for a total of 83 . . . — — Map (db m113052) HM
This indention in the ground is the site of the first home in Jerauld County. Levi Hain and his wife, Maribee began with a sod house in 1876 and soon after built a log cabin. They sold their home and land to Rev. A.B. Smart in 1880 and the cabin . . . — — Map (db m180704) HM
Wood and water were essential to pioneer road builders and in 1857, when the Fort Ridgely & South Pass Wagon Road was built by Col. W.H. Nobles, the springs at Wessington Hills was a natural on the Reconnaissance to the Missouri River. On the . . . — — Map (db m180808) HM
Springs that flow into the park along with an old legend about a trapper named Wessington is how Wessington Springs got its name. Legend has it that Wessington was burned by the Indians while tied to a tree in what is now the city park. Our First . . . — — Map (db m180753) HM
(Main Memorial)
This memorial is dedicated to those men and women who served our country in times of war and peace and especially to those who gave their lives in that service.
(World War I Stone)
In Commemoration of the Patriotism of our . . . — — Map (db m113054) WM
