Regional Map Tour

Eight miles SE of Granite Falls on TH 67, the 1,100-acre park includes an interpretive center; 14 miles of groomed multi use trails and a unique "horse campground". The Upper Sioux Agency was established by the federal government in 1854 as a center for instructing the Dakota Indians in the farming methods of white settlers. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 320- 564-4777.

Five minutes SE of Granite Falls on TH 67 east. Live blackjack, 400 nickel-quarter- dollar slot machines, Flying Eagle Restaurant and Lounge, Smoke and Gift Shop featuring authentic Native American crafts. Open 24 hours, Friday- Sunday; 8am-2am Monday-Wednesday. 320-564-2121

On County Road 18, west of TH 67, between Granite Falls and Echo. This site commemorates the battle of Wood Lake fought here September 23, 1862 between the forces of General Sibley and Little Crow. A granite monument was erected by the state in 1919 in the memory of those who died in this battle.

One and one-half blocks west of TH 23, Hanley Falls. Five large buildings contain a marvelous collection of antique tractors, gas engines, implements and tools in mint condition. Many fond memories will surface as you stroll through the farm home rooms and general store. New in 1996, is a building to display vintage automobiles. Plan 1 ½ hours to experience rural Minnesota's finest look at yesterday and today's agriculture and transportation. Open 1-5 daily May through September. Closed Tuesdays. 507-768-3522

Located at 163 9th Ave., Granite Falls. U.S. Congressman Andrew J. Volstead, co- author of the Capper-Volstead Act which established farmer cooperatives and of prohibition, lived in this home which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The front parlor is a museum of Volstead memorabilia. May be seen during business hours Monday-Friday. 320-564-3011

At the intersection of TH 23 & 67 in Granite Falls. The museum displays geology, archaeology and Native American artifacts. Items exhibited show the life of the early settlers and their progress through the pioneer years. Authentic log cabin and church on the site. Open May through October, Tuesday-Friday, 11am-3pm; Saturday-Sunday noon-4pm. 320-564-4479 or 4039.

From Montevideo go 6 miles east on Hwy. 7, turn right and go 5 miles south on County Road 6, turn left and go 1/4 mile on County Road 15. The Olof Swensson Farm Museum contains a 22-room house, timber-framed barn, family burial cemetery and remains of a grist mill. Constructed in 1901, the house contains original furnishings from this unique Norwegian/Swedish family. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Open weekends May through September. 320-269-7636.

Located at 151 Pioneer Drive, Jct of TH 59 & 7, Montevideo. A unique 23 building, turn of the century village. Stroll the boardwalks as you reminisce of times gone by. Visit the Millinery Shop, Law Office, School House and our authentic log cabins. A 1915 Seagraves Pumper and a 1914 Dodge hearse are also on display. Open May through September, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday 1pm-5pm. 320-269-7636

South 1st St. at Park Ave., Montevideo. This building is currently undergoing restoration by the Milwaukee Road Heritage Center and the Chippewa County Historical Society. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 320-269-7636

Located 1 ½ miles west of Montevideo on TH 212 in Lac qui Parle County. The Camp Release Monument was erected in 1894 by the State of Minnesota to commemorate the release of 259 captives during the United States/Dakota Conflict. This was the first state park in Minnesota.

County Road 13, Kragero Township, Chippewa County. Located on the shores of Lac qui Parle Lake, this National Register site was home to the first Protestant mission in the state. Early missionaries made the first translation of the Bible into the Dakota language and a Dakota/English hymnal was developed at this site. A short trail with interpretive signs is also on the site.

Eight miles northwest of Montevideo on TH 59 to Chippewa CSAH 13, turn left and go 2.2 miles and turn right on Chippewa County Road 32. Located approximately 1 mile on the right hand side. Two years after Minnesota became a state in 1858, a cottonwood seed took root in Chippewa County. Among the largest cottonwoods in the state today, this 134-year old ancient tree has a crown and a trunk 30 feet in diameter. Only a small sign and footpath that goes up over a hill mark this spot.

From Watson, 1 mile northwest on TH 7, turn left on County Road 13, go 2.2 miles, turn right on CR 32 and go 1 mile - on left side of road. This roadside rest area marks the location of a fur trading post established by Joseph Renville in 1826 to trade with the Dakota Indians.

Lac qui Parle CSAH 33. This 530 acre park consists of 56 campsites, 33 picnic sites, swimming beach, drive-in boat launch, 6 miles of hiking and horseback trails, horseback campgrounds, 5 miles of cross country ski trails and several canoe access points. In fall, thousands of geese descend on the lake in the nearby Lac qui Parle Wildlife Refuge. Bald eagles perch in nearby trees, deer are commonly seen, and fishing is popular year-round. 320-752-4736

Lac qui Parle Lake is stocked with three million walleye fry every third year. There are over 30 other fish species including bluegill, largemouth bass, rock bass, northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, white crappie and white bass. Catfish are usually abundant at the handicapped accessible fishing pier on the southeastern side of State Hwy 40 causeway. There are nine designated access sites along its 42 miles of shoreline.

Located on the lower end of Lac qui Parle Lake between Watson and Milan. Canada geese use Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area as a stopover during fall migration. Fall is the best time to see the largest concentration of Canada geese. Flocks of up to 100,000 can be seen during peak migration in late October. Bald eagles can also be seen nesting on an island sanctuary.

Six miles east of Dawson on TH 212, 5 ½ miles north on County Road 31, then ½ mile east on the township road to the village site. This prairie town and its cemetery lie above the scenic Lac qui Parle River Valley. Between 1871 and 1884 the village was the county seat, the only commercial center in the county, and a rendezvous point for Scandinavian, German, Irish, English and eastern United States emigrants. A centennial marker stands near the village's first courthouse site. A cemetery ½ mile west of the village has early pioneers and a Civil War veteran buried in a beautiful prairie setting overlooking the river valley.

Six miles east of Dawson on TH 212, 5 ½ miles north on County Road 31, then ½ mile east of the township road to Lac qui Parle Village, turning left on second street into the village to the bridge road. Retrace the path of midwestern settlers along the Red River trails by following ancient Indian pathways. The trails in Lac qui Parle were the earliest cart routes in Minnesota, beginning in the 1820s. Wagon ruts embedded in the prairie sod near Ten Mile Creek crossing and in Lac qui Parle Village are all that remain of the military road. Near the mission site a trail remnant can be seen in the prairie hillside above the Lac qui Parle River Valley.

From Milan travel northwest on TH 59 about 3 miles northwest of Milan, then take the county line gravel road west 2 miles to the preserve. Chippewa Prairie's 1,102 acres represent a small remnant of the once vast northern tall grass prairie ecosystem. For hundreds of years, the area was home to the Dakota Indians who camped along the river, harvesting wild plants and following the vast herds of buffalo, elk, white- tailed deer and migrating waterfowl. The first permanent European settlers began arriving in the 1870s attracted by the rich prairie soil. Along the river, at present-day Chippewa Prairie, the boulder-strewn terraces and steep ravines proved too difficult to plow. Here the prairie continued to bloom, interrupted mainly by grazing livestock and seasonal mowing. Adjacent to the Chippewa Prairie is Lac qui Parle State Wildlife Management Area and up river is the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. Together, these three natural areas host a large array of wildlife.

A gentle river seldom interrupted by rapids, the Minnesota River is one of the few canoe rivers in southwestern Minnesota and offers some of the most impressive landscapes in this part of the state. Call the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-285-2000 or 612-296-2316 in the metro area for a map of the river showing portages, campsites, rest areas, rapids and more. A canoe trail is open along the river mid-April to September 30 in Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. The best canoeing is during high water time in the spring.

This tourist is actually the area's best-known attraction — the Canada goose. Bird watchers and hunters alike delight in the immense flocks that stop in the area while migrating from and returning to their northern homes. The geese that stop over in our region are part of the eastern prairie population of Canada geese which nest in northern Manitoba along the western shore of Hudson Bay and migrate through Manitoba, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri. Typically they winter in Missouri, although in recent years they have spent the winter in Minnesota.

Two miles south of Appleton on TH 119, turn right on the first gravel road marked by Marsh Lake Dam sign. Marsh Lake is a man-made reservoir on the Minnesota River which has one of the only two nesting colonies of the white pelican in Minnesota. View them close-up below the Marsh Lake dam as well as other locations along the river. This is also an excellent spot for shore fishing.

Corner of Hwy 75 and 40 in Madison. Contains Native American artifacts, a research library, log cabin, medical items, Veterans display, old furniture, and township row display. A country school and agriculture building displays memorabilia from pioneer life. Also featured is the Ethel Mehlum doll collection. May through October, Monday-Friday, 9am-4:30pm Sunday 1:30-5pm. 320-598-7678

Go 3 miles south of Marietta on County Road 7 and 1 mile west on the township road. The 379-acre lake is heavily utilized by waterfowl and shore birds during spring migration. On an irregular basis, the site harbors breeding populations of eared grebes, Wilson's phalaropes and 130 other species on these outings. Snowy egrets, although rare in Minnesota have become expected here. A spring bird watch outing draws national attention every April.

From TH 75 turn east on County Road 38 and drive for 2 miles. Then turn north and drive for 1 mile. At this intersection the preserve is located on the northwest and northeast quarters. Plover Prairie occupies 655 acres of level, rocky terrace along the Minnesota River Valley The native prairie ranges from flat, well-drained mesic black soil prairie to wet prairies and cattail marshes. Wetland depressions pockmark the prairie while a glacial hill, or kame, is located in the central portion of the east unit of the preserve. A large population of small white lady's slipper is one of several important features of the preserve. There is also excellent habitat for the upland sandpiper and marbled godwit, both of which are listed as "special concern" by the state of Minnesota. Numerous other interesting species of plants and animals can be found on the preserve.

From Milan go 3 miles east on TH 40, then turn south (right) for 1 mile and east again for ½ mile. This traditional Norwegian Stabbur is located on the Don Peterson farm and was designed by Halvard Peterson of Vinstia, Norway.

Main street in Milan. This museum contains exhibits from privately- owned sources and items donated to the Milan Arv Hus organization. A special collection of Milan area photographs is also on display. Monday-Saturday 9am-4pm. 320-734-4408.

Located at the junction of TH 12 & 75. The museum was built on the site of the familiar Paul Bunyan anchor. Featured displays include a turn of the century excursion boat, information on the granite industry, Big Stone Lake, and many other facets of county life dating from the Civil War to present.

Located at 20 SE 2nd Street, Ortonville. Constructed in 1902 of brick and native granite, this building was renovated in the 1970s and 1980s. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 320-839-2123.

Big Stone County Courthouse lawn, 20 SE 2nd St. This memorial was erected in 1920 and is a square granite monument topped with carved eagles and a globe.

Vicinity of 2nd Street, Madison and Monroe Avenues, Ortonville. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

412 NW 2nd St., Ortonville. Built in 1915 with Andrew Carnegie funds, it houses a modern library. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 320-839-2494.

Approximately 1 mile southeast of Ortonville, off of TH 7/75. The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge consists of 10,795 acres of marsh and open water created by the three-mile dam across the Minnesota River Valley. More than 230 bird species have been observed in the area since 1971. The refuge offers a four-mile self-guided auto tour. You will see western prairie grasslands, flooded forest, mixed habitat and wetlands. A foot trail provides a close-up view of prairie plants, river meanders and wildlife. The 100 acres of granite rock outcrops support unusual species of cactus and other plants and provide an excellent view of the refuge. Pick up the tour leaflet at the first tour stop.

North of Ortonville on TH 7. Big Stone State Park, on the shores of Big Stone Lake, has two main recreational areas: Bonanza area (15 miles north of Ortonville) offers primitive camping, hiking, picnicking, swimming and bird watching among its virgin prairies; the Meadowbrook area (8 miles north of Ortonville) has tent/trailer camping with hookups; a picnic/playground area; hiking path and fishing. 320-839-3663.

On the border between Minnesota and South Dakota in Big Stone County along TH 7. Big Stone Lake is well known for its walleye. It is the site of Little Lindy Joe/Zercom Marine MWC Ortonville Walleye Tourney. Big Stone Lake is stocked with 7 million walleye fry every other year. The best spot for walleye is the northern end of the lake, early in the season. The lake contains more than 30 other species of fish including northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, white crappie, bullhead, channel catfish and perch. Anglers can choose from 12 public accesses, and a handicapped accessible pier at the public access in Ortonville. A Minnesota fishing license allows you to fish anywhere on or around Big Stone Lake.

Located one-half mile east of Browns Valley on TH 28/7. In 1933 an archaeologist discovered a skeleton of a man estimated to be 9,000 years old, making the skeleton one of the oldest found in the New World. Stop at the roadside rest and learn more about this historic find.

One-half mile west of Browns Valley on TH 28/7. An original pioneer trail blazed in 1864 extending from St. Cloud to Ft. Sisseton (Ft. Wadsworth) South Dakota.

West Broadway Avenue in Browns Valley. The "Paul Revere" of the northwestern frontier known for his noble and kindhearted character. This memorial has a restored log cabin built by Samuel's father, Major Joseph R. Brown, which exhibits many artifacts of this early pioneer's life. The cabin served as a trading post, stage line stop, tavern and inn.

Minnesota/South Dakota border approximately 2 miles west of Browns Valley on TH 28/7. A wayside rest park offers information on this high point between the two watersheds that drain north and south from this point. Bodies of water to the north drain to Hudson Bay while water to the south drains to the Gulf of Mexico.

West 6th St., Morris. This nationally recognized museum examines the rich past of Stevens County. It is housed in the Carnegie Library building, built in 1905 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The museum also has a research library for public use. Open year round, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. 320-589-1719.

Located at 101 4th Street, Canby. This National Register property was built by John G. Lund in 1891 and sold to Rev. Olaf Hoel in 1903. The house is of American Victorian Style with 15 rooms. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day, Tuesday- Saturday 10am-4pm; Sundays 1-4pm. 507-223-5613 or 7371.

Map Brochures fo the Byway are availiable by Calling  1-800-269-5527

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