While in Pipestone, my mother and I made a quick stop by the Pipestone National Monument. We were on our way to see my grandmother. It was nearing sunset, and I have been here many times before, so we didn't get many photos this time. We did, however, see a wild turkey and her chicks in the field.

The Pipestone National Monument is open to visitors year-round and there is a small fee required for entry, but it includes access to the Visitor's Center, the Circle Trail, and the Three Maidens. The National Monument allows visitors the ability to explore cultural and natural resources unique to the area. Specifically Pipestone itself. On your visit to the park, you can visit active quarry pits where the traditions of American Indians are carried on through quarrying pipestone.

Local flora, including numerous varieties of flowers and grasses, surround the quarries in the tallgrass prairie native to southern Minnesota. You can enjoy them as you walk along the Circle Trail. Along the trail are historical markers, quartzite rock formations, and Winnewissa Falls. Finally, you can enjoy a picnic near the Three Maidens rock formation. My sister and I have photos from previous visits of us on and around these rocks - we change and get older, but the rocks remain steadfast and stately as always. (The photo below is from a trip a few years back. Taken at the Three Maidens)



For more information about the Pipestone National Monument, please visit:
http://www.nps.gov/pipe/index.htm