Pipestone National Monument

The monument contains quarries of red catlinite stone situated within grass-covered prairies near the city of Pipestone in southwestern Minnesota.

Native American tribes have extracted pipestone from these quarries for more than 3000 years, leading to its federal protection in 1937.

Twenty-three tribal nations maintain active connections to this location, where they continue to quarry stone for ceremonial pipe-making traditions.

The monument features a three-quarter-mile paved Circle Trail that connects visitors to quarry sites, rock formations, and Winnewissa Falls.

The National Park Service collaborates with indigenous communities to manage the site while preserving their exclusive rights to extract the red stone.

Location: Sweet Township

Inception: August 25, 1937

Website: https://www.nps.gov/pipe/index.htm

Operator: National Park Service

Website: https://nps.gov/pipe

GPS coordinates: 44.01333,-96.32500

Latest update: May 27, 2025 11:47