Pipestone National Monument, Archaeological site in Sweet Township, Minnesota, US
This site contains quarries of red catlinite stone set within grass-covered prairies near Pipestone in southwestern Minnesota. The location spans several areas and combines quarry sites with natural rock formations and a waterfall.
Native peoples have extracted pipestone from these quarries for more than 3000 years, leading to federal protection as a national monument in 1937. This long history of use transformed it into an important archaeological record.
Twenty-three tribal nations maintain active connections to this location, where they continue to extract stone for pipe-making traditions. The practice serves as a spiritual anchor for these communities and links them directly to their ancestors.
A paved loop trail of about three-quarters of a mile connects visitors to quarry sites, rock formations, and a waterfall. The path is easy to walk and passes through different parts of the grounds.
The National Park Service collaborates with indigenous communities to manage the site while preserving their exclusive rights to extract the red stone. This partnership is rare among protected federal lands in the country.
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