Interstate Park

A paddle boat on the St. Croix River.

Interstate Park is a state park which spans the Minnesota-Wisconsin state line along the St. Croix River Dalles with parts of the park on both sides. The threat of mining in the 1800s along the St. Croix initiated the creation of Interstate Park to preserve the Dalles of the St. Croix River. The towns of Taylors Falls, Minnesota and St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin are adjacent to the park.

The Minnesota Legislature established the park in 1895. The Wisconsin Legislature followed five years later in 1900. This was the first park in the United States to span two states.

The Glacial Gardens area of the park, along with the campground, contain National Park Service Rustic style buildings and structures that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A Civilian Conservation Corps crew may have quarried local basalt stone for the Works Progress Administration, which was responsible for the building of these structures.

The riverside cliffs are a popular place for rock climbers, particularly those from the Twin Cities, only an hour away. The park is also notable for its white pine forests. The Ice Age Trail, which crosses Wisconsin, has its western end at the park.

The bridge over the St. Croix to Wisconsin.

The St. Croix from the cliffs of the Minnesota side viewing out into Wisconsin.

Interstate State Park has many interesting rock formations.

Near the park, Taylors Falls, Minnesota stands Minnesota's oldest standing public school house, which was built in 1852.

See also

• For geolocations ...: Explore the USGS Geographic Names Information System
• Minnesota cycleways
• Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway

References

• List of Rustic Style Resources in Minnesota State Parks: Interstate State Park

External links

• Saint Croix National Scenic River (National Park Service)
• Detailed River Maps (National Park Service)
• Wisconsin DNR park maps (PDF)
• Minnesota DNR park info

• Maps and aerial photos for 45°′″N 92°′″W / 45.391829, -92.665538Coordinates: 45°′″N 92°′″W / 45.391829, -92.665538
  • Maps from WikiMapia, Google Maps, Live Search Maps, Yahoo! Maps, or MapQuest
  • Topographic maps from TopoZone or TerraServer-USA

Donate to Wikimedia