Quarries on the grounds of Pipestone National Monument are the resource for which the park was established.  Quarrying is a tradition that stretches back thousands of years.  Pipestone was traded far and wide across the North American continent, and the quarry sites at Pipestone National Monument were the most significant and important source of pipestone.

The Nicollet Rock is a notable historic point within Pipestone National Monument.  The Nicollet Expedition of 1838 was the first to map the area.

The Three Maidens are a unique cultural and geologic feature at the entrance of Pipestone National Monument.