Cultural Demonstrations

Local American Indians carve pipestone throughout the summer months in the Upper Midwest Indian Cultural Center, located inside the visitor center. Many carve utilizing personal experience as well as the traditions their ancestors taught them.

Quarrying

Quarrying is the first step of the pipestone tradition. The task of extracting pipestone from the earth requires a commitment to physically challenging work with tools and methods that differ very little from those used in centuries past.

Winnewissa Falls

Winnewissa Falls is a highlight of Pipestone National Monument's Circle Trail. The Circle Trail is 3/4 of a mile and displays the many features of the monument, including the tallgrass prairie as well as the quarry pits.

Tallgrass Prairie

The tallgrass prairies host many plants and animals that once flourished throughout the midwest. Over 500 plant species, 26 fish species, 45 macroinvertebrate species, 9 reptiles and amphibians, 25 mammal species, 56 families of insects and 100 bird species are currently found here.