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Pipestone National MonumentPrairie landscape with outcropping of quartzite rocks
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Pipestone National Monument
Pipestone carver to give special program
 

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Date: July 28, 2009

Well-known Pipestone Carver to give special evening program at Pipestone National Monument

 

On Tuesday evening, July 28 at 7:30 p.m., Travis Erickson of Pipestone, MN will present a special program on quarrying and carving Catlinite (pipestone)at the Pipestone National Monument Visitor Center.

This special program, Part II in a series of special summer park events, will consist of a quarrying demonstration in which Erickson will discuss the history of quarrying and carving and demonstrate the use of all the tools he employs in quarrying and shaping the soft red stone.

Erickson is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Nation and is a 4th generation pipe carver.  Born and raised in Pipestone, he has been quarrying and carving pipes for 30 years.  He currently has 3 pipes on display at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. and is well-known for having carved pipes and pipe stems for the people of all nations.

Visitors to the Monument are reminded that park entrance fees are required to participate at each of the special events.

Quarry pit showing the quartzite wall and quartzite rubble pile  

Did You Know?
Pipestone National Monument was the first National Park Service area in Minnesota designated by Congress and signed into existence by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on August 25, 1937.

Last Updated: July 28, 2009 at 08:39 EST