Cultural Demonstrations

Visitors to the park from April through October have an opportunity to learn about pipestone craftsmanship and quarrying from American Indian carvers and quarriers!

Details

Duration

0-60 Minutes

Cultural demonstrators are available throughout the day during the summer season. There is no formal program or set schedule for their demonstrations. Visitors are free to ask questions and talk with demonstrators at their leisure. 

Activity

Cultural Demonstrations

From April through October, cultural demonstrators teach visitors about the craftsmanship of pipestone carving, the practice of quarrying, and the meaning of the stone and the site. 

Age(s)

0-99

Pets Allowed

No

Service animals trained in a specific task are the only animals permitted in the Visitor Center.

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Reservations

No

Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Cultural demonstrations are available daily between Memorial Day and Labor day; they are available on weekends during the shoulder seasons on either side of the holidays listed (April - October. 

Time of Day

Day

Available during the hours of the Visitor Center's operation (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

Accessibility Information

A limited supply of complimentary wheel chairs are available for visitors with mobility issues. 

From April through October, visitors can learn from cultural demonstrators.

NPS

From April through October, visitors have an opportunity to interact with American Indian craft workers as they demonstrate the art of shaping and creating pipestone crafts and pipes in the Visitor Center. Many of the demonstrators come from a long line of pipestone carvers. These artists educate visitors about the stories, techniques, and meanings in their work that have been passed down for generations.

Some of the carvers are also quarriers, and can talk with visitors about their personal experience of quarrying for pipestone at the monument. The carvers and quarriers keep a 3,000-year-old tradition alive, sharing their knowledge and expertise with thousands of visitors from all over the world each year.