Pipestone National Monument – Minnesota
During our 1995 cross-country road trip, our route carried us through a part of Minnesota, where we stopped at one of the most remarkable sites: Pipestone National Monument.
Here, the soft red stone, pipestone, has been quarried for centuries by Native people and carved into ceremonial pipes used in prayer and spiritual life. This is not simply a historic site but a living cultural place. Tribes from across the Plains and beyond retain the right to quarry the stone, continuing traditions that long predate European settlement.
Pipestone was formally protected as a national monument on August 25, 1937, when it was designated by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The designation recognized the site’s profound cultural and spiritual importance and ensured that Native Nations would retain access to the quarries while the land was preserved for future generations.
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Rocky Mountain National Park – Colorado
Another spectacular National Park is Rocky Mountain National Park. My oldest daughter Emily lives in the foothills of this park, so we have enjoyed more visits than most. From the rugged alpine cliffs to the mountain lakes, this landscape reminds us how diverse this park is. Established in January 1915, when Woodrow Wilson signed the act […]
Sitka National Historical Park – Alaska
On our second trip to Alaska, we made the effort to travel to Sitka, and this town did not disappoint. When the ferry glided into this quaint harbor town, it felt as though we had arrived somewhere different from anywhere else in the state. Walking its streets, we paused at shop windows filled with Russian icons and […]
National Mall and Washington Monument – Washington DC
For someone who loves monuments, there is one city in the United States that stands above all others: Washington, D.C. Across this carefully designed landscape stand some of the nation’s most significant memorials, each telling part of the American story. One of the most striking views in the city is standing along the National Mall with […]
