Pipestone National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

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"Behold this pipe! Always remember how sacred it is..." Black Elk

Pipestone National Monument offers an opportunity to explore American Indian culture and the natural resources of the tallgrass prairie. Established by Congress in 1937 to protect the historic pipestone quarries, the site is considered sacred by many American Indians. Spanning centuries of use, American Indians continue to quarry pipestone which they carve into sacred pipes.

Cultural demonstrator shaping pipestone item

Cultural Demonstrations

Local American Indians demonstrate pipe making throughout the summer months in the Upper Midwest Indian Cultural Center, located inside the visitor center. Utilizing personal experience and the traditions that they were taught, they provide insightful information and close up views of how they work and carve pipestone, many of them being third and fourth generation carvers and quarriers.

Quarrying

While quarrying is the first and most basic step of the pipestone tradition it is also the least appreciated part. The task of extracting pipestone from the earth requires a commitment to many days of physically challenging work with hand tools and methods that differ very little from those used in centuries past. Quarries are allocated by permit issued by the Monument but demand for quarries far exceeds the number available each year. Despite a lengthy waiting list American Indians from many tribes accept the challenge and continue the quarrying tradition.
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General Management Plan

The final General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for Pipestone National Monument will be completed in spring of 2008. This document will guide management of the Monument for the next 15-20 years.
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Write to

Pipestone National Monument
36 Reservation Avenue
Pipestone, MN 56164

E-mail Us

Phone

Visitor Information
(507) 825-5464

Fax

(507) 825-5466

Climate

With an altitude of 1,600 feet, the area is high plains. Summer temperatures average in the 80’s with the high reaching 100 occasionally. Winters are cold and windy with temperatures sometimes reaching below 0.