The Ellsworth Rock Gardens were determined eligible for the National Register in 1998, as an
extraordinary and unique American art environment and outstanding example of mid-twentieth
century vernacular landscape architecture. Jack Ellsworth, carpenter/building contractor from
Chicago, constructed the Ellsworth Rock Gardens in a forested area on the north shore of Lake
Kabetogama between 1944 and 1965. He and his wife Elsie spent summers on the lake
transforming a 60-foot granite outcrop near their summer home into a grand garden. The
Ellsworth Rock Gardens are a major visitor destination in Voyageurs National Park, attracting
approximately 100 people a day from mid-May to mid-September.
Mr. Ellsworth used stone in a number of ways in the gardens. He first constructed 65 terraced
flower beds which he filled primarily with tiger lilies, but augmented with a variety of other
flowers. He created over 200 sculptures—spires, monuments, pyramids, multi-tier tables, and
whimsical figures. He edged paths with stone, used stones to direct water away from and to
desired areas, and used stone for other functional elements such as benches, bridges and steps.
The purpose of the stone wall workshop was to provide hands-on training for park staff,
Ellsworth volunteers and others interested in learning to build and repair drystone walls. The
intent was to create a cadre of trained personnel to continue work at the gardens and also
increase the availability of trained workers for future projects in the park or other historic sites in
the country with similar resources. Voyageurs acquired funding through grants and donations to
bring master stonemason Neil Rippingale of the Dry Stone Conservancy to the park to teach the
workshop.