Pipestone monument marks 75 years in August

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PIPESTONE — The official date is still more than four months in the future, but preparations are already well under way for the observance of Pipestone National Monument’s 75th anniversary.

Pipestone National Monument was created by an act of Congress on Aug. 25, 1937.

The designation was made to preserve a site that is considered sacred by Native American cultures. Archaeological evidence indicates that the quartzite rock has been quarried at the site for more than 3,000 years, most notably for the carving of stone pipes that are integral to Native American ceremonies and culture.

Members of tribes from across the country still make long pilgrimages to the monument to quarry the sacred stone and continue the tradition of pipemaking. They are joined by a host of tourists who learn about the Native American cultures and the significance of the quartzite stone.

In preparation for the milestone celebration, both the monument and the Pipestone County Historical Society are compiling exhibits to illustrate its history and develop a more complete collection of historical and current photos.

“We started looking into this, into doing an exhibit on the monument itself, and realized that’s a part of our collection that is lacking,” explained Susan Hoskins, executive director of the Pipestone County Historical Society. “We don’t have a lot of photographs of the monument. We do have some, but we thought we’d ask the public to submit photographs and help us round out the collection.”

Any photograph of the monument, quarries, or locations in or around the monument are sought for the exhibits and historical records, but especially those that portray landscapes, the prairie, Pipestone Creek, early visitors and locals using and enjoying the park and those showing people who might have been involved with the quarries.

“It could be from last year, it could be from 50 years ago,” said Hoskins. “We’ve already had some come in, and it’s remarkable what we’ve gotten. People have pictures of all kinds of things.”

The hope, of course, is that people will donate their original photographs whenever possible, although an alternative is available for family keepsakes.

“We understand that people might not want to give up the original, and in that case we will scan the original and enter it into our digital collection and return the original to the donor,” Hoskins explained. “This is a joint project between the national monument and the museum, so photographs that are donated will be put into the permanent collection of both entities.”

Before they are filed away for posterity, the photographs will be utilized for special exhibits marking the 75th anniversary at both the monument and the museum. Hoskins anticipates the museum exhibit will be mounted before the end of April, although photographs will be accepted through the end of June.

“We’re planning to kind of add to it,” she said. “We wanted to have the exhibit up for the whole summer even though the anniversary is in August.”

Spearheading anniversary efforts at the monument is Mark Calamia, who came aboard as the monument’s cultural resources program manager just three and a half months ago. His position oversees tribal outreach, compliance with the National Preservation Act, ethno history and historic research and curating the monument’s museum.

Calamia said the monument’s anniversary exhibit is still being formulated, along with the actual celebration set for Aug. 25.

“It’s still in the planning stages,” he stressed. “There are going to be some speakers in the early afternoon, and we’ll hopefully have some dignitaries come —we’ve invited a number. There are going to be American Indian singers and drummers, and we intend to have some special presentations by at least three prominent, well-known archaeologists and historians.”

Digital images of Pipestone National Monument can be emailed to the Pipestone County Historical Society, pipctymu@iw.net; or Pipestone National Monument, PIPE_interpretation@nps.gov. Donors are asked to include any location information, dates and identification of subjects. Original photographs will also be accepted in person at either location.

The Pipestone County Museum is located at 113 S. Hiawatha Ave. in Pipestone. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Pipestone National Monument is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, go to http://www.nps.gov/pipe/index.htm.

Daily Globe Features Editor Beth Rickers can be reached at 376-7327

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