Lac qui Parle State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lac qui Parle State Park WPA/Rustic Style Historic District
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Lac qui Parle map shelter
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off Co. Hwy. 33 at SE end of Lac qui Parle, Lac qui Parle Township |
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| Nearest city | Montevideo, Minnesota |
| MPS | Minnesota State Park CCC/WPA/Rustic Style MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001055 |
| Added to NRHP | August 19, 1991 |
Lac qui Parle State Park is a beautiful state park located in Minnesota, United States. It's found near the town of Watson. The name Lac qui Parle comes from the French translation of a Dakota Native American name. It means "talking lake," which is a fun and unique name for a park!
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Discovering Lac qui Parle State Park
This special state park was created as part of a much bigger project. This project was called the Lac qui Parle Flood Control Project. Its main goal was to help manage the water levels of the Minnesota River.
What is the Lac qui Parle Project?
The "Lac qui Parle" itself is actually a wider part of the Minnesota River. To control flooding, a large dam was built at the southern end of this wider lake area. This dam was a very important part of the flood control plan.
How the Park Was Built
Many parts of the Lac qui Parle Flood Control Project were built by a group called the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program in the 1930s. It helped put many people to work during a tough time called the Great Depression. These workers built many important structures across the country.
Besides the dam and the state park, the WPA also helped build other things nearby. These included the Watson Wayside, the Lac qui Parle Parkway, and even helped rebuild the historic Lac qui Parle Mission.
Historic Buildings at the Park
Several buildings within Lac qui Parle State Park are very old and important. They are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are protected because of their history and special design.
- The Model Shelter: This building is really cool! It holds a special map made of concrete. This map shows the entire Lac qui Parle Flood Control System and the Minnesota River Valley. It helps visitors understand how the whole project works.
- The Kitchen Shelter: This building was likely used for cooking and preparing food for visitors or workers.
- The Sanitation Building: This building provided important facilities for people using the park.
These buildings show the unique "Rustic Style" of architecture. This style was popular during the time they were built. It often uses natural materials like stone and wood to blend in with the park's environment.
