Split Rock Creek State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Split Rock Creek State Park |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Split Rock Creek State Park
Location in Minnesota
Split Rock Creek State Park
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Pipestone, Minnesota, United States |
| Area | 1,303 acres (5.27 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,624 ft (495 m) |
| Established | 1937 |
| Governing body | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |
Split Rock Creek State Park is a fun state park located in Minnesota, USA. You can find it near the town of Ihlen or just south of Pipestone. This park is a great place to enjoy nature and outdoor activities, especially water sports.
Contents
History of Split Rock Creek State Park
Split Rock Creek State Park was officially created in 1937. It's a special place because much of it was built during a tough time in American history.
Building the Park: The WPA
In 1938, a group called the Works Progress Administration (WPA) helped build parts of the park. The WPA was a government program that gave jobs to people during the Great Depression. They worked on many projects across the country.
Creating the Lake
One of the WPA's big projects at the park was building a dam. This dam helped create a lake, which was very important. This part of Minnesota doesn't have many natural lakes. So, the new lake gave people a chance to enjoy water activities like swimming and boating.
The Sioux Quartzite Rock
The dam was built using a very strong, hard red rock called Sioux Quartzite. This type of rock is found all over the area. It makes the dam very sturdy and long-lasting.
The Historic Split Rock Creek Bridge
The WPA also built a bridge nearby in 1938. It's called the Split Rock Creek Bridge. Like the dam, this bridge was also made from Sioux Quartzite.
The bridge carries County Road 54 over the creek. It is a historic landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important part of history that needs to be protected.
