The rugged beauty of the Dales of the St. Croix River, which straddle the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin, had drawn visitors even as far back as the 1860s. But in 1895 when the beloved tourist destination was threatened with plans to grind the basalt cliffs for gravel, Minnesota and Wisconsin were galvanized to establish the first two cooperative state parks in the country in order to preserve the unique landscape for generations to come.
Production funding provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund and by the members of Prairie Public.
About the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund
In 2008, Minnesota voters passed a landmark piece of legislation - the Minnesota Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment - which provided funding to public television stations serving audiences in Minnesota. Its mission is to help preserve and document the treasures of culture, history, and heritage that make Minnesota special, and to increase access to the natural and cultural resources we all share.