Frontenac State Park

About Frontenac State Park

Frontenac is located on the Mississippi and is one of the best places in the country to see birds migrating in spring and autumn. More than 260 bird species have been recorded here and it is a paradise for bird watchers.

Hikers and skiers can enjoy the beautifully wooded river valley, and fishing, swimming and boat trips are possible nearby.

Frontenac is best known for its spectacular views of the Hudson River and its many lakes, as well as its picturesque views.

During the Ice Age, the Glacial River Warren cut through the great valley through which the Mississippi River flows today. Hundreds of millions of years ago, Minnesota was covered by a shallow sea, and sediments accumulated at the bottom of the ocean and hardened slowly to rocks. Today, these rocks form the cliffs of Mississippi and are part of Frontenac State Park, one of the most scenic parks in Minnesota.

When the river reaches its peak, most of Frontenac is still covered with water, and only a few hundred meters of shoreline are visible.

In 1883, John LaFarge and George L. Heins chose limestone from the quarry to build the first of two steep slopes in Frontenac State Park, a landmark of the park today. The quarry was in operation from 1884 to 1891 and extracted limestone, sandstone and other materials for the construction of the steep slope and a number of other buildings. Today, the park's landmark is a huge rock on the edge of a precipice believed to have religious significance for American Indians.

At the turn of the century, Frontenac had a reputation as a great place for birdwatching, and 260 bird species found their way into the park, while others simply stopped by on the other side of the Mississippi. Bald eagles were often seen in autumn, winter and spring, and some of them even breeded in the area.

Investigations also revealed that Dakota and Fox Indians hunted and fished on the shores of Lake Pepin. Frontenac behaved similarly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, according to the park's website.

Later, in 1680, he led the first European exploration of the Mississippi, and the expedition left Montreal to establish posts in the Gulf of Mexico before heading westward in search of a route to the Pacific.

Although there is no evidence to date, the post is believed to have been located at Sand Point and Frontenac State Park is located south of the site, at the intersection of Main Street and Main Avenue, in the city of St. George.