CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT: PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION:

An Inventory of Its State Parks Project Files

Government Records

Part or all of this collection is restricted.
For details, please see restrictions.


Expand/CollapseOVERVIEW

Creator: Minnesota. Conservation Department. Division of Parks and Recreation.
Title:State Parks Project Files.
Dates:1934-1938.
Language:Materials in English.
Abstract:Plans, photographs, work program outlines, and progress reports in files kept by Wesley G. Wells, who worked for both the National Park Service and the Minnesota Conservation Department on state park survey and improvement projects.
Quantity:1.0 cubic feet (1 box)
Location: See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

Expand/CollapseSCOPE AND CONTENTS

Projects included construction or improvements of park buildings (cabins, toilets, shelters, refectories), roads, bridges, sanitary systems, dams, parking areas, trails, signs and markers; improvement of grounds by landscaping; and surveying and mapping.


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Expand/CollapseARRANGEMENT

Arranged alphabetically by park or project name.


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Expand/CollapseADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Access Restrictions:

Originals are closed. Access and use requires the permission of the State Archivist.

These files are located off site in Remote Storage. Advance arrangements are required in order to view the files.

Please consult reference staff for more information.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota. Conservation Department: Division of Parks and Recreation. State Parks Project Files. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 12,183 (mss.); 2000-32

Processing Information:

Digitized by: Minnesota Historical Society, October 2019

Catalog ID number: 990017139380104294


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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

LocationBox
306.A.15.5B1Biography, Wesley G. Wells, undated.
Chronology of work experience.
Biography, Wesley G. Wells, undated. Digital version
Minnesota Recreational Facilities, 1937. 1 volume.
Survey of private cabin camps and resorts, municipal parks and tourist camps, and special recreational facilities, based on (1) records of the Hotel License Bureau, State Department of Health, and (2) questionnaires from a Minnesota Recreational Survey undertaken cooperatively by the National Park Service and the Minnesota State Planning Board.
Minnesota Recreational Facilities, 1937. Digital version
Work Program Outline and Project Correspondence, 1937. 1 looseleaf volume.
For "emergency activities" of the National Park Service state parks division; includes some Iowa state park projects.
Work Program Outline and Project Correspondence, 1937. Digital version
Miscellaneous State Parks Material, 1936-1937.
Miscellaneous State Parks Material, 1936-1937. Digital version
State Parks [and NPS] Photos, circa 1936-1937.
Includes one identified photo of the Hermann Monument in New Ulm.
State Parks [and NPS] Photos, approximately 1936-1937. Digital version
Camden State Park, 1936.
Plans for vehicle crossing (oversize blueline prints, folded).
Camden State Park, 1936. Digital version
Cottonwood State Park, 1935-1937.
Plans, topographical drawings, maps, sounding data charts, and photographic narrative report (Feb.-March 1937) relating to construction of a dam on the Big Cottonwood River in Cottonwood State Park, at New Ulm. Primarily oversize blueprints and blueline prints, folded.
Cottonwood State Park, 1935-1937. Digital version
Fort Ridgely State Park, 1937.
Proposed layout of Fort Ridgely State Park water line. Oversize blueline print, folded.
Fort Ridgely State Park, 1937. Digital version
Glenwood State Park, 1936.
Layout of Civilian Conservation Corps camp site (blueline print), with a transmittal letter.
Glenwood State Park, 1936. Digital version
Gooseberry Falls State Park, 1936.
Plan for camp and park water system (oversize line print), and data on the well and water supply system, together with transmittal letter; and "Sixth Period Summary Report" (undated) showing park development photographically. Photos show NPS district personnel, construction of kitchen and shelter, refectory, custodian's cabin, E.C.W. garage, latrine, trail shelter, water tank encasement and pipeline, stone wall, road grading, and transplanting of trees and shrubs.
Gooseberry Falls State Park, 1936. Digital version
Itasca State Park, undated, 1933-1937. 3 folders.
Photographs of personnel, foot bridge at Douglas Lodge, fences, combination building, pump house, road grading and other road work, tree planting and transplanting, signs, views of lakes Deming and Josephine, overnight cabins, trail shelter, power lines, wells and pump houses, razing of undesirable structures, deer suffering from starvation, WPA work camps including staff and inspectors, NPS staff quarters, work crews, roadside clearing for fire hazard reduction, pageant ground preparation, logging for lumber, concession building, service garage, latrine, beach improvement, parking areas, seeding and sodding, pageant attendance, fleet of new Dodge trucks, and visits by state officials. Two loose-leaf binder volumes of photos are identified as progress reports. Also included are plans for Old Timer's Cabin, bathhouse at Mary Lake, spring water shelter, picnic table and fireplace, service building, pageant grounds latrine, sewer lines (all oversize blueprints); well logs and materials lists.
Itasca State Park photos, undated. Photos, undated
Itasca State Park photos, 1935-1936. Photos, 1935-1936
Itasca State Park blueprints, 1933-1937. Blueprints and notes, 1933-1937
Jay Cooke State Park, 1935-1936.
Park map showing water supply data (blueline print with details added).
Jay Cooke State Park, 1935-1936. Digital version
Lake Vadnais State Park, 1935-1936.
Bi-monthly report (September 1935) containing photos of work camp, road construction, swamp fill, supervisory personnel (photos coming unglued); plan for boat house, marine fire unit and storage; map of Lake Vadnais area showing property of St. Paul Water and Forest Preserve.
Lake Vadnais State Park, 1935-1936. Digital version
Lakeshore Wayside, Knife River, 1936.
Water supply data and photos of road work, stone wall construction, scenic views.
Lakeshore Wayside, Knife River, 1936. Digital version
Leech Lake Scenic Wayside, circa 1936-1937.
Photos of work crews and camp, grading, sloping, and excavating.
Leech Lake Scenic Wayside, approximately 1936-1937. Digital version
Mille Lacs Lake State Park, 1936.
Photos of NPS blacksmith and repair shop, garage and tool house, burning of gullies, grading and sloping, scenic views; plan of water lines (oversize blueprint).
Mille Lacs Lake State Park, 1936. Digital version
Minnesota Valley State Park, 1936.
Sewer line plans (oversize blueprint).
Minnesota Valley State Park, 1936. Digital version
New Ulm Lake and Dam Project, 1936.
Oversize line print of control works.
New Ulm Lake and Dam Project, 1936. Digital version
St. Croix State Park, 1936.
Plans for Imhoff tank (oversize line print).
St. Croix State Park, 1936. Digital version
St. Croix River Recreation Area (Pine County), 1934-1938. 3 folders.
Topographical drawing and plan of organized boys’ camp and young women's camp; plans for infirmary at young women's camp, mess hall and kitchen, and pipe line; and a letter relating to plans for boys’ camp. Also two reports, one planning a visit to the area (circa 1938) and one describing a visit to the area (1938), written by Walter F. Clarke, Associate Landscape Architect. Each contains descriptive text and photographs, particularly concerning development of the camps.
St. Croix River Recreation Area (Pine County), 1934-1938. Folder 1
St. Croix River Recreation Area (Pine County), 1934-1938. Folder 2
St. Croix River Recreation Area (Pine County), 1934-1938. Folder 3
Scenic State Park, 1935.
Photographs -- some part of 5th period summary report, April-September 1935, and some mounted on loose sheets (part of some other report?). Report also includes narrative summary, statistical summary, progress map and photos of signs, roads, parking areas, concessionaire's dwelling, fireplace in picnic area, picnic tables, bathhouse, pavilion, camping area, garbage disposal system, camp kitchen, water tower, overnight cabin, trail shelter, latrine, scenic views, members of National Conference of State Parks and U.S. Forest Service, planting, and nature study display cabinet.
Scenic State Park, 1935. Digital version
Sibley State Park, 1936.
Well and water supply data and plat drawing of disposal fields for Army and Park Service sewer system.
Sibley State Park, 1936. Digital version

Expand/CollapseRELATED MATERIAL

Photographs documenting some of these projects may be found in the Conservation Department: Parks and Recreation Division: Photographs (cataloged separately).

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Expand/CollapseCATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:
Park buildings -- Minnesota.
Parks -- Minnesota -- Maps.
Parks -- Minnesota -- Photographs.
Parks -- Minnesota -- Surveys.
Parks -- Minnesota -- Maintenance.
Parks -- Minnesota -- Planning.
Parks -- Landscape architecture -- Minnesota.
Parks -- Sanitation -- Minnesota.
Trails -- Minnesota.
Persons:
Wells, Wesley G.
Organizations:
Minnesota. Department of Conservation.
United States. National Park Service.
Document Types:
Maps -- Minnesota.
Photographs -- Minnesota.
Surveys.
Functions:
Mapping.
Surveying.

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