Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Historic Roadside Properties

on Minnesota Highways

Gallery

Graceville Marker Rehabilitation

Graceville Marker

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Original Construction: 1940
Designed by: Arthur Nichols, Consulting Landscape Architect
Constructed by:
Work Projects Administration (WPA)

Garrison Pedestrian Underpass (2018-2019)

Pine-Hickory Lakes Roadside Parking Area

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places Original Construction: 1938
Designed by: Arthur Nichols, Consulting Landscape Architect and National Park Service
Constructed by: Civilian Conservation Corps

Construction update: May 12, 2020. This bridge is completed.

Kenney Lake Overlook Rehabilitation

Listed on MnDOT Historic Roadside Development Structures
Kenney Lake Overlook (PDF)
Original Construction: 1939
Designed by: Arthur Nichols, Consulting Landscape Architect and National Park Service
Constructed by: Civilian Conservation Corps

Preconstruction photo of the inside face of the East wall of the bridge. Notice the cracked mortar cap, different colors of mortar, vegetation growing in mortar joints in wall and at base of wall in flagstone pavers at the base of the wall. June 2018. Preconstruction photo of the stone wall and arch on the west face of the bridge prior to work beginning in June 2018. The corrugated steel arch and interior of the stone walls are exposed after excavating all of the fill material. The inside face of the stone will be repaired and the steel will have reinforcement added to correct corrosion during its 80 year life. September 2018 . Work underway removing labelled stones and removing old mortar. Stones will be stored on pallets until they are ready for reinstallation. July 2018.

2019 Gooseberry Falls Concourse Rehabilitation

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places under: Gooseberry Falls State Park CCC/Rustic Style Historic Resources, an Historic District, as a contributing feature in 1989

Stairs before restoration

Stairs before restoration.

Concourse before restoration, foliage view.

Concourse before restoration.

Concourse before restoration, stone wall.

Concourse before restoration.

Concourse after restoration.

Concourse after restoration.

Trail plaza before restoration

Trail plaza before restoration.

Trail plaza after restoration

Trail plaza after restoration.

Bridge monument before restoration and relocation

Bridge monument before restoration and relocation.

Bridge monument after restoration and relocation

Bridge monument after restoration and relocation.

2019 Pine-Hickory Lakes Roadside Parking Area

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

NW view of parking lot pre-rehabilitation.

NW view of parking lot before restoration.

NW view of parking lot post-rehabilitation.

NW view of parking lot after restoration.

S view of parking lot pre-rehabilitation.

S view of parking lot before restoration.

S view of parking lot post-rehabilitation.

S view of parking lot after restoration.

South fire ring before rehabilitation.

South fire ring before restoration.

South fire ring after rehabilitation.

South fire ring after restoration.

North fire ring after rehabilitation.

North fire ring after restoration.

2016 Graceville Marker Rehabilitation

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Historic photo by Olson from 1940. The marker was nearly complete.

Historic photo by Olson from 1940. The marker was nearly complete.

Graceville marker in 2015 before rehabilitation, closeup view.

Graceville marker in 2015 before rehabilitation.

Graceville marker in 2015 before rehabilitation.

Graceville marker in 2015 before rehabilitation.

Graceville marker in 2019 after rehabilitation.

Graceville marker in 2019 after rehabilitation.

2016 Mantorville Walls Rehabilitation

Stairs pre-renovation

Stairs pre-renovation

Cornerstone pre-renovation

Cornerstone pre-renovation

Post-renovation cornerstone

Cornerstone post-renovation

Post-renovation where stairs were removed

Post-renovation where stairs were removed

2015 Inspiration Point Historic Wayside Rest Rehabilitation

Inspiration Point on TH 16 near Lanesboro was rehabilitated in 2015. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Historic photo of the overall site.

Historic photo of the overall site.

Inspiration Point Historic Wayside pre-renovation.

Inspiration Point Historic Wayside pre-renovation.

Construction near site entry.

Construction near site entry.

2014 Orr Roadside Parking Area (Vehicle impact rebuild)

Orr Roadside Parking Area vehicle impact rebuild

Orr Roadside Parking Area vehicle impact rebuild

2014 Spruce Creek Culvert Rehabilitation (bridge 8292)

Spruce Creek Culvert Rehabilitation

Spruce Creek Culvert Rehabilitation

2013-14 Willow Lake Roadside Parking Area Restoration

Split Rock Lighthouse Overlook restored signage, 2009

Willow Lake Roadside Parking Area Restoration

2013 Lake St. Croix Overlook Restoration (Stillwater Overlook South)

Lake St. Croix Overlook Restoration, also known as Stillwater Overlook South

Lake St. Croix Overlook Restoration, also known as Stillwater Overlook South

2012 Preston Historic Overlook Restoration

The Preston Historic Overlook restoration.

The Preston Historic Overlook restoration.

2011 Historic Garrison Concourse

The historic Garrison Concourse was built in the 1930s during a severe drought. Eighty years later, this concourse projects into Lake Mille Lacs, where the powers of water and winter have made their marks.

Historic photo from 1930s.

Historic photo from 1930s.

The historic Garrison Concourse was built in the 1930s during a severe drought.

The historic Garrison Concourse was built in the 1930s during a severe drought.

Eighty years later, this concourse projects into Lake Mille Lacs, where the power of water and winter have made their marks.

Eighty years later, this concourse projects into Lake Mille Lacs, where the powers of water and winter have made their marks.

More of Nature’s work, circa 2010.

More of Nature’s work, circa 2010.

 

2011 Redwood Falls Retaining Walls

The historic Redwood Falls Retaining Wall in 2006, a year before sustaining its first commercial vehicle-related accident.

The historic Redwood Falls Retaining Wall in 2006, a year before sustaining its first commercial vehicle-related accident. (Click to enlarge.)

The same wall after restoration in 2011, featuring restored stone masonry and its steel rail back to the original color.

The same wall after restoration in 2011, featuring its stone masonry and steel rail restored to the original color. (Click to enlarge.)

The same wall after sustaining a second commercial vehicle accident in March 2014. An insurance assessment to cover damage repairs is pending.

The wall after sustaining a second commercial vehicle accident in March, 2014. An insurance assessment to cover repairs is pending. (Click to enlarge.)

The  wall after sustaining a second commercial vehicle accident in March 2014. An insurance assessment to cover damage repairs is pending.

The wall after sustaining a second commercial vehicle accident in March, 2014. (Click to enlarge.)

2010 Cascade Historic Overlook

This undated photo was taken just after original construction with the designer, Arthur Nichols, Consulting Landscape Architect.

This undated photo was taken just after original construction with the designer, Arthur Nichols, Consulting Landscape Architect. (Click to enlarge.)

The flagstone walk and wall overlook, looking south. Notice the drive is not yet paved.

The flagstone walk and wall overlook, looking south. Notice the drive is not yet paved. (Click to enlarge.)

Before restoration, stone wall bump-out.

Before restoration. (Click to enlarge.)

Before restoration.

Before restoration. (Click to enlarge.)

 

 

 

 

 


Cascade River Overlook After restoration.

After restoration. (Click to enlarge.)

Lakeside, after restoration.

Lakeside, after restoration. (Click to enlarge.)

An interpretive sign.

An interpretive sign.(Click to enlarge.)

2009 Chaska Marker

This Chaska Historic Marker was built in 1942 on what was then trunk Highway 212. In 2009, the historic marker restored and after the TH212 was realigned, the road was turned into a county road 61, Chaska Boulevard. The historic marker is now owned and maintained by Carver County, before its restoration in 2006, and after restoration in 2009.

This Chaska Historic Marker first appeared in the 1940s. It is pictured here shortly after original construction in 1942.

The Chaska Historic Marker shortly after original construction in 1942. (Click to enlarge.)

This Chaska Historic Marker first appeared in the 1940s. It is pictured here in 2006, three years before its restoration.

The Chaska Historic Marker in 2006, three years before its restoration. (Click to enlarge.)

This Chaska Historic Marker first appeared in the 1940s. It is pictured here shortly after restoration in 2009.

The Chaska Historic Marker

shortly after restoration in 2009. (Click to enlarge.)

2009 Split Rock Lighthouse Overlook

Split Rock Lighthouse Overlook was built in the early 1950’s to provide a place to stop safely and view the Lighthouse and Lake Superior. The overlook was restored in 2009 and later received the FHWA 2010 Biennial Award for Excellence in Highway Design.

Restored signage, 2009

Restored signage, 2009. (Click to enlarge.)

Before restoration, stone overlook.

Before its restoration, 2007. (Click to enlarge.)

After restoration.

After its restoration, 2009. (Click to enlarge.)