Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Historic Roadside Properties

on Minnesota Highways

Inspiration Point construction in pictures

The wayside is now open to the public!

East Overlook. View of the Root River Valley, ca. 1936, following initial completion.

East Overlook. View of the Root River Valley, ca. 1936, following initial completion.(Click to enlarge.)
The views begin to emerge.

East Overlook, summer 2015. Vegetation is entirely blocking the view at the start of construction. (Click to enlarge.)
East Overlook. October, 2015. After buckthorn removal and pruning is complete, this is the restored view.

East Overlook. October, 2015. After buckthorn removal and pruning is complete, this is the restored view. (Click to enlarge.)

East Overlook panorama after buckthorn removal and pruning.

East Overlook panorama after buckthorn removal and pruning (Click to enlarge.)
Inspiration Point Historic Wayside 2013 history and condition assessment.

East Overlook condition assessment (Click to open.)

East Overlook

Before and after rehabilitation

Before construction.

Before construction. (Click to enlarge.)
After construction.

After construction.(Click to enlarge.)
Before construction.

Before construction. (Click to enlarge.)

After construction.

After construction. (Click to enlarge.)

North Overlook

Before and after rehabilitation

North Overlook, ca. 1936

North Overlook, ca. 1936. (Click to enlarge.)
North Overlook before Rehabilitation (2013).

North Overlook before Rehabilitation (2013).(Click to enlarge.)
Detail deterioration, North Overlook (2013)

Detail deterioration, North Overlook (2013). (Click to enlarge.)
Substantial Completion, North Overlook (2015)

Substantial Completion, North Overlook (2015). (Click to enlarge.)
North Overlook West wall, 2013.

North Overlook West wall, 2013 (Click to enlarge.)
North Overlook West Wall Rehabilitated, 2015.

North Overlook West Wall Rehabilitated, 2015. (Click to enlarge.)
     

Identifying and protecting historic roadside properties

This historic Garrison Concourse was built in the 1930s during a severe drought. Today the water level of Lake Mille Lacs covers the bottom of the historic wall, increasing the risk of damage from waves and ice.
This historic Garrison Concourse was built in the 1930s during a severe drought. Today the water level of Lake Mille Lacs covers the bottom of the historic wall, increasing the risk of damage from waves and ice.

There are many steps involved in protecting and preserving MnDOT Historic Roadside Properties (HRP). Most of these steps require use of the Secretary of Interior (SOI) Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties including inclusion of SOI qualified professionals. Work is led by the Historic Roadside Property Program Manager.

  1. Identification; Is it a MnDOT Property, who and when was it built? This information is gathered by the HRP program manager and sent to the Cultural Resource Unit for evaluation.
  2. Evaluation; Does it fit in an existing Historic Context? Is it significant enough to be Eligible for the National Register? This is written by a SOI qualified historian.
  3. Treatment Plan; Written by an historic architect, this document details needs for repair, estimated costs and priorities for preservation.
  4. Project Design; Designs and specifications for construction are completed by the design team, led by an historic architect, following SOI Standards.
  5. Construction; Completed by qualified contractors, often using the “Best Value” letting process, supervised by the design team.
  6. Maintenance Plan; written by the design team, including the restored condition and ongoing inspection and regular maintenance goals.

Properties are also regularly assessed for condition and after reports of damage are received.

Projects are ranked annually on a 10 year prioritization plan approximately using project selection criteria developed by the HRP Program Manager and are incorporated into the MnDOT State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) for funding authorization.