Sesquicentennial Spotlight Tour - Tallgrass Aspen Parklands

Looking for something to do this special Sesquicentennial summer?  We have it covered…

Starting this summer the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission is sponsoring a Sesquicentennial Spotlight Tour through our great state. It’s a virtual tour via our website, but you can see everything for real!  Each month the Honorary Capital for a Day regions will be featured, showcasing one or more of Minnesota’s five natural and geological regions.  Minnesota is the only place in the North American continent where these unique regions converge, resulting in a rich diversity of landscape, plants and animal life.
 We encourage our fellow Minnesotans to take advantage of this special year to learn more about our state. To help you do so, we are lifting up these special regions so you can find the interesting events, programs, sites and landmarks, and visit the Honorary Capital towns as well as each community that was nominated in the Capital for a Day program.  MN Map
Minnesota has so many unique attributes.  We at the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission want to help you experience all that that this state has to offer.

The summer schedule is as follows:
June – Tallgrass Aspen Parklands
July – Deciduous Forest/Prairie Grassland
August – Coniferous Forest
September – Driftless Area

If you have any suggestions of historic landmarks, interesting sites, great restaurants or other noteworthy places of interest to be included in the Sesquicentennial Spotlight Tours, please contact Claire Plank at Claire@mn150years.org 


We start this month with the Tallgrass Aspen Parklands of Northwestern Minnesota, the natural area of Minnesota that was covered by glacial Lake Agassiz, resulting in plant and animal life, and landscape unlike anywhere else in Minnesota. Three communities in this region were nominated for Capital for a Day – Roseau, Thief River Falls, and Viking. Thief River Falls was elected to represent the region and was honored as Capital for a Day on May 13 this year, during Statehood Week. We feature these communities and many others that represent the great people and places of the Tallgrass Aspen Parklands.

One very special event and journey is beginning in the Tallgrass Aspen Parklands this summer – the re-enactment journey of the Red River & Pembina Ox-Carts, by Orlin Ostby and family.  They will be traveling the Pembina Trail, ox cart and all, beginning July 1st and ending at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul.  Keep watch to follow Ostby’s Ox-cart journey! It’s a 50-year promise kept….
http://www.visitnwminnesota.com/pembina_trail_map.htm
http://www.walkingthepembinatrail.com/about.html
           
Tallgrass Aspen Parklands - http://www.visitnwminnesota.com/capital for a day

Capital for a Day nominated communities:

Roseau:
http://www.city.roseau.mn.us/

“Roseau is the birthplace of one of the greatest sports of all time internationally and we are so proud to say it started here. The recreational vehicle industry that was pioneered in this town has changed the lives of many not only in the U.S. but throughout the world. From the original Polaris snowmobile to the newest ATV's and motorcycles, it has created an adventure for the outdoors person and a great living for the citizens of our city and county. We are very proud to call Roseau the "birthplace of snowmobiling" and feel our city should be recognized during the Sesquicentennial.”
                - Pam Hetteen

Roseau EVENTS:
June 12-15, 2008           Scandinavian Festival and Car Show
Contact: Pam Hetteen (218-463-3979)
            Two day celebration with music, Scandinavian folk art, demonstrations, food, historical presentations including geneology workshops.  Pioneer farm also has activities on Sunday including music, entertainment, and food.  The car show will be held at Pioneer Farm & Village.

Roseau ATTRACTIONS:

Roseau County Historical Society and Museum –
http://www.roseaucohistoricalsociety.org/index1.html
            County history museum displays artifacts that tell the story of the development of Roseau County and how Roseau County relates to Minnesota. Exhibits include agriculture, festivals, military, American Indian life, immigration and pioneer eras, etc. The museum has the state’s largest collection of common bird eggs. Museum specializes in Swedish and Norwegian artifacts. Excellent research/resource center covering all areas of County history and other areas.

Roseau Pioneer Farm and Village –
http://www.roseaupioneerfarm.com/
Agriculture museum includes log cabin, barn, store, church, school, blacksmith, print shop, post office, headquarters, lunch counter, fellowship hall, storage shed, pioneer museum, exhibit hall, trappers cabin. Annual festival in August.

Thief River Falls (Honorary Capital for a Day):
http://www.visitthiefriverfalls.com/

“Thief River Falls is located in the heart of the tallgrass aspen parklands with two national wildlife refuges within 30 miles: Agassiz and Rydell. The Thief and Red Lake rivers and three major highways: 59, 32 and 1 meet in the heart of the city. The city is also home to Arctic Cat and Digi-Key that together employ over 3,500 people who commute from a sixty-mile radius. Digi-Key was started by a native son and is the largest-volume UPS shipper in Minnesota.  We are proud of our beautiful boulevard entrance on Hwy. 59 that was dubbed the ‘White Way’ when electric street lights were first installed, our seven-mile ‘River Walk’ that takes bikers and strollers past historic and scenic sites, our progressive city and county governments, and our magnet arts high school, state-of-the-art Ralph Engelstad hockey arena, renovated Art Deco school auditorium, historic Pioneer Village, and restored Soo Line Depot that is now home to City Hall.”
                - Faye Auchenpaugh

TRF EVENTS:
June 14, 2008               59th Annual Northwest Minnesota Dairy Day
Contact: (218-222-3484
            Dairy Princesses, showmanship demonstrations, free milk and ice cream, door prizes and more!  Open to the public with free admission.

June 21, 2008               Creative Craft Festival
Contact: Dede Coltom (218-681-5712)
            A large outdoor craft show!

TRF ATTRACTIONS:
Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/Midwest/agassiz/
61,500 acres in the Aspen Parkland Area. 41,000 are wetland. A Globally Important Bird Area with 294 bird species recorded. Bird watching best during spring and fall migrations. Moose, wolves, river otter and fisher are unique. One of the 50 best places in U.S. to observe a diversity of birds and mammals and one of 100 best places in N. America to observe birds. View wildlife from Lost Bay Habitat Drive, Headquarters, Maakstad and Rodahl Hiking Trails, 290 St. NE and adjacent township roads.

Arctic Cat Sales Inc.
http://www.arcticcat.com/
            Take a tour of the Artic Cat factory – Monday through Friday.

Viking:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking,_Minnesota

“I would like to nominate the small city of Viking in Northern Minnesota. The population of Viking is less than 100-with many of the residents being Senior Citizens. The residents take pride in their community and it shows by the appearance of the city. We have the "Viking Diner" which is the hub of the community’s activities, especially Fridays-Potato Dumpling Day. People come from miles away. We have two churches, a museum, Post Office, Community Center, school, tennis court and outdoor skating rink. Our rural area consists of farming-small grains, sunflowers, beans, corn, etc. The residents are very supportive of the sports and extra-curricular activities of our young people. Viking celebrated its Centennial in 2005 with a huge celebration. We continue to celebrate our City each year in August with hundreds of people in attendance.”

MORE RESOURCES ON THE REGION:

Waters of the Dancing Sky – scenic byway
http://www.watersofthedancingsky.org/
The Waters of the Dancing Sky scenic byway was named for the Northern Lights. Northern Minnesota is one of the best areas to view these lights.  This 191-mile stretch follows Highway 11 from International Falls to Karlstad.

Pine to Prairie Birding Trail
http://www.mnbirdtrail.com/
This trail links areas of special interest not just to bird watchers but also to anyone interested in wildlife and nature. 

Wild Flower Corridor

Pembina Trail
http://www.visitnwminnesota.com/pembina_trail_map.htm
http://www.walkingthepembinatrail.com/about.html
            Read up on Orlin Ostby – from Roseau, Minnesota.  Mr. Ostby will be traveling the Pembina Trail, ox cart and all, beginning July 1st and ending at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul.  Keep watch to follow Ostby’s Ox-cart journey!

Minnesota State Parks:

Lake Bronson State Park
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/lake_bronson/index.html
From the observation tower in the park, view the prairie and aspen-oak forests or watch for deer, sharp-tailed grouse, moose and sandhill cranes. The South Branch of the Two Rivers fills Lake Bronson. The lake, which is actually a reservoir, offers visitors swimming, fishing, boating, great camping, and a tranquil backdrop for the picnic grounds. For those who prefer a prairie experience, one of the campground areas allows camping on the prairie. Trails for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling provide visitors with great recreation choices.

Old Mill State Park
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/old_mill/index.html
A log cabin and a steam-powered flour mill at Old Mill State Park are bold landmarks from the past. The gristmill still gets fired up once a year to grind flour. The Middle River meanders through the park and visitors can see deer, beaver, and moose. Enjoy the prairie and the ever-changing parade of wildflowers along wooded trails. A swimming area, swinging bridge, picnic grounds, campground, and interpretive displays are popular among visitors.

Minnesota Scientific & Natural Areas:

Lake Bronson Parkland SNA
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/sna01075/index.html
            Located on the plain produced by Glacial Lake Agassiz, Lake Bronson Parkland protects a fine example of the aspen parkland landscape. Its level topography supports a mixture of prairie and wetland vegetation interspersed with aspen woodland. Wet brush prairie, with big bluestem, prairie cordgrass, northern reed grass, and sedges, dominate the ground layer. Abundant low growing shrubs in this community include slender willow, pussy willow, bog birch, and shrubby cinquefoil. Historically, periodic fires have burned through the area, maintaining its parkland character. Management of this site includes reintroduction of controlled burning to restore the natural dynamics of the parkland. Visit during the first week of July for spectacular displays of wood lilies and Canada anemone; come in early August for a carpet of blazing stars.

Two Rivers Aspen Prairie Parklands SNA
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/sna01065/index.html
This site contains some of the finest prairie parkland in northwestern Minnesota: its swells and swales support extensive areas of wet and wet-mesic brush prairie, shrubby wet meadow, and aspen woodland. A prominent beach ridge of the Agassiz Lacustrine Plain lies along the south margin. Big bluestem, Indian grass, prairie dropseed, mat muhly, prairie cordgrass, northern reed grass, and bluejoint grass dominate, with sedges appearing in meadow communities. Willows, bog birch, and shrubby cinquefoil dot the wet areas. In better drained sites, hazel, chokecherry, and serviceberry thrive, with scattered bur oak. Quaking aspen increases in density toward the southwest, where it forms an aspen woodland. In summer, the rare northern gentian and nesting sandhill cranes can be found on the prairie. Diverse prairie lands provide a variety of native flowers, including sunflowers, asters, star toadflax, purple prairie clover, bedstraw, harebell, wood betony, puccoon, tall meadow rue, marsh pea, wood lily, Culver's root, brown-eyed Susan, blazing star, alum root, Canada anemone, dogbane, water hemlock, swamp lousewort, and blue lettuce.

Gully Fen SNA
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/sna01084/index.html
A complex of wetland seepage communities comprises Gully Fen SNA, where east meets west on the glacial Lake Agassiz lake bed. This is the western limit for coniferous species such as twinflower, small cranberry, bog rosemary, starflower, and creeping snowberry. Water slowly makes its way northward through patterned peatlands. The SNA includes calcareous seepage fens, tamarack and shrub seepage swamps, conifer and hardwood swamps, and rich fens. Two special treasures occur in the site's upper reaches--a 100-acre calcareous fen and a complex of tamarack with calcareous and rich fens. Plant communities shift in close, intricate patterns reflecting the maze of drainage and soils. One can see bog plants such as pitcher plant and bog rosemary, only inches away from fen plants--false asphodel and beak rush--all in easy reach of prairie plants such as goldenrod and lobelia. Previously threatened by development of rice paddies and logging, these sensitive areas and their surrounding landscapes now receive SNA protection from fragmentation and groundwater degradation.

Pine Creek Peatland SNA
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/sna02008/index.html
Pine Creek Peatland is the U.S. portion of a much larger peatland that extends north into Canada. It exhibits Minnesota's best developed spring fen as well as several rare plants. The spring fen features a network of non-forested channels that drain through a swamp forest. Teardrop tree islands occur in the water tracks. English sundew, linear-leaved sundew, twig rush, hair-like beak-rush, and a little-known moss grow here. Several species of bog butterflies and great grey owls have been documented, and greater sandhill cranes nest near the site. * The Wetland Conservation Act of 1991 legislatively established the boundaries of the Peatland SNA as displayed. The acreage of land within these boundaries is cited first. The acreage of land owned by the State of Minnesota is cited in parenthesis.

Sprague Creek Peatland SNA
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/sna02012/index.html
Sprague Creek Peatland, northwest of the Agassiz Lowlands, lies near the Canadian border in a large swamp forest. Its network of non-forested channels draining through the forest is typical of spring fens, of which there are only five in the state. Forest remnants occur in the water tracks. Careful viewers can find English sundew, linear-leaved sundew, twig rush, hair-like beak-rush, dragon's mouth, and northern commandra, along with the greater sandhill crane and the great gray owl. The Wetland Conservation Act of 1991 legislatively established the boundaries of the Peatland SNA as displayed. The acreage of land within these boundaries is cited first.

Articles and Stories on the Tallgrass Aspen Parklands:

The Nature Conservancy: Conservation Land in Tallgrass Aspen Parklands Grows -
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/minnesota/press/press2124.html

Wikipedia -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallgrass_Aspen_Parkland