Interstate Park

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Interstate State Park WPA/Rustic Style Historic District
(U.S. Registered Historic District)
Location: Chisago County, Minnesota and Polk County, Wisconsin
Nearest city: Taylors Falls, Minnesota
Added to NRHP: June 11, 1992
NRHP Reference#: 89001664
MPS: Minnesota State Park CCC/WPA/Rustic Style MPS
Governing body: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Interstate State Park CCC/WPA/Rustic Style Campground
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location: Off US 8 SW of Taylors Falls, Shafer Township
Nearest city: Taylors Falls, Minnesota
Added to NRHP: June 11, 1992
NRHP Reference#: 92000638
MPS: Minnesota State Park CCC/WPA/Rustic Style MPS
Governing body: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Interstate Park is a state park which spans the Minnesota-Wisconsin state line along the St. Croix River Dalles with parts of the park on both sides. The threat of mining in the 1800s along the St. Croix initiated the creation of Interstate Park to preserve the Dalles of the St. Croix River. The towns of Taylors Falls, Minnesota and St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin are adjacent to the park.

A paddle boat on the St. Croix River.
A paddle boat on the St. Croix River.

The Minnesota Legislature established the park in 1895. The Wisconsin Legislature followed five years later in 1900. This was the first park in the United States to span two states.

The Glacial Gardens area of the park, along with the campground, contain National Park Service Rustic style buildings and structures that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A Civilian Conservation Corps crew may have quarried local basalt stone for the Works Progress Administration, which was responsible for the building of these structures.

The riverside cliffs are a popular place for rock climbers, particularly those from the Twin Cities, only an hour away. The park is also notable for its white pine forests. The Ice Age Trail, which crosses Wisconsin, has its western end at the park.

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