National Register of Historic Places

Lake St. Croix Overlook

Oak Park Heights, Washington County, Minnesota
Listed
December 27, 2007
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
07001318

About this property

The Stillwater Overlook is a scenic overlook in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, United States, just south of the city limits of Stillwater, near the junction of Minnesota State Highway 36 and Minnesota State Highway 95. The overlook was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 for having state-level significance in politics/government and landscape architecture. It was nominated as a leading example of the early wayside rests developed by the Minnesota Department of Highways Roadside Development Division, as well as for its sophisticated and well-preserved National Park Service rustic architecture, and for being an important work of Minnesota landscape architect Arthur R. Nichols. The main structure on the site is a limestone wall that overlooks the St. Croix River valley. It was built by the National Youth Administration (NYA) between 1936 and 1937. The limestone was salvaged from the old Minnesota Territorial Prison, which was demolished by the NYA beginning in 1936. The construction is an excellent example of the National Park Service Rustic style, which emphasized the use of locally indigenous materials. The labor-intensive construction techniques also reflect the need to employ many people in federal relief projects. The overlook is very well preserved. This overlook was one of several roadside development projects in the Stillwater area designed by Minnesota Highway Department landscape architect Arthur R. Nichols and built under Depression-era relief programs. Other projects in this time included an overlook north of Stillwater, a roadside parking area at the St. Croix Boom Site, and an Indian battleground historic marker. The roadside development in the Stillwater area reflected its importance as a tourist destination.

Location

Oak Park Heights, Washington County, Minnesota
45.04079, -92.79567

Categories

POLITICS/GOVERNMENTLANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Nearby Historic Sites

Bergstein, Moritz, Shoddy Mill and Warehouse
Industrial
0.3 mi
Log Cabin
Industrial
0.5 mi
Nelson School
Industrial
0.6 mi
Lammers, Albert, House
Industrial
0.6 mi
Washington County Courthouse
Industrial
0.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Lake St. Croix Overlook listed on the National Register?

Lake St. Croix Overlook was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 27, 2007.

What type of historic resource is Lake St. Croix Overlook?

Lake St. Croix Overlook is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Lake St. Croix Overlook?

The period of significance for Lake St. Croix Overlook is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Lake St. Croix Overlook?

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