National Register of Historic Places

Preston Overlook

Preston, Fillmore County, Minnesota
Listed
August 3, 2003
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
03000732

About this property

Preston Overlook is a historic scenic overlook in Preston, Minnesota, United States, North America. In 1937–38, the overlook was built by the Minnesota Department of Highways under the program of Federal Relief Construction in Minnesota. The overlook was a product of its times. The Great Depression led United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt to create the New Deal, a complex package of economic programs initiated to help the economy recover and put people to work. The overlook was a project of one such plan, the National Reemployment Service. The original idea came from the Preston Women's Civic Improvement Club, which had lobbied for highway beautification. A site was chosen on the highest point on the bluffs above the Root River, 90 feet (27 m) below. The overlook was designed by Minnesota landscape architect Arthur R. Nichols in the Rustic Style. The mosaic patterned wall and flagstone walk consist of limestone quarried from below the overlook. In 2003, the Preston Overlook was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Media related to Preston Overlook at Wikimedia Commons MNDOT Historic Roadside Development Structures Inventory: Preston Overlook

Location

Preston, Fillmore County, Minnesota
43.67351, -92.07408

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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Preston Overlook

This page lists Preston Overlook. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Preston Overlook report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Preston Brewery
Industrial
0.2 mi
Milwaukee Elevator
Industrial
0.4 mi
Fillmore County Jail and Carriage House
Industrial
0.6 mi
Allis Barn
Industrial
3.3 mi
Inspiration Point Wayside Rest
Listed
4.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Preston Overlook listed on the National Register?

Preston Overlook was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 3, 2003.

What type of historic resource is Preston Overlook?

Preston Overlook is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Preston Overlook?

The period of significance for Preston Overlook is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Preston Overlook?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Preston Overlook will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Fillmore County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Fillmore County.

Explore FillmoreCounty ›

More historic places in Minnesota

Browse all historic places in Minnesota.

View Minnesotahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Minnesota history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Minnesotahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Preston Overlook will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report