Did you know that the Pipestone National Monument here in Pipestone, MN has been quarried for over 2,000 year by Native Americans?  And the pipestone rock itself can only be quarried still today by Native Americans? Well, we didn't know that, and learning about this sacred place right outside of Pipestone, MN was really special for us.  We spent about 3 hours touring the museum and taking the Circle Trail through the grounds. The demonstrators at the museum were showing how the pipes themselves are created...truly works of art as well as ceremonial pieces.  The Trail was about a mile long, and took us through a tall-grass prairie, pipestone quarries, and beside the Winnewissa Falls.  The grounds are still used by American Indians for cultural and religious activities.  The quartzite cliffs and the quarries themselves (for the pipestone, or catlinite) are so amazing, and the quarriers have to hand dig down about 100' to find the red pipestone.  The quartzite they dig through is used for many other purposes, especially in building.  Much of the historic buildings here in Pipestone itself are built of the quartzite. Back here at the rv park we have been enjoying our nice shady, grassy site...and watching a flock of wild turkeys who come into the park each morning and evening to feed!  Boy, do The Girls get excited when we walk where the turkeys passed through!!  All in all, it has been a very lovely stay here, on the prairies of Minnesota.