Pipestone, Minnesota 2001

Red Pipestone Quarry
Rudolph Cronau (German; 1855-1939) pen and ink, 1881
Photo af000287 used by permission, copyright Minnesota State Historical Society

Though stone pipes over 2,000 years of age have been discovered in North America, only since about the 17th Century was pipestone or catlinite carved for pipes.  Digging at the Pipestone, Minnesota quarry likely began around 1600 by the Oneota, though by 1700 the Dakota Sioux controlled the quarries.  The quarry at pipestone became the preferred source, and became a peaceful meeting ground for plains tribes including the Oneota, Dakota, Crow, Blackfoot, Pawnee. 

Red Pipestone Quarry Rudolph Cronau (German; 1855-1939) pen and ink, 1881 Photo af000287 used by permission, copyright Minnesota State Historical Society Though stone pipes over 2,000 years of age have been discovered in North America, only since about the 17th Century was pipestone or catlinite carved for pipes.  Digging at the Pipestone, Minnesota quarry likely began around 1600 by the Oneota, though by 1700 the Dakota Sioux controlled the quarries.  The quarry at pipestone became the preferred source, and became a peaceful meeting ground for plains tribes including the Oneota, Dakota, Crow, Blackfoot, Pawnee.
At an ancient time the Great Spirit, in the form of a large bird, stood upon the wall of rock and called all the tribes around him, and breaking out a piece of the red stone formed it into a pipe and smoked it, the smoke rolling over the whole multitude. He then told his red children that this red stone was their flesh, that they were made from it, that they must all smoke to him through it, that they must use it for nothing but pipes: and as it belonged alike to all the tribes, the ground was sacred, and no weapons must be used or brought upon it. George Catlin, 1836.	The Oracle of the Pipestone National Monument
Pipestone, while durable, is a soft stone easily carved with hand tools, and ranges in color from brick red to mottled variations.  Heavy layers of ...A large party of Ehanktonwanna and Teetonwan Dakotas, says the legend, had gathered together at the quarry to dig the stone. Upon a sultry evening, just before sunset, the heavens suddenly became overclouded, accompanied by heavy rumbling thunder, and every sign of an approaching storm, such as frequently arises on the prairie without much warning. Each one hurried to his lodge expecting a storm, when a vivid flash of lightning, followed immediately by a crashing peal of thunder, broke over them, and, looking towards the huge boulder beyond their camp, they saw a pillar or column of smoke standing upon it, which moved to and fro, and gradually settled down into the outline of a huge giant, seated upon the boulder, with one long arm extended to heaven and the other pointing down to his feet. Peal after peal of thunder and flashes of lightning in quick succession followed, and this figure then suddenly disappeared. The next morning the Sioux went to this boulder, and found these figures and images upon it, where before had been nothing; and ever since that the place has been regarded as wakan or sacred." James W. Lynd, writing around 1860 The sacredness surrounding the use of pipestone for pipes is illustrated in its method of quarrying, carving, and usage.  Only hand tools are used in quarrying and removing heavier layers of redish Sioux Quartzite to get at Pipestone.  Similarly, only hand tools are used to carve its pipes and objets.  At the coming of the white settlers, carving had evolved to include several pipe forms.   The Pipestone Indian Shrine Association  web site describes artistic and ceremonial styles of carving.  The Upper Midwest Indian Cultural Center at the Pipestone National Monument also sponsors demonstrations of pipe making by native artisans at the visitors center.  A calumet is a T-shaped pipe often used in peace treaties with whites.

Historic structures | Moore's Building | Pipestone National Monument | Wind generation/Buffalo Ridge