|
Take Hwy. 61 NW to Kellogg, MN |
Weaver and Minneiska, Minnesota |
Take Hwy. 61 SE to Minnesota City, MN |
|
Minneiska,
which was named by the Sioux Indians, means "Water white" was
settled in 1851.
Turbulence from where the Whitewater and the Zumbro rivers joined made the
river water appear white. The Indians loved the area for water travel and
the high bluffs above the river provided a great place to spot game to
hunt and to watch for enemy tribes.
Minneiska was once a prosperous during the 1970's when as much as 330,000 bushels of wheat was being shipped from here annually. But with the coming of the railroad, the town soon decreased in size. This helped to start to a local rivermen's custom to spout a curse every time they cross railroad tracks. Minneiska is home to the house built by Putman Gray, known as "Crazy Man's Castle". This three story house is built from driftwood and is decorated with towers, steeples, verandahs, and pagodas. This show place and tourist curiosity was advertised as far away as St. Louis and when lights from steamboats flashed across the castle at night, Gray's daughters would dance in the windows with white sheets covering themselves. Putnam Gray was the original inventor of the Ferris wheel. Today, Minneiska has a unobstructed, 3 mile view of the Mississippi River. Eagles can be seen nesting here in the summer and fishing here almost year-round. Pelicans can been seen soaring up high in the updrafts. In the fall before the river freezes, you can see Tundra Swans feeding and resting near the highway. High up on the bluff you can see the famous fish weather vane. The original was erected in the mid 1800s and was made of wood. Log Rafters used it to check wind directions as they guided their logs down the river. The original was replaced long ago with a tin one but it, too, was replaced in 1985 when it became too riddled with bullet holes. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | |
| Wisconsin |
Illinois |
Tennessee |
Mississippi |
|
| About Us | Email Us | Advertise Here | Our Other Services | RiverRoads Rambler |