Cooperation Helps Build a Park / We Built this Park.

In 1910, residents were promoting government involvement in recreational facilities. By 1925, four Two Harbors men brought state officials to waterfalls and urged that the state purchase the land for future generations. In the 1930s, the Department of Highways and Conservation, National Park Service, Civilian Conservation Corps, and US Army helped create the park. The Department of Highways purchased land for a right-of-way and road construction materials, then later donated the land to become a state park. The National Park Service planned and developed the area using Civilian Conservation Corps labor, with the first jobs creating trails and building the campground and picnic areas. In 1934, the CCC Boys arrived to work as part of a government relief program that helped the corpsmen and their families. They worked 40 hours a week, earning $30 a month, though $25 to $27 had to be sent home. CCC enrollees built the camp, which was run along military lines, and gave camp tours to the public. In 1941, the camp closed and its buildings were removed. Their work included the Concession Building, also known as Falls View Shelter, the Campground Water Tower, the Refectory, also known as Lakeview Shelter, the Combination Building, and the Kitchen Shelter, also known as Lady's-Slipper Lodge. Today, the Civilian Conservation Corps structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Minnesota · United States