In 1951, raging flood waters threatened to destroy Portage des Sioux. The community pulled together and prayed to Mary, who was given the title Our Lady of the Rivers. The flood waters receded and the community was saved. The shrine is dedicated to the memory of that event and serves as both a reminder of the tremendous power of nature and a tribute to its incredible beauty. The fiberglass statue rises 25 feet high and is mounted on a 20-foot concrete pedestal. It was designed by Norma McClory and was dedicated on October 13, 1957.