CCC Camp Site

Behind the waterfalls stood a Civilian Conservation Corps camp where as many as 200 unmarried men ages 18 to 24 lived at a time from 1934 to 1941 while building the park. Enrolled for periods of 6 to 24 months, they built more than 80 stone and log structures, buildings, and objects such as picnic tables, benches, and fire rings, and they also built hiking trails, roads, and the campground and installed a sewer system. They earned $30 per month, kept $5, and the rest was sent to their parents to support their families. Camp life mixed steady work with recreation, classes such as woodworking, auto mechanics, and typing, sports, time in the camp library, and evenings in the rec hall, all within a daily schedule that ran from 6:00 a.m. roll call to 10:00 p.m. lights out, or 11:30 on weekends.

Minnesota · United States