PIPESTONE NATIONAL MONUMENT

The variety of clay that can be extracted from the fifty or so quarries present on the site is sometimes called catlinite, a term that comes from the name of George Catlin, an American painter specializing in depicting American Indians who is said to have visited the site in 1835. This rock is composed of fine grains, which make it easily worked by man and transformed into an object. It is distinguished by its reddish colour, which tends towards brown. These quarries are considered sacred by the Sioux because the clay they contain was once used to make ceremonial pipes (also known as pipe pipes). Even today, only certain members of government-recognized Amerindian tribes are allowed to extract their clay. Visitors can walk along a trail nearly a mile long in the heart of the quarries. The walk also leads to a beautiful waterfall, the Winnewissa Falls. About 20 local Native American tribes contributed to the creation of the museum's exhibits. In the summer, visitors can watch demonstrations of pipe making from clay found on the site by Amerindian artisans. This part of the visit is certainly a bit folkloric, but it is done with a lot of restraint and sobriety. In the visitor center, you will be able to get a map of the site and watch a twenty-two-minute explanatory video.