Across the Great Plains stories of the pipestone differ from Sioux to Crow, from Blackfoot to Pawnee. The reverence with which the stories are passed down through generations is testimony to their importance.
The Pipestone area is a sacred land for all Indian Tribes - The quarries at Pipestone can only be mined by the Indians in their traditional ways (by hand) for the sole purpose of obtaining the red pipestone.
When you walk the trails in this National Monument, you can feel the calm and peace come over you. No kidding... even Allan had an attitude adjustment when we came to this place. If you think I'm having one of my over-imaginative moments, just ask him. He woke up real cranky in the morning (couldn't sleep due to the noisy trains at night). On top of that, when we rode our bikes to the Park, he forgot the bike locks... Mind you, the ride was all downhill, so he REALLY grumbled when he realized that it would take waayyy too much effort to go back to get the locks. Surprisingly, when we were just a little ways on the trail to the Red Stones, he said: "guess, this place really makes you feel peaceful and OK with the world". Imagine that! |
The little town of Pipestone flourished when the train came into town. It became quite a historical spot, especially since the current residents of this town have many ghostly encounters with the residents of the past... No joke!
The Calumet Inn, the oldest (and only) Inn in town has many stories to tell.
Meta, they even have ghost walking tours.... You gotta come here to experience the paranormal activity.
The hotel staff and the town residents have collaborated and compiled their stories and published them. They are on volume 4 now!
One of the strangest events did not involve ghosts or any paranormal activity... or did it? In the county museum, there is a todler shoe on display. This poor little toddler (girl) was struck by lightening while playing INDOORS in front of their fireplace.
The lightening struck the chimney and went through the chimney, then the floor ........and struck the toddler's foot. The shoe on display showed the damage this lightning rod caused.
As she grew up to be an adult, lightening struck her three more times in her lifetime....
Just bad luck or what.....?
The lightening struck the chimney and went through the chimney, then the floor ........and struck the toddler's foot. The shoe on display showed the damage this lightning rod caused.
As she grew up to be an adult, lightening struck her three more times in her lifetime....
Just bad luck or what.....?