The Sioux quartzite you’ll find here was estimated to be more than a mile thick and between 1.2 to 1.7 billion years old. In the 1880s quarries were in full swing in this area and remained active until the late 1890s. There are structures in the nearby town, Luverne, that are made from the purplish-red stone that came from the quarries. In 1959, writer and novelist, Fredrick Manfred purchased the land to build his family home and among the building materials were quartzite block taken from the site in the 1980s. The Manfred family lived in the home for 15 years and in 1972 Minnesota State Parks purchased the home and surrounding land. Today the home is where you’ll find an exhibit hall, auditorium, reception and orientation area, restrooms and the staff office – all part of the Blue Mounds State Park.
Images from Blue Mounds
The Blue Mounds Interpretive Center, formerly Frederick Manfred’s home.
A wall of the north quarry.
