​Pipestone National Monument is one of the few areas where catlinite (pipestone) was and is mined by many different Native American tribes. It was a place of peace where they would quarry the stone for their prayer pipes, believing that the smoke from the pipes carried their prayers to the Great Spirit. Pipestone is still quarried there today, and you can see cultural demonstrations of people making it into pipes at the very interesting visitor center. There are some nice trails around to the different quarry sites, through tallgrass prairie, and past Winnewissa Falls and the jumping rock. 

​If you're ever in the Duluth, Minnesota area and you enjoy learning about early 20th century history (or even if you just enjoy seeing fancy houses), I highly recommend visiting the Glensheen Historic Estate. It's a mansion of 39 rooms as well as some beautiful gardens and a wonderful pebble beach along the shore of Lake Superior. I have been there twice. The first time pictures were not allowed inside, but it has since been taken over by the University of Minnesota, so the tours are a little different, and they let you take pictures!