National and State Parks - Recreational Areas
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Frontenac State Park
State Park Information
State Park Overview
Nature of the Area
Frontenac offers visitors a rich diversity of natural communities and landscapes bluffs, prairie, floodplain forests and
hardwood forest in its 2,773 acres.
Hundreds of millions of years ago, Minnesota was covered by shallow seas. At the bottom of the seas, sediment accumulated and slowly hardened into rock. This rock now makes up the bluffs along the Mississippi River. Following the glacial period, Glacial River Warren cut a large valley through which the Mississippi River now flows. When the river was at its peak, most of Frontenac was underwater, except the parks bluff. One landmark in the park today, In-Yan-Teopa - giant rock on the edge of the bluff, is believed to have religious importance to American Indians. At one time a stone quarry operated within the park boundaries that produced high quality limestone - material popular for building. In 1883, John LaFarge and George L. Heins chose limestone from this quarry to construct part of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
Wildlife. Since the turn of the century, Frontenac has had a reputation for great birdwatching. Some 260 species of birds make the park their home for part or all of the year, while others just stop by on their way up or down the Mississippi River flyway. Bald eagles are commonly seen in the fall, winter and spring. A few eagles even nest in the area. Several species of warblers visit every year, particularly the first part of May. Frontenac has numerous other wildlife including deer, raccoon, opossum, red fox, coyote, woodchuck, various ground squirrels, beaver and wild turkey..
History of the Area
More Info
Frontenac State Park