Blue Mounds State Park
Descriptions of Selected Resources
Minnesota state parks contain a variety of historic properties. These images are representative of the Rustic Style historic resources built in Minnesota state parks.
Upper Dam
Builder: WPA
Engineer: Division of Drainage & Waters
Date: 1938
The Upper Dam consists of a 61' spillway and a 65' dike constructed of stone that blends with the existing quartzite along Mound Creek. A stone abutment is constructed on the west side of the spillway and extends 200' in the form of a riprapped dike with a 50' stone core wall. An 18" sluice gate is placed at the base of the spillway.
The dam was constructed through the cooperative efforts of the Works Progress Administration, the Emergency Relief Administration, and the Minnesota Department of Conservation.
The Latrine is a 32' x 18' gable roofed structure that follows a standard design used in many state parks. However, the building is one of the most striking visually in the state park system because of the bright rose-colored quartzite used in its construction. Stone walls, 5'9" x 9'6", extend from the sidewalls to form entrance screens. Each screen is 5' high. Paired 6-light casements are placed on both principal facades and are separated by rough clapboard siding. Three 6" x 8" lookouts project from each gable and four 6" x 10" openings pierce the sidewalls to provide ventilation. The building still retains its original plank entrance doors. In 1964, the interior was remodeled and skylights were added. Although construction was begun in 1939, the Latrine was not completed until 1942, due to difficulty in obtaining WPA funding.
