1. By: Ann Wielenberg Itasca State Park

2. History Established in 1891 It is the oldest park in Minnesota There is evidence that people lived in Itasca over 8,000 years ago They hunted, trapped, harvested wild rice and buried their dead in mounds located adjacent to the headwaters.

3. History continued The headwaters were discovered by the European’s more than 300 years before the park was established. Henry Rowe Schoolcraft claimed the discovery of the headwaters. In the late 1800’s the park was endanger of deforestion Jacob Brower then began his battle to establish the park. Brower became the first superintendent of the park He then devoted the last 14 years of his life acquiring land for the park.

4. History continued Development of the park began in 1905 with the construction of the Douglas Lodge the first rustic style building. Over the next 20 years 12 more rustic style lodges were added.

5. Mississippi Headwaters Damn It is a 44 foot long outlet damn Its located at the North end of Lake Itasca It is made of concrete, rocks and boulders that are pressed into the concrete The rocks and boulders were weathered and darkened to make it appear natural.

6. ITASCA STATE PARK The park has 32,000 acres 157 lakes covering 3,000 acres 27,500 acres of upland 1,500 acres of swamp The upland is mostly covered with heavy timber, witch includes the Virgin Red and the Norway Pine Some of the trees are over 200 years old

8. ITASCA STATE PARK Lake Itasca is the official source of the Mississippi River At Itasca State Park, the mighty Mississippi River begins its 2,552-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico. Established in 1891 to preserve remnant stands of virgin pine and to protect the basin around the Mississippi's source, this park has become a famous natural and cultural landmark in North America.

9. References Minnesota Historical society (2011) retrieved March 3, 20011 from http://www.mnhs.org/places/nationalregister/stateparks/Itasca.html http://www.mnhs.org/places/nationalregister/stateparks/Itasca.html Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (2011) retrieved March 3, 2011 from http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca/narrative.htmlhttp://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca/narrative.html