Download photo of the Lac qui Park State Park Upper Campground.
GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — On Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m., Pioneer PBS’s Postcardsprogram will tell the history of Lac qui Parle State and County Parks and explore the life and times of Ignatius Donnelly. The episode will be rebroadcast on Sunday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. and on Monday, May 10 at 1:30 p.m.
The story will also be available for online viewing through the station’s website: www.pioneer.org/postcards.
The history of the prairie riverine environment of Lac qui Parle County Park near Dawson is shared through an interview with local historian David Craigmile. He tells the story of the 22 pioneer families who made a move into the region, coming up from Iowa in the late 1860s. They encountered friendly Dakota people and chose the area of the now designated park to stake their claim on a new life and new community. They buried their dead on that land and started a village. Now the county park is enjoyed by many for its beautiful trees and sheltered river valley.
DNR Park Manager Terri Dineson takes viewers on a tour of the Lac qui Parle State Park which is adjacent to the Lac qui Parle Mission established in the 1830s. The state park was established in the 1930s and features several exceptional structures constructed by the WPA. The park features the largest recorded cottonwood tree in Minnesota and is a showcase for native prairie and riverine habitat.
Ignatius Donnelly was an American congressman, populist writer and amateur scientist known for his writings about the lost continent of Atlantis. Duluth-based filmmaker Mike Scholtz’s short story about Donnelly begins near the town of Donnelly, and takes viewers on a wild ride from there, exploring the amazing legacy of one of the 19th century's most famous men.
About Postcards
The award-winning Postcards is produced by Dana Conroy with videography and editing by Kristofor Gieske and Ben Dempcy. The program is made possible by contributions from the voters of Minnesota through a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Production sponsors for the program include Shalom Hill Farm, Explore Alexandria Tourism and the Lake Region Arts Council.
About Pioneer PBS
Established in 1966, Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing local stories of the region with the world. For more information visit: www.pioneer.org.
