The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum is located next to a national landmark: The Mighty Mississippi River. That’s no accident. The river has been critical to the historical development of people from prehistoric times through today. When sites were being scouted to find a location for the museum, sites along the river were given primary consideration.
We were fortunate to end up with a site that not only overlooks the Mississippi; the museum is at the confluence of the Mississippi River and Pike Creek. Because the museum is situated on a high bank, it’s easy to see how this spot, with its prime view downriver, served as a look-out point for the Ojibwe and others prior to European/American development.
Due to the museum’s location on the river, it is part of the Great River Road, a designated route meant to draw visitors along the Mississippi. A couple of weeks ago, members of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission visited the museum in order to test out a form to capture important landscapes along the river. The view of the river from the museum’s gazebo was considered a landscape worth preserving. (We heartily agree!)
While there has long been signage marking the Great River Road, this spring a new series of signs has been placed along the road. They’re simple signs that say “MRT,” which stands for Mississippi River Trail. The MRT marks a route for bicyclists and pedestrians along the river.
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Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum.