Sites Along the Byway: Ortonville to Montevideo

Big Stone County Museum

Built on the site of Paul Bunyan’s anchor, this museum features many treasures of the past and interpretations about life as a pioneer.

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

Drive or bike the auto tour where you can enjoy the granite outcrops, wetlands and woodlands, prairie.

Plover Prairie

A beautiful nature preserve with a wide variety of plant and animal species.

Marsh Lake Dam

A lake on the Minnesota River with abundant fish, waterfowl and wildlife.

Chippewa Prairie Preserve

Natural A small prairie remnant of the once vast northern tallgrass prairie ecosystem.

Arv Hus Museum

Sawdust art, handcrafts, vintage photos and pioneer items from the culturally rich Milan area, with historian and curator Billy Thompson who has stories to tell that will keep you laughing all day!

Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area

With more than 33,000 acres of land and water, this WMA is made up of wetlands, brushlands, woodlands, and native prairie and provides great habitat for birds and wildlife.

Lac qui Parle State Park

This state park on Lac qui Parle Lake (in Dakota, Bde Iedaŋ ,or “little talking lake.”) has abundant wildlife and waterfowl, and includes the historic Fort Renville and Lac qui Parle Mission.

Fort Renville Historic Site

Fort Renville was a fur trading post established in 1826 at a Waḣpetuŋwaŋ Dakota village on the shore of the Minnesota River.

Lac qui Parle Mission

Lac Qui Parle County History Center

Exhibits feature the pioneer lifestyle, agriculture, Civil War artifacts and more. Robert Bly Study.

Camp Release State Monument

An important location in the US - Dakota War of 1862, this site is where the Dakota re-released 269 white captives and about 1,200 Dakota people surrendered to the victorious U.S. armies at the end of the war.

Historic Chippewa City

A unique, 24-building, turn-of-the century village has been recreated here.

Milwaukee Road Heritage Depot

This is a museum reviving the history of the Milwaukee Road Railroad.

Ortonville Historic Buildings

A group of more than 15 historic properties along the shore of Big Stone Lake.

Montevideo Historic Buildings

Join us in Montevideo as we celebrate what makes America so great, keeping the history of our individuals while coming together as one people. Sites of interest in the area include: Chippewa Historic Village Camp Release Monument Minnesota River Rapids Milwaukee Road Heritage Center Hollywood Theater on Main Historic Swenson Farm in Montevideo