Buffalo River State Park (Minnesota)

Buffalo River State Park
Native prairie in Buffalo River State Park
Map showing the location of Buffalo River State Park
Map showing the location of Buffalo River State Park
Location of Buffalo River State Park in Minnesota
Map showing the location of Buffalo River State Park
Map showing the location of Buffalo River State Park
Buffalo River State Park (Minnesota) (the United States)
LocationClay, Minnesota, United States
Coordinates46°51′53″N 96°27′36″W / 46.86472°N 96.46000°W / 46.86472; -96.46000
Area1,068 acres (4.32 km2)
Elevation981 ft (299 m)[1]
Established1937
Named forthe Buffalo River
Governing bodyMinnesota Department of Natural Resources
Buffalo River State Park WPA/Rustic Style Historic Resources
One of the district's six contributing properties, a 1938 latrine
LocationOff US 10, Riverton Township
Area19 acres (7.7 ha)
Built1937–1940
ArchitectO. Newstrom
Architectural styleNational Park Service rustic
MPSMinnesota State Park CCC/WPA/Rustic Style MPS
NRHP reference No.89001671
Added to NRHPOctober 25, 1989
KML is from Wikidata

Buffalo River State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, conserving a prairie bisected by the wooded banks of the Buffalo River. Together with the adjacent Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area co-owned by The Nature Conservancy and Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources, it protects one of the largest and highest-quality prairie remnants in Minnesota.[2] It used to offer a man-made swimming pond close to the Fargo–Moorhead metropolitan area, however, that has not been open since 2018. Presently, it is most popular for its high quality educational programming, swimming in the Buffalo River, and picnicking.[3] The 1,068-acre (432 ha) park is located just off U.S. Route 10 in Clay County, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) east of Glyndon and 14 miles (23 km) east of Moorhead.[4]

Buffalo River State Park was established in 1937 and developed by the Works Progress Administration. Three buildings and three structures built in the National Park Service rustic style were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The park was originally focused on providing outdoor recreation amenities like a man-made swimming pond since there were few other opportunities in the area.[5] It was expanded beginning in the 1960s as the quality and rarity of the surrounding prairie were recognized.[6]

The 6,078-acre (2,460 ha) Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) section is used for environmental education by local schools and regional colleges and universities. It is also a destination for viewing the spring courtship ritual of the greater prairie chicken.[7]

  1. ^ "Buffalo River Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. January 11, 1980. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Website was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Plan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Brochure was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference MHS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Meyer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference TNC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).