Banning State Park in Fall

As part of the activities of my Creative Individuals Grant, I took a two night stay near Banning State Park this month.

My lodgings were the same as my April visit to the area. I painted en plein air from one of the ruins at the park - the former power house for the abandoned Sandstone quarry and went for a bike ride along the Munger State Trail from Sturgeon Lake to Moose Lake and back again.

Things learned on this trip:

• The Munger State Trail follows what was once the Northern Pacific Railway’s main line linking the Twin Cities with Duluth.

• The Hinckley and Cloquet fire in September 1894 and burned 350,000 acres, including buildings on the original quarry site at Banning State Park.

• During the fire, residents vacated towns via the railroad and sought safety in the river.

• As many as eight quarries were active along the Kettle River in the 1800s.