Frontenac State Park and Bay Point Park in Red Wing
As park of the activities of my Creative Individuals Grant, I took two day trips to Red Wing, MN.
For one visit I hiked in nearby Frontenac State Park along Lake Pepin (a widening portion of the Mississippi River) in the morning and then plein air painted in Bay Point Park in Red Wing painted in the afternoon. For the second visit, I arrived at Bay Point Park in the morning and captured the morning light while painting.
The last time I visited Red Wing it sub zero temperatures so it was fun to visit this area on two absolutely beautiful September days and enjoy the sun.
Things I learned on these trips:
Lake Pepin is a 25,000 acre widening of the Mississippi River and was formed by natural dam of heavy material sediment the Chippewa River.
The town of Frontenac, benefiting from river travel, diversified it’s industry over the years. In early years it had a booming fur trade, then was turned into resort town, and there was a limestone quarry in the boundaries of the park. The town eventually folded when the railroad replaced river travel.
Red Wing Yacht Club was formed in 1903 and 40 members of the club along with the Red Wing Motor Company worked together to group the boat houses together and benefit from a shared infrastructure - 6 “booms” or ramps in the Marina and the the Boat Houses are held in place by 40-foot-long gin poles that are attached to the “booms” and sunk into the riverbed. These poles allow the structures to rise and fall with the Mississippi River's water level and freeze securely in place during the winter.
The boats stay in the houses year round and are lifted out of the water when stored for the winter.
