Known to Dakota people as Oheyawahi, "the hill much visited,"� Pilot Knob is a place of distinctive historical, cultural, and environmental importance, a sacred site, a landmark of Minnesota's beginnings. Pilot Knob is located on the east end of the Mendota Bridge, south of Highway 55 in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. A portion of the hill is included in Acacia Park Cemetery.
Seth Eastman's view of Pilot Knob, 1846, looking southeast from below Fort Snelling. Minnesota Historical Society.
News
The Pilot Knob Preservation Association's new Pocket Guide to Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob has been published and an interactive, digital version is under construction on this website.
Work and expenses for the pocket guide were supported by a
Minnesota Historical and
Cultural Heritage Grant from the Minnesota Historical Society earlier this year. The small brochure will introduce the
cultural, historical, spiritual and ecological importance of this Dakota County
landmark.
Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are made possible by the Minnesota Legislature from the Arts and cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. The fund was created with passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution in November 2008. The grants are awarded to support projects of enduring value for the cause of history and historic preservation across the state. PKPA also thanks the City of Mendota Heights and Dakota County for their support.
PKPA received the grant from the Minnesota Historical Society in the spring of 2010. Through the summer and fall project director Chris Soutter, historian Bruce White, and other members of PKPA worked together to gather the information and write the guide. Below (from left to right) PKPA members Cher Fields and Jeanne Hollingsworth discuss the guide, onsite, with Chris Soutter.
As vegetation is restored on Oheyawahi, the hill provides opportunities to see many beautiful sites, which were documented by PKPA during the summer of 2010. In July an admiral butterfly perched in a field filled with wild bergamot and black-eyed susan.
Chief Arvol Lookinghorse, 19th generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe, led a pipe ceremony on Pilot Knob on October 3, 2009. Chief Lookinghorse has spent his life working for religious freedom, protection of sacred sites, and cultural survival. He was aided by Sheldon Wolfchild from Lower Sioux, Chris Leith from Prairie Island, Melvin Grey Owl from Crow Creek, and Melvin Lee from Santee, who all spoke about the importance of preserving Dakota sacred sites. Chief Looking Horse stated that sacred sites are the "power points, the grid," for Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota peoples. After the ceremony there was a feast/lunch and wopida (a "thank you" giveaway) in which the speakers and visitors were honored. It was a cloudy day, but at various times the sun shone brightly on those gathered and two eagles flew overhead.
Pilot Knob, October 3, 2009, including from left to right, Sheldon Wolfchild, Chris Leith, Arvol Looking Horse, Melvin Grey Owl, and Melvin Lee.
At the time the picture was taken, Melvin Lee was speaking eloquently about the effort that it had taken to prevent development on Pilot Knob
and the need to do the same for other sacred places.
At the feast and wopida, Linda Brown presented Chief Arvol Looking Horse with a blanket and a framed print of Seth Eastman's view of Pilot Knob.
Dear Friend of Pilot Knob/Oheyawahi,
We are filled with wonder at the accomplishments since the Pilot Knob Preservation Association was formed six years ago:
--a proposal for building 157 townhomes on the hill was defeated;
--the 25 acre “development site” is now open to the public and owned by the City of Mendota Heights;
--the ten-year site restoration to an oak savannah ecosystem is underway with thousands of flowers in bloom, eleven oaks and 2,000 acorns planted;
--two interpretive signs tell the story, in Dakota and English, of the unique history and sacred significance of Pilot Knob/Oheyawahi;
--an overlook that recognizes the seven council fires of Dakota people will soon be installed by the City of Mendota Heights and Great River Greening.
When Chief Lookinghorse was last on Pilot Knob, he and Chris Leith gave the hill a new name: Wotakuye Paha, the hill of all the relatives. Please join the relatives in celebration and thanksgiving for the remarkable events that you have contributed to.
Sincerely,
Gail Lewellan and Linda Brown
Co-Chairs, Pilot Knob Preservation Association
Arvol Looking Horse during an earlier visit to Pilot Knob, in 1999
History and Significance of Oheyawahi/ Pilot Knob
In January 2004, a 113-acre portionof Oheyawahi/ Pilot Knob was determined by the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places as a place of traditional importance to Dakota people and a geographic site signicant for Minnesota's history. As a result of the efforts of many groups and individuals, 28 acres of land on the north and east sides of the Pilot Knob Hill was protected from a threatended development. It has now been preserved as a public open space by the City of Mendota Heights. This land is undergoing a ten-year process carried out by Great River Greening, to restore its vegetation to what it was like in the 1840s.
It was a cold day in March 2006 when volunteers organized by Great River Greening gathered to begin clearing brush on Pilot Knob. The work has continued since then, for more than three years now, aided by volunteer labor.
In the place known as Oheyawahi "the hill much visited" there is a profound and sacred history. Here a treaty was signed that ceded 35 million acres of Dakota land to Minnesota's new pioneers and the U.S. government. And here generations of Dakota Indian people were lovingly sent on their final journey, with an unspoken promise that their burial sites would remain undisturbed. Read the Oheyawahi/ Pilot Knob Burial Register.
The Pilot Knob Preservation, with the aid of Turnstone Historical Research, has produced print of Eastman's view of Pilot Knob, shown above. This new print has been carefully compared with the original watercolor to obtain the best possible color reproduction. The print can be purchased at various locations including the Dakota County Historical Society and the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community. For more information contact info@pilotknobpreservation.org.
The Pilot Knob Preservation Association advocates for this distinctive hill, documents its long history, raises public awareness of its importance, and helps to preserve it for present and futuregenerations. Contributions are welcome. PKPA is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information write to:
The Pilot Knob Preservation Association
P.O. Box 50823
Mendota, MN 55150-0823
Or contact info@pilotknobpreservation.org