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Known to Dakota people as Oȟéyawahe, "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.
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 Sign up for our mailing list
How to get to Oȟéyawahe/ Pilot Knob
Oȟéyawahe/Pilot Knob is located at 2100 Pilot Knob Road, Mendota Heights.
From I-494, take the Pilot Knob Road exit, then drive north until the road ends.
From State Highway 13, take the Acacia Blvd. exit west to Pilot Knob Road. Turn right. Park along the street.
Oȟéyawahe/Pilot Knob can be visited every day during daylight hours.
There are interpretive signs and trails; there are no other facilities.
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Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Brian Raney on Oȟéyawahe/ Pilot Knob Pocket Guide
- Leslie Pilgrim on What Is Your Vision for Oȟéyawahe/ Historic Pilot Knob?
- Evelyn Ashford on What Is Your Vision for Oȟéyawahe/ Historic Pilot Knob?
- Shannon Livingston-Harris on What Is Your Vision for Oȟéyawahe/ Historic Pilot Knob?
- Shannon on Contact
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The new pocket guide
The new version of the Oȟéyawahe/ Pilot Knob pocket guide is available in pdf form. Click on the above image to open it in your browser or download it,
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Women’s Forest Congress Visits Oȟéyawahe/Pilot Knob
On Monday, Oct. 17, approximately forty members of the 2022 Women’s Forest Congress toured the Oȟéyawahe/Pilot Knob site. The event brought national and international visitors, including members from British Columbia and England. The Pilot Knob Preservation Association, Oheyawahe Task Force, Mendota … Continue reading
Partners seek $1 million investment in Oȟéyawahe/ Pilot Knob
By Gail Lewellan Working with Pilot Knob Preservation Association (PKPA) and the Pilot Knob Task Force, the City of Mendota Heights has applied to the State of Minnesota for $1,027,000 in capital bonding funds to improve accessibility and care for … Continue reading
Learning about Mnísota’s First People: a new teacher’s guide to Oȟéyawahe
Working together, the Minnesota Humanities Center and Osseo Area Schools American Indian Program have created a guide for teachers based upon Oheyawahe/Pilot Knob in Mendota Heights. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017, this site is rich … Continue reading
What Is Your Vision for Oȟéyawahe/ Historic Pilot Knob?
Historic Pilot Knob is the portion of Oheyawahe that is owned by the City of Mendota Heights and where trails are open to the public. Great River Greening is the contractor the city has hired to restore Historic Pilot Knob’s … Continue reading
Bird Life on the Avian Superhighway
By Leslie Pilgrim Historic Pilot Knob: Perfectly Perched in the Fast Lane Historic Pilot Knob is located within one of the world’s amazing bird migratory routes: The Mississippi Flyway. Every year, over 325 bird species migrate via the flyway from … Continue reading
Oȟéyawahe/ Pilot Knob Now Listed on National Register of Historic Places
On March 14, 2017, Pilot Knob was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the official federal registry of historically significant sites worthy of preservation. For centuries, Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob has been a sacred indigenous burial ground and gathering place, … Continue reading
Oȟéyawahe: A new spelling for an old name
By Dawi Cofer The natural feature known to Americans as Pilot Knob has a long history as a mystical site, highly regarded by numerous nations of indigenous people. It was known to the Hochunk, Ojibwe, Dakota, and Meswaki, as well … Continue reading
Mendota Heights receives $75,000 grant for removal of overhead power lines on Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob
National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express announced on November 10, 2011, that Historic Pilot Knob will receive a Partners in Preservation grant for $75,000 to help restore the natural landscape of the hill. The money will be used … Continue reading
Pocket Guide to Oheywahi/Pilot Knob Has Been Published
The Pilot Knob Preservation Association’s new Pocket Guide to Oheyawahi/Pilot Knob has been published and an interactive, digital version is available on this website. Work and expenses for the pocket guide were supported by a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage … Continue reading
Chief Arvol Looking Horse leads pipe ceremony
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 … Continue reading