Whitewater Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Whitewater Falls Cemetery 20220206

February 6th, 2022. The Whitewater Wildlife Management Area (WMA) covers much of the Whitewater River Valley. I've canoed, kayaked and tubed through it on the Whitewater State Water Trail but never explored it by foot. In 2022, I want to get out and explore this shared resource and figured I better get started because it is big! I am excited to blog and document about all of my stops and adventures. I was looking at the DNR map not knowing where to start, so I asked my step daughter if she was up to come along with me and where she would like to go. The cemeteries sounded exciting to her so off we went. The Whitewater Falls Cemetery was our first stop. It is accessible off of Minnesota Hwy 74. The cemetery and nearby parking area are marked on the DNR maps but there are no signs along the road or at the entrance. The entrance is just south of Fischer Hill Rd. The parking area also serves a path the heads south around Randall Pool towards the Monarch House and the Ranger Station. I did not explore Randall Pool but hope to be back for a hike to see where the path goes. 

The cemetery is no longer active but the DNR mows and maintains it. The cemetery is over 150 years old. Unlike the nearby abandoned ghost towns of Whitewater Falls and Beaver, the cemetery was high enough to survive through the extensive flooding and erosion that occurred in the early 1900's. There are 2 other cemeteries (3 total) noted on the WMA map, Beaver and Young's, I am looking forward to exploring them both. 

We parked our vehicle and walked through the entrance to the path, which was blocked off to prevent vehicle traffic. The cemetery is accessible just a short distance from the entrance by another smaller path that heads up a small hill at a northwest angle just below Fischer Hill Road. There is fencing around portions of the lot and a few big trees among the graves. It was interesting to look at the headstones. Some of them so worn, covered in lichen or broken that names and details could not be read. One grave marker was made of metal. There were several inches of snow on the ground so we were not able to see all of the headstones. I am doing some research on the valley and interested to learn more about the people who lived here in earlier times. 

I read in an article from Minnesota Public Radio (2021) that a New Jersey based company, Destination Destiny, has attempted to claim ownership of the cemetery and hopes to make it active again for natural burials. Apparently there are legal ways for this to happen. The proposal is under investigation.

Old White Pine

"Don't Trash the Valley" sign along the parking area

Entrance open to foot traffic only

References and Further Reading 

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/05/24/in-se-minn-legal-dispute-over-an-old-cemetery-raises-questions-about-who-owns-the-past 

http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/475316/Whitewater+Township++Beavers++Whitewater+Falls/Winona+County+1894+Microfilm/Minnesota/

http://www.whitewaterwatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Whitewater-Watershed-Conservation-History_Minnesota.pdf

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2022. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Website (online). Accessed Feb. 12, 2022 at mndnr.gov/copyright
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4046