MINNESOTA ARCHITECTURE - HISTORY INVENTORY FORM

__________------___-_________Property Location_________--_____----________

Property Name: Highland Park County: Blue Earth

Address: 950 Warren Street City/Twp: Mankato

PIN: R01.09.18.452.001

Legal Description: Block 1, Coy's Addition

__________------___-_________Property Information______--_____----________

Architect: Not known Style: Open Space

State Historic Context: Railroad and Agricultural Date Constructed: 1896

Development 1870-1940

Historic Use: Park Present Use: City Park

Property Type: Site Local Historic Context: Civic Services 1850s-1950s

NR Status: Not listed Survey Name: Mankato Local Designation Survey

Prepared by: Courtney Kramlinger Survey Date: September 25, 2013

Description:

Highland Park is located in the central area of the City of Mankato bounded by Warren Street and Weaver Street.

Highland Park encompasses 12.86 acres and offers recreational amenities such as basketball (1993), sand volleyball

(1993), a playground (1993), picnic shelters (1990), restrooms (1992), grills, and passive green space. The original

playground equipment was installed in the 1940's and included a seesaw and merry-go-round and was replaced in 1993

as the previous equipment was deemed unsafe. Highland Park also holds many mature trees which has been a notable

characteristic of the park since its establishment. Tree species include White Swamp Oak, Burr Oak, Linden, Ash,

Honeylocust, Hackberry, Red Maple, Norway Maple, Sugar Maple, Silver Maple, Arborvitae, Spruce, Pine, American Elm,

Japanese Tree Lilac, Crab Apple, White Oak, and Burr Oak.

History:

Highland Park has served many uses throughout the years from a Civil War recruitment site, a city park, zoo, and

camping ground for tourists. The City of Mankato bought 10.28 acres of Township for $1,530 on October 15, 1874 to

provide residents with the first dependable, free-flowing well. The following year an attempt was made to sink an

artesian well into the hillside, but the water level never reached higher than 78 feet from the surface. Despite the

failure, the City retained its ownership of the property with the intention of developing it at some later date.

The area known today as Highland Park was originally known as Bunker Hill and was used as a Civil War recruitment site during the 1860s. Prior to the establishment of the recruitment site, men from the area would have to travel to Fort Snelling in St. Paul to sign up for service. One local man, Newton Brown, walked 65 miles barefoot to enlist. Another, Charles Clark, swam across the Minnesota River to reach the Fort. The most famous local Civil War veteran was Joseph Burger who at 13 years old, lied about his age in order to enlist.

In 1888, a proposal was made to build Mankato’s first hospital on Bunker Hill. Five years later in 1893, the plans

specified a quarantine hospital to be built there.

In 1896, a special ordinance was passed designating the land to be used as a city park. Despite local support for retaining

the name, “Bunker Hill,” the City Council chose “Highland Park” to be the park’s official name. In 1905, the first park

building was constructed and a zoo was established. By 1909, it was ordered that all animals be removed from the

Highland Park zoo.

The automobile made traveling available to more people which brought tourist camping. Highland Park served as a tourist camping ground from 1901 to 1941, bringing people all over the country to Mankato, specifically to Highland Park. Highland Park was already popular with Mankato residents which could amount to 600 picnickers each Sunday. Highland Park was highly praised by those who came from afar for its large quantity of trees which set it apart from other tourist camps which tended to be barren fields. One camper was quoted saying, "Highland is hard to beat." The 10 acre park also boasted a public kitchen and accessible water as early as 1905. The number of tourists started to decline during World War II due to gas rationing and the camp never regained its popularity, eventually shutting down in the mid-1940s. After many years of improvements since the park fell into disrepair during World War II, the park has been upgraded with many modern conveniences while retaining its rustic charm. Highland Park provides both the weary traveler and city dweller alike, the opportunity for rest and quiet reflection.

Evaluation:

Highland Park is not currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Integrity:

The site has high integrity historically with its role of serving as a social gathering space for over 100 years. The park

retains mature trees and a rustic charm which have been notable characteristics of the park for over 100 years ago.

Significance:

Highland Park has significance locally because it has character, interest, and value as part of the development and

heritage of the City of Mankato. Highland Park is also significant for its physical characteristics which represent a familiar

visual feature of the Highland Park neighborhood and the City as a whole.

Condition:

Highland Park is in very good condition with open greens and mature trees.

Sources:

Blue Earth County Historical Society. Vertical Files. Accessed September, 2013.

Zahn & Associates LLC, Thomas R. (2010) City of Mankato Historic Context Study. Retrieved from http://www.mankato-mn.gov/upload/images/Mankato%20Context%20Study%20M-res.pdf.

Photographic Documentation:

Left: Photograph of

tourist camp

published in the

Mankato Free Press

on July 22, 1940.

Above: Highland Park's playground in 1964.

Above: Basketball court (1993) and one of the two picnic

shelters (1990).

Above: Playground (1993) and restroom

facilities (1992).

Above: Highland Park has many mature trees and open space.

Above: The second picnic shelter (1990) at Highland Park.

Left: Highland

Park Heritage

Plaque installed

in celebration of

Mankato's 150

years as a City.

Sanborn Map:

1924 Sanborn Map.