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Camp Rabideau National Historic Landmark represents the best preserved of the Civilian Conservation Corps camps in the nation. Part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's mammoth "New Deal," Camp Rabideau was one of the 2,650 camps established across the country in 1935. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) gave more than a quarter of a million young men, many of them unemployed and just scraping by during the Great Depression... some skills, some money, some happy memories. Camps were run jointly by the U. S. Forest Service, which manage the camps today, and the U.S. Army, which commanded the camps. Enjoy a self-guided walk through the camp or hosts provide tours as well. Interpretive displays highlight the buildings and history of the area and hosts are available to give tours. A picnic shelter is available and hiking trail winds through the camp area. Prairie Public Television produced a documentary "Built To Last" on the CCC in Minnesota, featuring the Chippewa National Forest's Camp Rabideau.
The camp is located six miles south of Blackduck, Minnesota on County Road 39, The Lady Slipper Scenic Byway.
Very interesting site. We were there when tours were not being conducted, but the interpretative signage was very informative. A gem of regional history!
My family and I enjoyed our visit to the CCC Camp. We went on the 1 hour guided tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the camp and the local area. Self guided tours would be interesting, but I don't think we would've gotten as much out of the experience as we did.
My boys learned about many tools that their grandpa and great grandpa used before there was refrigeration, power tools, etc. I learned the magnitude of the CCC program in Minnesota, and found the life and work of these boys very alluring.
My kids complained about going, but both were engaged our entire time there.
Since the property is on the national forest the guide has a motor home on site. Myself and one other visitor had the tour to ourselves. Very detailed and knowledgeable tourguide! Volunteer guide is adamant about wearing mask outdoors (her spouse had suffered a stroke so she may be extra careful) and was not comfortable with having my eleven year old leashed dog outside the buildings (suggested I leave animal in the car), so I opted to enjoyed a self guided tour of the outside of the buildings. But if your able to go on the tour, this particular guide is a Granddaughter of a WPA participant. In the 1930's $5 per month went to him but $25 per was sent home to support his family.
My family , my husband and 4 kids, and I stopped in about 45 minutes to close. We walked around enjoying the buildings, newly painted white railings and stairs, and what was left of the weather worn signs. It was a beautiful place. As we approached a building a lady came out and told us to come back tomorrow, she was done with tours at 4:00. She was finishing up the last one tour. I asked if we could look in the building, she said “No” come back tomorrow and she would be open 10-4. I asked if we could at least look in the windows and she said “Yes”. She informed us that the our two dogs wouldn’t be allowed in. We are fine with that and wouldn’t have expected anything different. Matter of fact, my husband had already taken their leashes and was going to wait for us.
The tour guide was rude and abrupt. We didn’t ask her to give us a tour and yet she was speaking in a way that indicated we had offended or insulted her. Unfortunately, this is the kind of educational experience that keeps many from wanting to learn about our state and country’s history. Other historical places we have visited have staff that are excited about sharing history, stories, and are always welcoming. That is not the case with this lady. Very disappointing and won’t bring my family there for a tour.
