Stillwater Overlook

Oak Park Heights, United States

Freely accessible

Public space — no opening hours to check.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Find out more

Heritage registerNational Register of Historic Places↗

Situated in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, just south of Stillwater near the junction of State Highways 36 and 95, the Stillwater Overlook is a scenic viewpoint designed by landscape architect Arthur R. Nichols and built between 1936 and 1937 by the National Youth Administration. The overlook's main feature is a limestone wall commanding views of the St. Croix River valley—the stone salvaged from the demolished Minnesota Territorial Prison, embodying the National Park Service Rustic style's principle of using locally indigenous materials. This labor-intensive construction reflected both the architectural philosophy and the Depression-era need for federal employment programs. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 for its significance in landscape architecture and government, the overlook stands as a well-preserved example of the early roadside rests developed by the Minnesota Department of Highways Roadside Development Division and represents part of Nichols's broader contribution to the region's tourist infrastructure.