Preston Overlook is a historic

scenic overlook A scenic viewpoint – also called an observation point, viewpoint, viewing point, vista point, lookout, scenic overlook,These terms are more commonly used in North America. etc. – is an elevated location where people can view scenery (often w ...

Preston, Minnesota Preston is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,325 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. It is the county seat of Fillmore County. The Root River (Minnesota), Root River r ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

History

In 1937–38, the overlook was built by the Minnesota Department of Highways under the program of Federal Relief Construction in Minnesota. The overlook was a product of its times.

The Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

led

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...

to create the

New Deal The New Deal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1939. Major federal programs agencies included the Civilian Cons ...

, a complex package of economic programs initiated to help the economy recover and put people to work. The overlook was a project of one such plan, the National Reemployment Service. The original idea came from the Preston Women's Civic Improvement Club, which had lobbied for

highway beautification Highway beautification is landscaping and control of the usage of the land by highways. In the United States, highway beautification is subject the Highway Beautification Act, Section 131 of Title 23, United States Code In the law of the Uni ...

. A site was chosen on the highest point on the bluffs above the Root River, below. The overlook was designed by Minnesota landscape architect Arthur R. Nichols in the

Rustic Style Rustic architecture is a style of architecture in the United States, used in rural government and private structures and their landscape interior design. It was influenced by the American craftsman style. According to the National Park Service, � ...

. The mosaic patterned wall and flagstone walk consist of

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

quarried from below the overlook.This section adapted from the existing NRHP sign on the site. In 2003, the Preston Overlook was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

References

External links

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MNDOT Historic Roadside Development Structures Inventory: Preston Overlook
{{National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota Buildings and structures in Fillmore County, Minnesota National Register of Historic Places in Fillmore County, Minnesota New Deal in Minnesota Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota Roadside parks National Park Service rustic in Minnesota Arthur R. Nichols works Scenic viewpoints in the United States