Spirit Lake - Civil War Soldier - GPS Coordinates: 43.424066 by -95.121333

This is a nice 16 foot granite monument in the Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake. It was erected by the Ladies Cemetery Association of Spirit Lake in 1910. Names of soldiers are inscribed on three sides of the monument, including 52 CW soldiers, two from the Mexican War and two from the War of 1812. Nearby is an unusual house-shaped World War I Memorial. The cemetery is just east of the junction of Highways 71 and 9. The monument is by the flagpole. Photos taken 4/23/08 and 7/31/10.

Spirit Lake - Plaque at location of Spirit Lake Stockade - GPS Coordinates: 43.422450 by -95.102500

A number of forts were built in NW Iowa in 1862 after "The Great Sioux Uprising of 1862" in Minnesota. This includes the stockade around the Dickinson County Courthouse in Spirit Lake. Regular Army Troops had been sent south to fight Confederates. The Northern Border Brigade was formed to protect the residents in this thinly settled region. There was a good deal of panic about potential Indian attacks but none ever materialized. The plaque, dedicated in 1916, marks the spot of the stockade - the date of 1861 is incorrect as the Indian uprising did not begin until 1862. There is also an old photo showing the stockade around the Courthouse. This is located off Highway 9/Highway 71 at Hill Avenue and 18th Street. Photos taken 7/2/15 and 8/30/16.