The Swedish Immigrant Trail Project

We are focused on connecting a segment of trail built in Shafer in 2007 to Interstate State park and the City of Taylor's Falls. Local and state support is building, with hopes of making the connection to this spectacular place in the next 5 years. Future links will connect Center City to Shafer and Chisago City to Wyoming. Your donations will support route definition, land acquisition and trail construction.

A short history of the Swedish Immigrant Trail:

The cultural heritage of southern Chisago County is rich with stories of Swedish and other immigrants who traveled to the area in the late 19th Century to settle what was for them, a new land.

Following the path of settlers from the St. Croix ferry west, roads and rails connected the small towns to a growing state. Tourists and visitors came to the Lakes Area from Minneapolis and Saint Paul for relaxation, recreation and to see the rare Glacial Gardens of Interstate State Park.

In 1948 the railroad was abandoned, just months before a soon to be famous author from Sweden visited the area. Wilhelm Moberg collected tales of the first Swedes in Chisago County, and told their story to the world.

The Swedish Immigrant Trail Project seeks to retrace the steps of immigrants and reconnect the cities of Taylor's Falls, Shafer, Center City, Lindstrom, Chisago City and Wyoming in southern Chisago County with a multi-use trail that will allow residents and visitors to explore the landscapes and communities that make this area special.

For more information about the Swedish Immigrant Trail, please visit our website:
www.swedishimmigranttrail.blogspot.com