Record

About Old Wadena Historic District

The Old Wadena Historic District is a concentration of historical archaeology sites now largely contained within Old Wadena County Park in Thomastown Township, Minnesota, United States. Features include the sites of four successive trading posts established in 1782, 1792, 1825, and 1856; the original townsite of Wadena on the Red River Trails; and the county's first farm.
From Wikipedia, "Old Wadena Historic District", CC BY-SA 4.0.

This is a site record: what public sources say about Old Wadena Historic District, gathered in one place. We haven't written a full guide yet, so history, current access and photos are still to come. Treat the status as unknown until a guide confirms it.

Map

Where Old Wadena Historic District is

USGS topographic map around Old Wadena Historic District — USGS topographic map, The National Map (public domain). The pin marks the coordinates in the record; old townsites are often a little off.

Historic maps

6 historic USGS maps cover Old Wadena Historic District

Topographic sheets from the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection (public domain), oldest first. Older sheets often show the camp, mines and roads while the place was alive. The downloads are large map scans; USGS topoView shows them in the browser.

1953 Brainerd sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download
1957 Brainerd sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download
1958 Brainerd sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download
1965 Brainerd sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download
1966 Staples NE sheet, 1:24,000 · GeoTIFF download
1986 Brainerd sheet, 1:100,000 · GeoTIFF download

Directions

Getting there

Google Maps directions Apple Maps OpenStreetMap

Before you go

Many ghost town sites are on private land, active mining claims or tribal land. Check land status and ask permission.
Roads to old townsites are often unmaintained dirt. Map apps may route over closed or impassable tracks.
Removing artifacts from public land is illegal under federal and most state laws.

Nearby

Other sites near Old Wadena Historic District

Straight-line distance to other mapped sites in our Minnesota index.

Leaf River12.9 mi W · Wadena
Topelius22.1 mi W · Otter Tail
Old Crow Wing25.5 mi SE · Crow Wing
Manganese39.7 mi E · Crow Wing

Sources

Wikipedia, "Old Wadena Historic District": coordinates and summary.
Wikidata Q25004993.
USGS 3D Elevation Program, elevation at the coordinates.
USGS The National Map and Historical Topographic Map Collection (public domain).