Funding falls into place for $8.6 million Wakan Tipi Center at Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in St. Paul

Jun. 24—A patchwork quilt of funding has finally come together for the long-awaited Wakan Tipi Center, a cultural and interpretative center planned at the entrance of St. Paul's Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in Dayton's Bluff.

Construction of the $8.6 million center could get underway this year after more than a decade of planning and fundraising.

"We are expecting to break ground this fall," said Maggie Lorenz, executive director of the Lower Phalen Creek Project, which has taken a leading role in planning and fundraising.

The Lower Phalen Creek Project has raised $3.7 million toward the future nature center, which will mark a sacred site for the Dakota people. The state of Minnesota is contributing $4 million in grant funding. The city is putting in $157,000.

The 27-acre Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary sits east of downtown, on the north shore of the Mississippi River, but its fans have long bemoaned its limited exposure to passersby. As a river access point, it's nearly invisible.

The center will be located one mile west of Wakan Tipi Cave, sometimes referred to as Carver's Cave by East Siders after the European explorer who befriended Dakota there. Wakan Tipi, which translates to "dwelling place of the sacred," was once decorated with petroglyphs that honored its sacred spirits. The petroglyphs were destroyed with land and railroad development, and Carver's name was given to the sacred cave.

Some see the center as a way to reclaim the native legacy.

"This is a really important milestone," said Alice Messer, the city's design and construction manager, addressing the St. Paul City Council on Wednesday. "This project has been in the plans since 2008."

Council Member Jane Prince agreed.

"It's a great day for Ward 7, and it's a great day for our St. Paul Parks system," Prince said.