Pickwick Mill in Southeast Minnesota is located in the town of Pickwick on the banks of Big Trout Creek.  Travel a few miles South of Winona on Hwy 61 and hang a right onto County Road 7; you will run right into it.

It took three years to build this mill with construction beginning in 1856 and concluding in 1858.  All six floors materialized from locally quarried limestone and timber.  This mill is considered one of the largest of its kind in Minnesota.  The 20-foot water wheel is still operational today.  It is quite a site to see it spin.

The interior is filled with 6 floors of machinery that were used throughout the life of the mill.  Antique roller mills, separators and flour dressers can all be view by visitors today.

After supporting the Civil War effort, it went on to serve Southern Minnesota and portions of Iowa and Wisconsin.  The mill produced flour and/or livestock feed until 1978.  Nearly 120 years of operation, a flood damaged the dam and spillway and the mill itself sustain heavy water damage.

The lighting was difficult most of the time, but interesting non-the-less the entire tour.  The sunlight pouring in through the deep-set windows was quite captivating.  Here are some shot from our tour.