The chief point of interest attaching to this locality is that known as the Maiden’s Rock, a perpendicular cliff midway of the lake on the eastern shore.  Were there no legend connected with it, the eye would be arrested by its lofty and impressive form, as it stands alone frowning on the dark, deep waters of the lake below.

Chief Wapashaw, whose village once occupied the site of the present city of Winona, had a daughter, Weenonah, the beauty and pride of all his tribe.  This fair maiden had been thwarted in her affections by powerful and cruel hands, and rather than submit to unite her young life with one, other than he whom she so fondly loved, resolved to sacrifice herself.  A fishing party, of which she was a member, proceeded to this lake, and while resting on the eastern shore she fled away, and to the top of this high eminence, where, discovering herself to the company below, she recited the story of her broken heart and undying love for him whose name she had been even forbade to speak, and, closing by chanting a wild death-song, flung herself down the sides of this terrible precipice, and was dashed in pieces.  Her father and friends, guessing her intent, on being hailed by her from the top of this rock, dispatched, as the story goes, their fleetest of foot to her rescue, but unavailingly.  No Indian passes by this place of tragedy without uttering mournful wails in memory of their beautiful and loved Weenonah.

Along the base of these cliffs are numerous caverns, once the abode of wild beasts, and, even as late as Carver’s visit, in 1766, numbers of bears were found wintering in them, and in the minor caves numberless rattlesnakes were seen by him.  In his explorations in this immediate neighborhood he discovered, on the edge of the prairie, the outlines of an old fortification, which was distinctly traceable, and extended for nearly a mile, in its sweep enveloping an area ample for five thousand men.  Its form was semi-circular, with the flanks resting on the river.  The whole appearance was as if it had been built full a century before his visit, and while the ditch was indistinguishable, its angles were, and “displayed as much of science as if built by a pupil of Vauban himself.”  What race could have originally constructed it is a mystery, certainly not any of the known tribes inhabiting this country.  Carver could not have misjudged the character of these intrenchments, since he had himself received a military education, and was therefore, of all explorers, not likely to be misled in his estimate.

The pleasure seeker will find it convenient to visit any portion of Lake Pepin from any of the villages along its shores.  From Lake City a steamer usually plies to all interesting points, up and down the lake.  Those wishing to halt in a locality of rare beauty and refined society, will choose Frontenac above.

Half a dozen miles above the north end of the lake comes