Hiawatha Club News Release

The Song of Hiawatha Pageant: Celebrating the 60th and Final Year

Since 1948, The Song of Hiawatha Pageant captured the eyes and hearts of Pipestone locals and visitors from every state in the U.S. plus a huge number of foreign countries. Following the 2008 show series, the Pageant will make a final curtain call, marking 60 years of entertainment.

The Song of Hiawatha Pageant has been publicized in major publications including Time and Life magazines, and named one of the Top 100 Events in the country by the American Bus Association. Performances will take place Friday and Saturday nights, the last two weekends in July (July 18, 19, 25 & 26) and the first weekend in August (Aug 1 & 2).

The Pageant is staged on a 40-acre natural amphitheater with a beautiful quarry lake at the center. The grounds are located close to the Pipestone National Monument, home of the pipestone quarries and just a few blocks from Pipestone’s Historic Main Street.

The Pageant is a reenactment of Henry Longfellow’s vision of the Native American Indian. The reenactment follows the storyline of a Native American Indian boy named Hiawatha from small child to adult. The young Hiawatha’s life highlights include learning to hunt, canoe, fighting with evil serpents, famine, and fever. At one point Hiawatha skims across the lake via a white birch bark canoe to claim his bride, the lovely Minnehaha. A wedding feast and celebration also take place during the show.

In 1948 a group of Pipestone residents led by Bob Owens formed the Exchange Club with the idea of doing charitable and civic projects. One of their early efforts was the Song of Hiawatha Pageant. A few years later the group took sole sponsorship of the pageant and renamed themselves the Hiawatha Club. Through the years the Hiawatha Club put on well over 500 shows. One of the oft asked questions is: how many rain cancellations have you had? Pageant officials say that no more than eight shows were cancelled because of weather.

Since 1948 it has become an integral part of the community, but with decreased crowds, increased expenses and difficulty recruiting volunteers and members, the Hiawatha Club voted to discontinue the pageant. This summer when the pageant makes its final curtain call, and 60 years of entertaining crowds will be celebrated. The back stage director promises to make 2008 one of the best performances in the history of the pageant. Tickets can be purchased by calling 800-336-6125 or at www.pipestoneminnesota.com

Special $100 Cash Rebate: If your group of 25 or more visit Pipestone, Luverne or Lake Benton and stay overnight in one of the three communities during the Pageant the CVB will give you $100. Click here for details...