Trilobite fossils found in the lower layers of the gorge indicate the rock is around 600 million years old.

[2] Santee Sioux and Ojibwe tribes lived in the region and clashed over rights to wild rice lakes.

A German immigrant, Christian Burkhardt, realized the river could also be harnessed for the latter industry, and built a grist mill here in 1868.

He traveled home to Germany to examine hydroelectric power plants and returned in 1891 to build his own on the Willow River.

Burkhardt eventually built four power plants and dams on the river, which provided electricity to Hudson.