In the mid-1800s much of Maplewood was oak savanna. Look for a remnant of the savanna on the east side of Wakefield Lake, with mature oaks stretching broad limbs over a groundcover of prairie grasses.

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Poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. And overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom. Nelson Mandela, Make Povery History

Maplewood’s Historic Landscape (maplewoodmn.gov) 14,000 years ago Maplewood was covered by a mile-high glacier. As the climate warmed, the glacier retreated leaving the landforms we see today. Ancient pollen grains in lake sediment help scientists piece together a timeline of the plant communities that followed the glaciers.