Olivia Dodge – West St. Paul Reader

Missi Arens, the new executive director of Dodge Nature Center.

New Dodge Nature Center Leader Embraces Environmental Education

New Executive Director Missi Arens focuses on preservation and education, emphasizing shared responsibility: “It’s just important for everyone to say, ‘How can I help?'”

Historic photo of Dixie Slope courtesy of the Dakota County Historical Society.

Olivia Dodge Mansion Demolished

The 115-year-old mansion on Delaware Avenue in West St. Paul was torn down and will remain empty land. “I call it ‘reverse development,'” said Thomas Dodge.

West St. Paul Hall of Fame Postcards

Created by local artist Carolyn Swiszcz, this postcard series features four prominent figures in West St. Paul history—Olivia Dodge, Devona Weatherhead, James Kennedy, and Harold Stassen.

Olivia Irvine Dodge: Preserving Nature for Future Generations

“We are all a part of the land and without it, we are incomplete,” said Olivia Irvine Dodge, a West St. Paul philanthropist and founder of Dodge Nature Center.

A large rock with a bronze plaque reading "The Reuel D. Harmon Overlook" with a deck and pond in the background.

1986: Reuel D. Harmon Overlook

Dedicated in 1986, the Reuel D. Harmon Overlook at the corner of Wentworth and Charlton offers a view of preserved wetlands at Dodge Nature Center.

West St. Paul state of city speech at Dakota Lodge.

2023 State of the City Address From Mayor Dave Napier

“We need to show our community all the good things we’ve accomplished,” Mayor Dave Napier said during his State of the City Address.

Then & Now: Dodge Nature Center

Aerial views of the Dodge Nature Center in 1967 showing the original patchwork farm fields compared to the restored nature area today.

Dodge Nature Center’s $40 Million Campaign

A new campaign to ensure the future of Dodge Nature Center has already brought in more than $28 million. The campaign will increase access, boost sustainability, and preserve the legacy of the institution.