The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway wants to try a new visitor information center at the Arcola Mills historical site north of Stillwater. The effort needs volunteers to pair up with Park Service rangers to staff the center. The St. Croix Riverway’s website has the details:

Are you passionate about the St. Croix River and its history? Interested in sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm with others? Arcola Mills is looking for people just like you to assist with daily operations during the month of October.

From September 30 through October 30, 2011, Arcola Mills will be open to the public daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., as a visitor information center for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. It will be staffed by National Park Rangers and volunteers in an experiment that hopes to draw people to this spectacular setting on the St. Croix River.

Volunteers will greet visitors, provide information, assist with programs and events, and perform other duties. Various weekday and weekend shifts are available. Training will be provided. Volunteers need not have a background in history but an ability to communicate effectively with varied audiences, from children to adults, is desired.

People interested in volunteering should contact Jonathan Moore at (715) 491-6839.

Arcola Mills features a Greek Revival-style mansion built in 1847 and which is being restored by the Arcola Mills Foundation. The Foundation is partnering with the Park Service on the pilot program to use the facility as a visitor center.

A fall color destination

Not interested in volunteering but want to visit what St. Croix Riverway superintendent Chris Stein calls “the most important historic site within the boundary of the National Scenic Riverway?” The site will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the month of October. Visitors can watch the St. Croix River film, learn about the site’s logging history, and just explore the beautiful grounds during the beautiful fall color season.