Oertel Architects and a team of consultants were commissioned to prepare a master interpretive plan for the Murphy's Landing site in Shakopee, Minnesota.  This plan included an all encompassing approach, with the following items performed by the team: Extended shareholder review process, site and physical planning analysis, coordination with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux tribe, coordination with historic groups, marketing and financial analysis, assessment of the buildings, theme analysis and development, preparation of Mission Statement, preparation of a master plan, and preparation of a project budget.  The process involved numerous meetings with a number of interested groups.  Every possible party with a potential interest was identified and contacted to participate in the planning process.

The site amenities are extensive and include forty buildings, burial mounds, ruins, archaeological remains, a stone overlook, a stream, the shoreline and an extensive wooded area of land.  During the middle of the process, the "River" theme clearly stood out as a key defining element.  More importantly, our findings indicated that interpretation of this site needed to span centuries, not just the late 1800s, as had been the mode in the past.

In addition to the master planning work performed by our team, Oertel Architects continues to work with staff in the ongoing repair and restoration of the buildings (such as the Berger Cattle & Horse Barns shown lower left).  Prior to the master planning work with the Three Rivers Park District, Oertel Architects also worked with the previous non-profit group in helping to conserve and preserve the structures.