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8 01, 2025

The History of the Gunflint Mail Run

2025-01-08T18:28:44+00:00Activities & Attractions, Animals, Gunflint Trail/BWCA, History|

The Tradition of Dog Sledding on the Gunflint Trail In winter, the boreal forest along the Gunflint Trail transforms into an enchanting wonderland. Towering pines and spruce stand cloaked in shimmering snow, their heavy branches bowing gracefully under its weight. The forest floor lies beneath a flawless white blanket, and the snow-covered landscape exudes a hushed stillness. This tranquility is occasionally broken by the distant calls of wildlife or, in the early months of the year, the energetic sounds of sled dogs launching eagerly into the trails. This is the land in which the Gunflint Mail Run was born [...]

30 12, 2024

Jay Cooke Swinging Bridge

2025-01-08T18:13:53+00:00Activities & Attractions, Duluth, History, State Parks|

One of the most iconic structures in Jay Cooke State Park is the Swinging Bridge, a historic landmark that has withstood numerous challenges from both nature and time. This beloved bridge has undergone multiple reconstructions, surviving floods, repairs, and restorations. The Original Construction In 1924, the Forest Service constructed the first version of the Jay Cooke Swinging Bridge using logs and rope. This simple yet functional bridge provided a way to cross the St. Louis River, offering visitors a scenic view of the river below. By 1934, the bridge had undergone its first major upgrade. Between 1934 and 1935, [...]

28 06, 2023

Fire at Papa Charlie’s

2023-07-06T17:42:57+00:00History, Local Businesses, Lutsen, News & Updates|

While many were enjoying and celebrating a local man's victory at the Lutsen 99er, just a mile away another scene was playing out. Up on the hill at Lutsen Mountains, a fire had started at the beloved Papa Charlie's restaurant and events center. The fire started sometime before 6 am. While crowds were gathering at the nearby golf course for the bike race, fire crews from six area fire departments were rushing towards Lutsen for to try to battle the fire. Many of those called had also volunteered to help at Lutsen 99er Aid Station. Instead, they were battling [...]

12 04, 2023

Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza

2024-07-09T19:09:26+00:00Grand Marais, History, Local Businesses, News & Updates|

Around 11:30 AM on April 10, 2023, a fire broke out at Sydney's Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza. On what was otherwise a beautiful spring day in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Responding fire departments fought the fire for over two hours, extinguishing it around 1:30 PM. Unfortunately, the intense fire destroyed the interior of this beloved downtown eatery. Luckily, through quick thinking and a little ingenuity, Sydney's reopen a short time later in a temporary location, not missing a season. Then, less than a year and a half after the fire, Sydney's Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza reopened at the [...]

12 10, 2021

Grand Marais Lighthouse

2024-03-21T15:23:50+00:00Grand Marais, History|

The lighthouse that sits in Grand Marais has become a destination for many visitors in the area. If you’ve been to Grand Marais, it’s likely you’ve walked along the breakwall to visit the square pyramidal structure, but do you know the history behind it? The Grand Marais lighthouse was built in 1885 on the eastern end of the harbor breakwater. In the year or two prior, construction was completed on the piers that guarded the harbor entry. These new piers required a light and fog signal to guide mariners through the opening, so congress allotted just over $9,500 for [...]

12 10, 2021

Grand Marais Breakwall

2024-03-21T15:25:05+00:00Grand Marais, History|

What looks just like a bunch of rocks in the middle of the water is actually one of Grand Marais’ best attractions! What spurred the development of the Grand Marais Breakwall and the Lighthouse you might ask? Well, in 1881 the Schooner Stranger wrecked just outside of the Grand Marais Harbor. Unfortunately, all of the crewmen were killed in this wreck. The people knew something had to be done to make it more safe. In 1882, the development of the first breakwater and lighthouse began. The breakwall was to be stretched around 300 feet of rocks of all sizes. [...]

25 02, 2021

Split Rock Lighthouse

2021-02-25T16:53:04+00:00Activities & Attractions, Beaver Bay/Silver Bay/Finland, History, Two Harbors/Castle Danger|

Split Rock Lighthouse is one of the most iconic buildings on Lake Superior's North Shore. Now decommissioned, the lighthouse has been beautifully preserved and is a popular destination for visitors and locals alike. Read on to learn more about the history of the lighthouse. Why A Lighthouse at Split Rock? Starting on November 27, 1905, a massive storm, known as the Mataafa Storm, hit the Great Lakes region. The storm caused a total of 29 shipwrecks on Lake Superior during a two-day period.  One of those ships, the Madeira, sank near the area known as Split Rock.  Recognizing a need [...]

20 01, 2021

Grand Portage National Monument

2021-02-15T18:28:27+00:00History, Hovland/Grand Portage|

Grand Portage National Monument is a United States National Monument located on the north shore of Lake Superior in Grand Portage, MN. It is an Ojibwe monument that forms a bridge between time, people, and culture. You'll learn about and explore the partnership between Grand Portage Ojibwe and the North West Company during the fur trade. While there you can see historic cooking and baking demonstrations and learn about fur trade history, and area history. History of the Grand Portage Known by the Ojibwe as the Gitchi Onigaming or "Great Carrying Place" the 8.5 mile portage trail allowed American Indians [...]

16 11, 2020

King of Neptune Statue

2021-02-22T17:05:43+00:00Duluth, History|

Once upon a time, a 26-foot gold-colored statue once reigned over Canal Park in Duluth. A popular tourist attraction, The King of Neptune Statue was gifted to Duluth in 1959 to honor the city's designation as a Foreign Trade Zone and the furthest inland freshwater seaport in all of North America. Then, in just a matter of minutes, a freak accident destroyed the statue forever. What happened to the King of Neptune, and how did Canal Park look when he was around? A Prized History In 1959 the Modern Seaway opened which allowed Duluth to be Designated as a Foreign [...]

5 11, 2020

SS Edmund Fitzgerald

2023-10-31T17:03:18+00:00History|

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on downOf the big lake they called Gitche GumeeThe lake, it is said, never gives up her deadWhen the skies of November turn gloomyWith a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons moreThan the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed emptyThat good ship and true was a bone to be chewedWhen the gales of November came early These iconic lyrics from the late Gordon Lightfoot song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" describe the last hours of one of the most famous iron ore ships to ever sail the Great Lakes. Made famous not because [...]

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