Exploring Minnesota's Iron Range Cities
Chisholm, Ely, Virginia and Grand Rapids Offer Array of Experiences
Aug 25, 2009
In Northeastern Minnesota during the late 1890s and first half of the 20th Century, iron ore was king. Its mines produced taconite ore, which was transported by rail and barges to smelters where it was refined. Biggest producer of the ore was the 110-mile long Mesabi Range, which was from one to three miles wide (Minnesota’s other iron ranges are the Gunflint, Cayuna and Vermillion).
To get the most from an iron range visit, it’s a good idea to choose overnight accommodations in one of the area’s small cities – Chisholm and Virginia are among the most centrally located – and take day trips to various points of interest.
Mine Tours Offer Insights into Both History and Geology
Largest open pit mine in the world, the Hull Rust Mahoning located on the north edge of Hibbing, is a must-see for visitors – even those not interested in geology. The Mineview in the Sky, on Highway 53 just south of Virginia, features a panoramic view of the Rouchleau group mines from a 20-story overlook. Since 1893, 300 million gross tons of ore have been shipped by the mine, in which ten companies were involved at one time or another. Also on site are a 240-ton, 21-foot high mining truck called King of the Lode, a 45-ton rail car and a 100-ton production truck.
A different perspective of Iron Range Mining is featured during the Soudan Underground Mine State Park tour. The tour takes visitors a half-mile down via elevator and train so they can experience first-hand how it felt to be an underground miner. Hill Annex Mine State Park focuses on the "open pit" mining process, with both boat and bus tours.
Museums Chronicle Everything from Judy Garland’s Life to Bears
Museums in the city of Grand Rapids include the childhood home of Judy Garland, which is much like it was during the 1920s and early ‘30s when she lived there. Adjacent to the house is the small, but excellent Children’s Discovery Museum. Interactive exhibits let kiddies pretend they’re firemen, cooks and storekeepers. A big map painted on the floor teaches geography. The most unusual part of the museum is a gallery devoted to the nursery-rhyme figures beautifully created by Faith Wick, a former Grand Rapids schoolteacher. Just outside the city on county road 76, the Forest History Center is a living history museum that recreates life in a turn-of-the-century logging camp with costumed guides demonstrating various lumbering skills.
The 660-acre Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm (formerly Ironworld) is a huge complex with 22 different areas, including a recreated CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) from the Great Depression years. There’s also a 2.5 mile vintage trolley ride that passes by the various attractions. Exhibits at the Minnesota Museum of Mines, also in Chisholm, are both inside the castle-style building and out of doors. There’s also a Greyhound Bus Museum in nearby Hibbing. The bus company got their start in Hibbing when it provided vehicles that were used for transporting workers to and from the mines. Eveleth is home of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.
In Ely, the two major museums revolve around animals. The North American Bear Museum, which opened in 2008, is perhaps the world’s premier museum focusing on the black bear. The International Wolf Center focuses on the study of wolves, while a third museum -- operated by the Department of Forestry -- contains attractive exhibits which explore Northern Minnesota forests.
Festivals Celebrate Town’s Ethnic, Botanic and Artistic Aspects
The Land of the Loon Festival (June) is the largest ethnic festival in northern Minnesota, honoring all of the ethnic groups that arrived in the nineteenth century. The Finnish American Festival in the little town of Embarrass also takes place in June. Important July events include Ely’s Blueberry Festival, the St. Louis County Fair in Chisholm and the Mines & Pines Art Festival in Hibbing. The 19-day Northern Lights Music Festival presents performances of classical music in various venues throughout northeastern Minnesota, such as the Lyric Theatre in Virginia.
Casino is Destination in Itself
The Fortune Bay Casino, on the shore of Lake Vermillion, is one of the state’s most outstanding casino complexes. In addition to gambling, the casino contains three restaurants and two lounges. Country music entertainers, such as Mark Chestnutt and Loretta Lynn appear in the Woodlawn Ballroom. The complex also features a hotel with 174 rooms and suites, a swimming pool, and views of the lake; a golf course rated 2nd best U. S. casino course by Golf Digest; an excellent heritage museum, an RV park and full-service marina.
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