 Old Central School
(National Register of Historic Places): This was
the first school built in this district (1895) and
now houses shops, a restaurant, and the Itasca
County Historical Society Museum which offers a
history of Itasca County and the importance of
timber and mining to this region. The museum also
houses additional items from Judy Garland’s early
life that are not found in the Judy Garland
Museum. Downtown Grand Rapids.
Contact: Lilah
Crowe, 218.326.6431 Approximate time: 1-2 hours |
 Chippewa National Forest: The Chippewa National
Forest boundary includes 1.6 million acres, of
which 666,000 is managed by the federal
government. The forest boasts one of the largest
breeding populations of bald eagles in the lower
48 states. Tour the Rabideaux CCC Camp. The
Civilian Conservation Corps (one of three
remaining in the U.S.) was a youth work program of
the depression era that provided jobs for the
unemployed working on public works projects
involving conservation; 15 of the original 25
buildings remain. This camp is on the National
Register of Historic Places. Continental Divide:
separates the water to the Hudson Bay, North
Atlantic, and Mississippi River watershed. Joyce
Estate: about 1918, the Joyce family constructed a
30-building hunting camp which they named “Nopeming.”
The forest service acquired the property in 1973.
Cut Foot Sioux Ranger Station: built in 1908, the
oldest structure in the U.S. forest Service east
of the Mississippi River; the cabin has been
restored and protected and now includes
interpretive displays.
Contact: Ranger,
218.246.2123 Approximate time: 1 hour |
Visit the
Lost Forty (part of the Chippewa
National Forest): Towering white and red pines
soaring straight toward the sky with bases
approximately five feet in diameter, they are
300-400 years old and originate back to when the
pilgrims arrived in America. Known as the Lost
Forty, they are a stand left spared from the
hungry lumbermen of the late 1800s. Due to a
surveyor’s error, this 40-acre parcel was
mistakenly marked as part of Coddington Lake. 40
miles north of Deer River – west of Grand Rapids.
Contact: Ranger, 218.246.2123 Approximate time:
1˝ hours |
 Forest History Center: A new $1.4 million display
was unveiled in 2004 depicting the importance of
the forest to this area’s economy and way of life,
historically and present-day. Try the hands-on
components of the newly installed exhibits and
view the new “Fire in the Forest” object theater.
Visit the 150-acre 1900 living-history white pine
logging camp and River Wanigan (log drive boat) on
the Mississippi River; includes Interpretive
Center and Ranger’s Cabin. Climb the 100-ft, CCC
built fire tower. This site has built and
maintains more than 6 miles of accessible hiking
trails. During the summer months, the weekends
have special events – please check our calendar on
our website.
Contact: Becky Jennings 218.327.4482
Approximate time: 1 ˝ hours |
 Hill Annex Mine: Learn the history of the region’s
other dominant industry based on natural resources
– Iron Mining – and see the work done on mineland
reclamation. Part of the Minnesota State Park
System, this 300-acre pit, the easternmost section
of the 800-acre Gross-Marble-Trumbull-Hill chain
of pits, provides spectacular views of the sheer
walls which rise 500 feet from the bottom of the
pit. A trip through the mine provides a chance to
see fossils from the sea that covered the area 75
to 86 million years ago and rock almost 2 billion
years ago. Tours begin at the mine’s historical
clubhouse where an interpretive center offers
insight into the mine operation and the European
immigrants who settled and mined the Iron Range of
Minnesota. Tour the Interpretive Center and take
one of three (or all three) tours: an open pit
descending into 500 ft. deep mine, fossil hunting,
or boat tour.
Contact: Steve Railson, 218.247.7215
Approximate time: 1 ˝ hours per tour |
 Judy Garland Museum and Children’s Discovery
Museum: In 1996, the quarter million dollar
restoration of the house in which Judy Garland
lived in Grand Rapids in the early 1920’s was
completed. Sample life in Grand Rapids in the
1920’s and learn about the early years of one of
America’s most beloved entertainment legends. An
annual festival celebrating Judy’s talent is held
the fourth week in June (Thursday thru Saturday).
The Children’s Discovery Museum hosts a kids’
community (Exchange City) and children’s
activities/exhibits. Talk with Theresa, the
talking tree. Contact: John Kelsch: 866.236.5437
Approximate time: 1 hour (At this same time, a
Peter Pan Children’s Festival is being held at Old
Central School and the Blackwater Barge Festival
in Cohasset (5 mi West of GrRpds) is held, which
includes several activities, i.e., professional
canoe race on the Mississippi River, hot air
balloon ride, local entertainment, kayak lessons,
skateboarding demonstrations, car shows,
historical display. They are both all-day events.) |
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University of Minnesota North Central Experiment
Station. Established in 1896, the station
contributes to knowledge applicable to agriculture
(including forestry) in the region. The University
has extensive horticulture and agriculture
information that they share with visitors.
Scientists research topics in agricultural
engineering, environmental issues, forestry,
industrial by-product utilization, horticulture,
tourism & travel, and wild rice. The center has a
demonstration garden for All American
Award-winning flowers and vegetable varieties. A
beef/forage day in late August, a horticulture day
in August/September, a Wild Rice Day in July, and
a Cow/Calf workshop in February can be found on
the CVB website.
Contact: Dr. Shengrui Yao,
218.327.4361 Approximate time: 1˝ hours |
 White Oak Fur Post, a replica of the 1790-1820
Northwest Fur Company Post that was located at
White Oak Point. Learn about the lives of the
voyageurs and Ojibwe 200 years ago. Many
activities are scheduled throughout the year;
please check our website; including: White Oak
Rendezvous always held the first full
weekend in August.
Contact: Lisa or Mary Jean 218.246.9393 Approximate time: 1 ˝ hours |
 The
Mississippi Melodie Showboat
celebrating over 50 years in production, has been
on the Minnesota Office of Tourism’s list of top
annual group tour festivals & events for many
years. Each year, a new show is produced and
presented on the shores of the Mississippi River.
The show is performed the last three weekends in
July at 8 pm; with an
additional matinee performance at 2 pm on the
first Saturday. In case of rain, the show goes on
at the Myles Reif Performing Arts Center.
Contact:
Wendy Uzelac 866.336.3426 Approximate time: 2 hours |
Hafeman Boat Works: In the tradition of the
natives and fur trade companies, Bill Hafeman
started building birch bark canoes in 1921. Tour their
facility on the south edge of Bigfork River and
watch as the canoes are built in the same method
as in years past, without nails or glue.
Contact:
Ray Boessle, Jr. 218.743.3709 Approximate time: 1
hour |
MacRostie Art Center: An area artist is featured
each month at this center; various handmade
articles are available for purchase (pottery, art,
jewelry). Located downtown across from Old Central
School. No fee.
Contact: Paula Brandel
218.326.2697 Approximate time: 1 hour |
 Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway: Also known as
Highway 38, the scenic byway runs 47 miles north
through some of the most picturesque areas of the
Chippewa National Forest. A map is available to
explain the history and importance of this
beautiful drive. There are 14 discovery sites
chosen for interpretive panels with facts about
the area along the route (i.e, tamarach bogs
thousands of years old, structures built by the
Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great
Depression).
Contact: Tim, 218.832.3161
Approximate time: 3 hours |
 Tall Timber Days: Always held the first full
weekend in August. The two-day celebration of the
timber industry includes: arts & crafts, education
& display tent, chainsaw carving demonstrations, Scheer’s lumberjack show, local entertainment,
and parade. No fee. Located
downtown on the grounds of the Old Central School.
Contact: Lee Jess 218.326.3231
Approximate time: 4 hours |
Threshing & Antique Show: Always the second
weekend in August. Displays & activities: antique
restored steam engines and gas engines, antiques,
tractors, sawmill, animals, threshing, farm tools,
blacksmithing, shingle mill, quilt raffle, flea
market, and live music.
Contact: Zelda
Gould 218.752.6592 Approximate time: 3 hours |
Blandin Paper Company: follow the steps taken from
pulp to paper used in such major U.S. publications
as Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated
(follow-up to Forest History Center). Tours are
offered Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (June thru
August) beginning on the hour starting at 10 am
with the last tour going out at 3 pm. Tours are
limited to 10 people per guide, 2 groups in the
mill at one time. Downtown Grand Rapids.
Contact: Blandin Tour Office 218.327.6682/Blandin Reception
218.327.6200. Approximate time: 45 minutes |
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Other Activities: Stockcar races every
Thursday
night, Farmer's Market each Wednesday and Saturday
morning during the growing season, Thursday night Classic Car Cruise Night,
Thursday evening free concerts in Coleraine by the Coleraine city band,
county fair, Deer River Wild Rice
Festival, Car shows, Farmer's Days, White Oak Casino, many nature
demonstrations at the Cut Foot Sioux Visitor
Information Center, 4th of July fireworks, North
Star Stampede Rodeo in Effie in July |
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