Use your power of imagination to experience life as it was in 1900 at the Forest History Center.  Walk back in time to Northwoods #1, an authentically recreated white pine logging camp complete with cook shack, bunkhouse, blacksmith shop, office wanigan, filer's shack and horse barn.  Stop and visit with the cook, clerk, bull cook, blacksmith and other lumberjacks who may be in camp.  Try your hand at sawing and pet the Percheron draft horses.

Wander down to the 1901 Mississippi River Wanigan, drop in on the 1934 Forest Service patrolman and get a bird's eye view of the forests from atop the 100-foot fire tower.  Explore the visitor center's interactive exhibits and browse the gift shop featuring items unique to northern Minnesota.  Stroll the nearly 5 miles of accessible trails that wind throughout the beautiful forests and along the river's edge.  Call ahead for the special nature programs.

Logging camp tours available June 8 - Labor Day Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Closed Sundays and Mondays.  Allow 2.5 hours.  Interpretive Center winter hours Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
Closed Winter Holidays.

Summer Admission Pricing:
$9 Adults; $7 Seniors, students and military personnel; $6 children age 6-17; Free for children under age 5
MN Historical Society members get free admission.

Winter Admission Pricing:
$4 Adults; $3 Seniors, students and military personnel; $2.50 children age 6-17; Free for children under age 5

The history of open pit mining on the Iron Range unfolds with tours of the Hill Annex Mine. For 60 years was one of Minnesota's most productive open pit natural iron ore mines. Mine Tours will take visitors along beautiful scenic overlooks and the mine's operation area with stops for up-close viewing of vintage mining machinery and buildings.  Fossil Hunting Tour takes visitors to the Cretaceous Ore Pile where the hunt for 86 million year old sea fossils (sharks' teeth, clams, and other ocean critters) begins. Tours are conducted Wednesdays through Saturdays. Memorial Day to Labor Day. Gift shop, interpretive building and observation deck open during the tour season.

Fossil Hunting Tour: offered on Wed, Thurs, Fri, and Sat at 10:00am. You may keep what you find. (Old clothes and drinking water are recommended.)

Historic Mine Tour (by bus): offered on Wed, Thurs, Fri, and Sat at 12:30pm and 3:00pm. 

All tours are 1 1/2 hours long. 2011 Rates: $10 adults, $6 children ages 5-12, under age 5 are free.

Tour buses and facilities are handicap accessible. Please make advance reservations if you have a large group or sports team. City park located adjacent for picnic sites. Access to Mesabi Bike Trail.

Club House/Museum Hours: Memorial Day to Labor Day, Wednesday -Saturday. 9:30 am - 5 pm.

The Itasca Historical Museum captures and conveys the rich story of Itasca County's past. Travel back in time to the Ice Age by viewing our Woolly Mammoth tusk. Learn how Native Americans lived before and after the arrival of Europeans. Find out how the Mississippi River allowed access to land that provided the nation with precious lumber and iron ore. Examine the relationship between Itasca County and the paper industry. Admire the resourcefulness and tenacity of the immigrants who came to this area for a promise of a better life and who ultimately changed rough-and-tumble outposts into communities. Learn about Itasca County's most famous resident, Frances Ethel Gumm, known by all as Judy Garland.

The Itasca County Historical Society is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2007 with many surprises and exhibits.  Other exhibits include: "Woolly Mammoth: Creature of the Ice Age" which examines an interesting creature that formerly inhabited this region, and "Eric Enstrom: Bovey Photographer" which tells the story of Swedish Immigrant Eric Enstrom and his famous "Grace" photo.

Open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat. 10:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Restored childhood home of Judy Garland where the star spent her first four years.  Judy's home has been restored to look just as it did when the child star lived there with her parents and two older sisters.  See the staircase landing where Judy and her sisters provided entertainment for neighborhood friends with their earliest performances.  The grounds features a memorial flower garden and gazebo.  The adjacent museum gallery showcases a wide variety of artifacts from Judy's musical and theatrical career, personal awards and effects, movie memorabilia and the carriage used in the Wizard of Oz. An extensive gift shop is filled with Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland items.

Summer Hours: Memorial Day - September 30: 7 days a week 10a - 5p
October 1 - March 31st: Friday & Saturday only 10a-5p
April 1 - Memorial Day weekend: Monday through Saturday 10a-5p

Groups of 20 or more can schedule tours on any day.
Admission: $7.00

pottery, drawing, painting, woodcarving, and printmaking.

Museum
The museum portion of MDC is a 33,000 square foot facility that hosts traveling exhibits that highlight the spirit of the region's immigrant people and their descendants, explore regional geology unique to the iron range, examines historic and current mining methods, and houses artifacts depicting regional history.

Heritage Park
Located on the site of a former community known as Glen Location, Heritage park overlooks the former Glen-Godfrey mine. As you stroll the landscaped grounds, you can visit a number of historically correct buildings and homesteads such as the Norwegian stabbur, Sami dwelling, Civilian Conservation Corps History Center, 1903 original location house, bunk house, and 1905 Hill's Finnish boarding house.  Then board the trolley at the 1915 Wilpen Depot for the 2.5 mile ride included in your admission.  Many events and festivals are held at Heritage Park throughout the year, check the calendar of events for dates.

Research Center
The research center identifies and collects the records that preserve the history of the iron range. Records include written and printed documents, oral history recordings, videos, photography, and microfilmed documents.  The research center is a popular destination for geneologists looking for connections to the regional history and its residents. There is no charge to use the research center during open hours and copy facilities are available.  An archivist is on staff to assist with access to some collections and reservations are recommended to ensure archivist availability.

In the summer, Nordic Ridge is known for the succulent berries it produces on the largest strawberry farm in the county. Bring your family and friends out to pick in the ten-acre patch beginning in late June and continuing through late July.  The farm provides picking containers and berry boxes, playground and picnic areas, and restrooms.

In the winter months, you can experience winter's beauty while riding in a horse-drawn sleigh.  The team of Belgian draft horses glides through the field into the woods.  The ride lasts approximately 45 minutes and stops at the huge sliding hill for sledding and tubing.  A warming house is located near the sliding hill.

In 1895, the people of Grand Rapids decided a new school was needed. The result was a building absolutely unique for northern Minnesota. Central School towers over downtown Grand Rapids. Build in the Richardsonian-Romanesque tradition, Central School exhibits the basic Romanesque features combined with the textural richness and innovative interior common in Richardsonian architecture.

Central School originally housed all grades, and was known for its academic rigor; students were required to learn the Latin classics - impressive for a tiny northwoods community! In 1908, a new high school was built, but Central School remained in use until the 1970s. In the 1980s, a major renovation was begun.

Today, Old Central School houses the Itasca County Historical Society's Heritage Museum, Auntie Em's Coffee Shop, and specialty shops featuring stained glass, quilts and quilting supplies, treasured gifts, and fancy imported yarns.

Make reservations for your group to have a unique 17th century style five course dinner served by costumed servers in the Great Hall. Group tours of the post are available by appointment. 

The fur post offers a wonderful History Days program each spring with a variety of educational workshops for youth and adults.  The Annual White Oak Rendezvous & Festival is held the first full weekend of August each summer and is open to the public. Check the calendar of events for the exact dates of these and other fun Grand Rapids area events.