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family guide to minnesota’s north shore
This 56-page book is filled with fun family activities which focus
on the rich history and natural beauty of the North Shore. Read
it aloud or stop at points of interest for fun activites! Here is
a sampling of the information found in this book.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page 6 |
Lester River to Two Harbors |
| Page 10 |
Two Harbors |
| Page 13 |
Two Harbors to Castle Danger |
| Page 16 |
Castle Danger to Split Rock State Park |
| Page 22 |
Split Rock State Park to Junction Hwy. 1 |
| Page 27 |
Junction Hwy. 1 to Schroeder |
| Page 30 |
Schroeder to Lutsen |
| Page 33 |
Lutsen to Grand Marais |
| Page 36 |
Grand Marais |
| Page 39 |
Grand Marais to Pigeon River |
| Page 43 |
Grand Portage |
| Page 47 |
Questions and Answers |
| Page 55 |
For More Information |
TWO HARBORS
21.5 miles
Before 1856, the area around these two bays was well known Ojibwa
hunting and fishing grounds.
In 1856, the village in Burlington was platted here and later named
Agate Bay. In 1907, the village became the city of Two Harbors.
Originally, the town was a logging center. With the completion of
the railway from the town of Tower located on Minnesota's iron range,
Two Harbors became the state's first iron ore port in 1884. For years
the iron ore industry was the basis of the town's economy. But, by
the 1950's, all the high-grade iron ore had been taken from the ground.
Iron ore is now mined as taconite, a low-grade iron-bearing rock that
must be processed before it can be used to make steel.
The Edna G, the Great Lakes' first steam-powered tug, is now retired
and docked at Agate Bay.
TRY THIS AT BURLINGTON BAY
Put both hands into the lake and open them wide.
Clench one hand into a fist. After one minute, which hand seems
warmer?
Now open your hand and move it through the water. Does your hand
feel colder when it is moving or when it is still?
The average temperature of Lake Superior is 39°F, although
the surface water temperature along the North Shore varies from
about 40°F to about 65°F during the summer. No matter what
time of the year, the lake is cold.
Floating in 50°degree water, your body loses heat so fast,
exhaustion or unconsciousness would probably occur within about
three hours. Because exhaustion and loss of muscle control occur
rapidly in cold water, personal flotation devices (life jackets)
are essential to survival. A life jacket, which reduces body heat
loss and provides support, gives you twice as much time to be rescued.
Based on your experiment, which of the following would be the
best way to survive the longest possible time, assuming you are
a long way from help?
A) Float quietly in a streched out position.
B) Float quietly while curled up in a ball.
C) Swim and splash as vigorously as you can.
Answer
We certainly hope you never end up in such a situation, but if
you do, remember answer "B" would best conserve your body heat until
help arrives. Swimming in cold water causes you to lose heat 35
percent faster than holding still.
SPLIT ROCK STATE PARK
38.5 miles
Splitrock Lighthouse lens
The park is called Split Rock because, when viewed from the water,
one of the cliffs appears to be split in two.
In 1901, the Minnesota Abrasive Company began mining corundum
west of the lighthouse. This site is now known as Corundum Point.
Corundum, an extremely hard mineral, was in demand for grinding
wheels. In 1903, the company was purchased by a new competitor in
corundum mining, the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
(3M). The company had been organized in Two Harbors the year before
and had begun another corundum mining venture farther north near
the Baptism River.
Every night for nearly 60 years, the Split Rock lighthouse beamed
a light across the lake in 10 second intervals.
GRAND PORTAGE
A Sioux pow-wow. Both the Ojibwa and the Dakota (Sioux),
who lived in this area before the Ojibwa, were familiar with the
nine-mile portage around Pigeon River's High Falls that the French
would later name " Grand Portage," meaning the great carrying place.
BE SURE TO . . .
- Take the trail to Mt. Josephine to a point high on Superior's
shore where you can see the Suzie Islands, three miles to the
east in Wauswaugoning Bay.
- Take the boat trip to Isle Royale, 22 miles from shore. Grand
Portage is the closest point to this island national park, which
is part of Michigan.
- Follow in the historic footsteps of the Indians and fur traders
and hike the arduous nine-mile Grand Portage Trail that ends at
Fort Charlotte on the Pigeon River.
- View the area from Wauswaugoning Bay overlook, just north of
Grand Portage Bay.
PIGEON RIVER
147 miles
Located six miles beyond Grand Portage, this river marks the border
between the United States and Canada. The name comes from the translation
of the Ojibwa name "Omimizibi," which refers to the large numbers
of wild pigeons that once lived here.
The High Falls of the Pigoen River were impassable for the Voyageurs
and the "grand portage" was used to gain access to the waters and
land that lay to the northwest. High Falls can only be viewed by
crossing into Canada and paying a fee to enter privately owned land.
Just south of the border, there is an outstanding new wayside rest
area.
Pigeon River High Falls
This free publication can be ordered using the free
on-line ordering form.
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