Rhonda Silence
Staff photos/Rhonda Silence The Grand Portage Traditional Drum offers a celebration song at the Grand Portage cairn on September 22. Left: The rock cairns along Highway 61 will serve as markers to connect the communities along the North Shore Scenic Byway.
In recent weeks, motorists on Highway 61 have seen large rock cairn signs erected at six locations along Highway 61. On Tuesday, September 22, 2009, members of several scenic byways groups and local government officials celebrated the completion of the first phase of the North Shore Scenic Drive project.
After flying into the Cook County Airport, Minnesota Scenic Byways Council members traveled to Grand Portage to begin the celebration at the northernmost cairn sign on the North Shore Scenic Byway in Grand Portage. At 9:00 a.m., the event got underway with a celebration song by Grand Portage Traditional Drum members Patrick Pierre, Bob Vogel, Wally Deschampe, and Eric Carlson. Grand Portage Tribal Council Member Lorraine Wipson welcomed all in attendance and said Miigwech, or thank you, to all for coming out in the fall rain shower to commemorate the new community signs.
Mary Somnis, an Iron Range Resources (IRR) tourism representative, introduced the members of the Minnesota Scenic Byways Council— Chair Frank Pafko of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN/ DOT); John Edman, Explore Minnesota Tourism; Wayne Sames of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Jim Pederson of the Minnesota Historical Society; Mark Anderson of MN/DOT, the Scenic Byways Coordinator; and Scott Robinson, MN/DOT design/project manager.
Chair Frank Pafko spoke, noting that the cairns capture the character of the North Shore. He was followed by John Edman, who said the North Shore Scenic Byway is one of Minnesota’s 22 scenic byways. “The scenic byway program is a great way to market the state. It’s a way to help the people of our state enjoy their own back yard. Scenic Byways connect people; they connect communities,” he said.
“Some people may say ‘it’s just a sign,’” continued Edman, “but these signs show continuity from community to commu- nity. They show that our byway connects all of the communities on the North Shore.”
The Grand Portage Traditional Drum played a final song, which Pat Pierre of the Traditional Drum explained was a very appropriate traveling song. “We offer this song so you have a safe ride home,” said Pierre.
The celebratory gathering was repeated a short while later in Grand Marais, with members of the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byways Council joining the Highway 61 group at the foot of the new Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais. The cairn sign at that site features the logos of both the Highway 61 Scenic Byway and Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway. Grand Marais is the site of two of the large cairn signs, the one at the highway and Gunflint Trail intersection and another on the western edge of the city.
Some of the scenic byways officials traveled down Highway 61 to stop at Sugarloaf Cove in Schroeder, where a scenic byways sign, minus the rock cairn, has been erected. From there the trek continued to the next rock cairn in Two Harbors and ended at Brighton Beach in Duluth.
According to Bryan Anderson of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, who has facilitated the five-year cairn project, the distinctive signs were made possible through a National Scenic Byways grant, with a local match from each community. The cost of each sign was different, but the average cost per sign was $22,000, for an overall project cost of $117,000.
The rock cairns were constructed by Hovland, Inc. of Hermantown, using local materials, including Carlton Peak rock.
In a press release announcing the celebration, Anderson said since the appearance of the cairn signs, several other communities have inquired about having a sign in their community. However, the township of Lutsen had hoped to receive a cairn sign long before the others were erected. In November 2008, Lutsen Supervisor Joe Buttweiler shared the concept for the signs and received approval from his board colleagues to seek the installation of such a sign in Lutsen. In July 2009, Buttweiler said he had learned that there wasn’t enough money to include Lutsen as a community in this phase of the project.
Krysten Saatela, MN/DOT project engineer, said Lutsen was not on the original list for receipt of the scenic byways funds, however she said it is hoped that the project will be expanded.
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