Members of the Gunflint Trail Historical Society are busily preparing for the opening of the new
Led by an enthusiastic group of dedicated trail residents and volunteers, the Gunflint Trail Historical Society will soon welcome the new Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center, scheduled to open July 4, 2010. TheU.S. Department of Agriculture and Superior National Forest are also partners in the venture.
What began as Chik-Wauk Lodge (“Jack of the Pines”) and is now on the National Register of Historic Places was a working resort from the mid-1930s until the late ’70s. The lodge was built in 1934 using local granite and has a massive double-sided, amethyst studded stone fireplace. The newly renovated lodge, restored by volunteers to its former grandeur, will become the new museum. Its mission is to tell the story of the people of the Gunflint Trail.
The museum will tell the story of the seven groups of people who have passed through or lived on the Gunflint Trail — Prehistoric, Native American, Voyageurs, Miners, Loggers, Resorters, and Residents. Using funds raised by the Historical Society, the group hired the “museum outfitters” to help create exhibits and interactive displays highlighting the culture and natural history of the Gunflint Trail. These exhibits include:
Artifacts from prehistoric
times, Native Americans,
mining, logging, and
Gunflint Trail businesses
past and present;
Videos that tell the history
of the Gunflint Trail, pioneers,
colorful characters,
and people who have lived
and worked on the Gunflint
Trail
Interactive displays, and
hands-on discovery activities
for children
A reading corner (featuring
books by local authors and
field guides)
A 17′ x 7′ hand-painted mural “Springtime on the
Gunflint”
Graphic displays (exploring
wildfire, extreme weather,
the Civilian Conservation
Corps, mining, the
BWCAW, the Superior
National Forest, geology
and more)
A cross section of 300-year old
white pine from the
Gunflint Trail;
Mounted specimens of
Gunflint Trail area wildlife
Flip books (residents, animals,
fish, birds, butterflies,
moths, trees, shrubs, mushroom,
and wildflowers)
Each year the museum
will feature a new temporary
exhibit. The exhibit created
for the opening season is titled
“Building the Gunflint Trail.”
The museum will also house
a store that will feature hand handmade
items by Gunflint Trail
artists and artisans.
The nature center, situated
on the 50 acres surrounding
the museum, will include
interpretive trails and an
ADA-accessible bay trail. It is
designed to contain interpretive
trails, wildflower displays
and bird watching opportunities.
The Historical Society has
announced that Ada Igoe was
hired in March as site manager.
Igoe, a Grand Marais
native, is currently a resident
of the Gunflint Trail.
Plans call for the museum
to stay open until mid-October,
seven days a week, and
then re-open in mid-May each
year after being closed for the
winter season.
Grand opening festivities
will be held July 4.
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