High Falls in Grand Portage has always been a beautiful place to visit. There is even more reason to go there now with the opening of the new Grand Portage State Park visitor center. There is a grand opening celebration on Saturday, September 25.
The long-awaited grand opening of the Grand Portage State Park visitor center will take place this Saturday, September 25. On hand for the celebration will be officials from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, naturalists and volunteers and visitors of all ages.
The project is a partnership among the Grand Portage Band, on whose land the park is located, the Minnesota DNR, MnDOT, and Explore Minnesota Tourism. Family-oriented activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a building dedication at noon. Activities will feature a pipe ceremony and ribbon cutting, along with local drummers and dancers.
Throughout the day, naturalists will be stationed on the half-mile trail to High Falls, which is handicap accessible. There will be make-and-take projects on topics such as Lake Superior, traditional wild rice harvesting, black bears, wolves and more.
Members of Grand Portage American Legion Post 2000 will be on hand serving fresh herring, fry bread and more.
The structure and its surroundings will serve as a new highway rest area, a state travel information center, and park visitor center, complete with exhibits showcasing the life ways of the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa.
Construction workers broke ground on June 15, 2009, for the 5,800-squarefoot building, which will provide yearround services to travelers. It replaces the seasonal Grand Portage Bay rest area and travel information center, which was open for about fivemonths a year. Thetravel information center will be staffed by the Grand Portage Band. A new trail to the falls, a new observation deck overlooking the Pigeon River, and a 30-foot “gathering shelter” to be used for programs and picnicking have also been constructed at the park.
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