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CHIK-WAUK MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER
CHIK-WAUK LODGE HISTORY
GUNFLINT TRAIL HISTORY
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201 South Gunflint Lake
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-0876
"A LEGACY OF THE NORTHWOODS"
The Gunflint Trail Historical Society members are area residents - past and present - visitors, travelers, neighbors and friends. All have joined together with a common goal, "to preserve the history of the Gunflint Trail and its early settlers for residents, guests, travelers, and future generations."Members are currently working to restore and open Chik-Wauk Lodge as Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center in 2010.
CURRENT NEWSLETTER
You are invited to join The Gunflint Trail Historical Society.
Next Events:
The Gunflint Trail Historical Society will be holding their first meeting of the 2008 season on Monday, April 28 at 1:00 PM. It will be held at the Gunflint Lodge Conference Center. All members are invited as well as anyone else who has an interest in the history of the "Trail" and its varied residents throughout the years. The meetings are always interesting and followed by refreshments and a chance to visit and ask questions about our Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center project. If you would like more info, please call Kathy Lande 388-2261 or Sue Kerfoot 388-0876.
| 2008 Meeting Schedule | ||
| April 28 | 1 PM | Gunflint Lodge Conference Center |
| May 26 | 1 PM | Memorial Day |
| June 30 | 1 PM | Annual Meeting |
| July 28 | 1 PM | |
| August 25 | TBA | Annual picnic at Chik-Wauk |
| September 29 | 1 PM | |
| October 27 | 1 PM | |
The Gunflint Trail Historical Society Receives Award!
On November 19, Dennis Neitzke wrote "...The award is our Regional Forester's Honor Award that recognizes significant achievements within the Eastern Region. ...This particular award comes under the category of "Connecting Citizens to the Land" with a subcategory of "Windows to the Past." Recognized is the work done by the Historical Society, the Forest Service Passport in Time group and the volunteers involved to help restore a culturally significant site and work to pass on the stories connected with the site and its surroundings. Of course in our case, Chik Wauk is the site and the Boundary Waters and Gunflint Trail are our surroundings with a rich history to tell. While the museum is a work in progress, the partnership we've formed and the progress achieved have been noticed and are being recognized at the Regional Level. The Historical Society has much to be proud of!!"
Award Recipients
Pictured (back row): John Phipps, Acting Regional Forester; Skip Starkey, Deputy Regional Forester; Darrell Woods, Acting Deputy Regional Forester; Front row: Jim Sanders, Walt Okstad, Bill Clayton, Erin Potter, Lee Johnson, Betty Hemstad (GTHS) and Pam Brown.
Pictured (back row): John Phipps, Acting Regional Forester; Skip Starkey, Deputy Regional Forester; Darrell Woods, Acting Deputy Regional Forester; Front row: Jim Sanders, Walt Okstad, Bill Clayton, Erin Potter, Lee Johnson, Betty Hemstad (GTHS) and Pam Brown.
National Register of Historic Places News:
Chik-Wauk was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as of June 27, 2007. This listing has been a major priority for The Gunflint Trail Historical Society. The USDA Forest Service, as the owner of the building, submitted the application last fall with help from members of the historical society. Acceptance on the National Register means that the National Park Service recognizes that Chik-Wauk was a historically important building in Cook County. It also ensures the preservation of the building. Further more, this listing makes available grants for development of the museum to be housed in this building. As a result of this listing the society has already received a $10,000 gift and will be receiving a $250,000 contribution to the museum's endowment fund. While there are still significant monies needed, these gifts help provide the financial stability of the museum for many years to come.
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The Gunflint Trail, located in northeastern Minnesota, is rich in history. The granite foundation of the land and lakes is some of the oldest geological structure. The history of humans dates back thousands of years. More recent human history begins with Ojibwe populations. Mining was attempted, and the area logged over extensively 100 years ago. Today the area supports numerous resorts and canoe outfitters, and residents enjoying living "on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness."
Map of historical sites produced by the 1985-86 Fiftieth Anniversary of the Gunflint Trail Association.
Gunflint Trail "Pines"
(Click Photo for Larger Image)
Copyright © The Gunflint Trail Historical Society 2008