Grand Rapids to Soudan, MN; The Iron Range

Once we reached Hibbing on Rt. 169, we were beginning to traverse The Iron Range of NE Minnesota. The Hull Rust Mahoning Mine in Hibbing is the world's largest open pit iron ore mine. It has evolved over 105 years from the digs of forty separate mining operations. We were reminded of the Morenci Copper Mine's huge terraced pit in SE Arizona. Further along on Rt. 169 in Chisholm, we were greeted by 85 foot Iron Man, a monument to the miners. Nearby was IRONWORLD. Inside we found the story of the life of mine operations. Especially interesting was the ongoing battle between mine management and the miners, as well as the method for getting the iron ore "taconite" into pebble-sized pieces for shipment to the steel mills. Outside was Heritage Park: a northwoods cabin, a homestead, a building typical of traditional Scandinavian life, and the nomadic Lapp Landers' more permanent sod-covered "darfegoahti". Many Minnesotans have a lilt in their speech that can be traced back to their Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish ancestry. We love to just sit and listen to conversations! We ended the day at the Soudan Underground Mine State Park near Ely, where we traveled in a mine elevator 27 levels below ground to see first-hand how miners worked. The mine closed in 1962 due to technological changes. United States Steel gave it as a gift to the State Park System. Our tour guide was the best.