Lake Vermilion Area Attractions

Attractions at the top are accesible by boat. Others are listed by location.

Bois Forte Heritage Center Dedicated to telling the Bois Forte Ojibwe story, as the name-Atisokanigamig or LEGEND HOUSE tells. The museum was named the "Official Best Cultural Experience in Minnesota" in 2008 and received an award for interpretation from the National Media Association. In addition to the award winning displays, there is a birch bark dwelling and tipi on the grounds, and a path that leads the visitor to the remains of an 1866 gold mine. The tour takes about an hour not counting visits to the outdoor exhibits. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 10 AM - 5 PM Closed all major holidays Adults, $5; Children 4-12, $3; Seniors, $3; Family of 4 or More, $15, Children 3 & under and Bois Forte Band Members, Free 1500 Bois Forte Rd, Tower (218)753-6017 rozeberens@yahoo.com Web Site

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness One million acres of pristine preserved wilderness waiting to fulfill the Voyageur in you. The BWCAW offers over 1,200 miles of canoe trails, breathtaking views, and all the quiet solace you can handle. The Trout Lake chain is accessible directly from Lake Vermilion. A motorized portage is available to transport your boat for a fee, or you can portage your canoe or hike into the wilderness. User fees for 2010 are: Adults, $16; Youth, $8 Seasonal Adult, $64; Youth, $32 Web Site

Fortune Bay Casino Owned and operated by the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fortune Bay offers 2 floors of gaming excitement, as well as blackjack, poker and bingo. Concerts and/or special events monthly. Gaming casino open 24 hours,7 days a week. (A short drive from all Lake Vermilion resorts.) 1430 Bois Forte Rd Tower (800)-992-PLAY Web Site

Mailboat Excursions See over 80 miles of scenic Lake Vermilion as you ride along on the unique mailboat, which delivers mail to island residents six days a week. Leaves Aronson's Marina at 9:00 AM, Monday-Saturday, June 1- Labor Day. Reservations are recommended. Adults, $18; Children 12 & under, $10 Aronson Boat Works 6143 Pike Bay Drive, Tower (218)753-4190 Web Site

Pier 77 Come golf the most photographed mini-golf course in the country! 19 holes of challenging, unique play in a scenic atmosphere. Don't forget to sample a delicious malt or sundae-and there are plenty of keepsakes to choose from in our gift shop. Mid-May - September, 10 AM to Dusk 4066 Country Rd 77, Tower (218)753-6004

Tower Train & Depot Museum This center includes a museum in the historic train depot, a steam locomotive, a railway passenger car, caboose, and a two-room homesteaders log cabin. The Depot, built in 1915, has been kept in near original condition. It houses a museum with hundreds of artifacts and photos. Also on-site is a monument to President McKinley, picnic area, restrooms, and visitor information center. Open daily, May - September, 10 AM - 5 PM No admission, donations accepted Operated by the Tower-Soudan Historical Society 404 Pine Street, Tower 1-800-TOWER-MN Web Site

Van Air Van Air invites you to share our unique and exciting perspective of the Border Lake Country. Be it a tour from one of the many local resorts, a sunset moose tour, or a special dinner via floatplane; let Van Air give you an experience long remembered. Your hosts and pilots, Bud and Irene Van Deusen, have thousands of hours flying this rich and wonderful country and wish to share with you their insight to all aspects of this land. So just sit back, relax and enjoy viewing all the beauty of Van Air Country! Prices vary based on flight and number of persons. (218)365-2331 info@flyvanair.com Web Site

Chisholm - Minnesota Discovery Center Minnesota Discovery Center is the state's largest museum complex outside of the Twin Cities metro area. The museum is a 33,000-square-foot facility that houses artifacts, examines mining methods, explores regional geology, and hosts traveling exhibits that help illuminate the spirit and sensibilities of Iron Range pioneers and their descendants. Also on site: a trolley, mini-golf, groomed walking trails, heritage park, Civilian Conservation Corps history center, and much more. Tuesday - Saturday, 10 AM - 9 PM Adults, $8; Seniors, $7; Students, $6; Children 6 and under, Free. 1005 Discovery Drive Chisholm, MN 55719 800-372-6437 Web Site

Chisholm - Minnesota Discovery Center Research Library and Archives Identifies and collects records that preserve the history of the Iron Range. The research center is popular with genealogists, both amateur and professional, and has established itself as one of the best destinations in the upper Midwest for genealogical research. Library and reading room open Tuesday - Sunday, 10 AM - 5 PM. Free admission. 1005 Discovery Drive Chisholm, MN 55719 800-372-6437 Web Site

Chisholm - Minnesota Museum of Mining The Minnesota Museum of Mining gives visitors an opportunity to actually climb aboard equipment used to mine the Mesabi Range's rich iron ore. A castle built in 1933 out of stone is the entrance to this showcase of mining history. Climb aboard mining trucks, see a 1907 steam locomotive, or tour replicas of an underground mine and mining town. Trucks displayed at the museum range from a 1930s White dump truck with a two-ton capacity to an oversized 120-ton WABCO Electrohaul. Imagine as you sit in the driver's seat becoming the operator of one of the fastest steam shovels ever made, a rare 1910 Atlantic Steam Shovel. Only six of these shovels were built and they were the prototype of the shovels used to dig the Panama Canal and remove the soil overburden on the Mesabi Range. View a working diorama of the Great North Railroad, created by F. Lee Jaques, or displays illustrating the lifestyle of the early Mesabi Range. Visitors can walk down into a simulated underground mine drift. Catch a glimpse of a steam-driven diamond drill still in working condition, or visit an authentic log cabin with Finnish sauna. The museum is a great place to experience life in the mining era. Open daily, Memorial Day - Labor Day, Mon - Sat, 9 AM - 5 PM; Sun 1 - 5 PM Adults, $5; Students, $3; Seniors, $4.50; Children under 6, Free. Hwy 169, Chisholm, MN 55719 (218)254-5543

Cook - Comet Theater Established in 1939 the Comet Theater is the longest continuous running movie screen in the state of Minnesota. Live music and theater are also offered from time to time throughout the year. Located in downtown Cook. See the website for current show information. (218)666-5814 Web Site

Cook - LaCroix Visitor Center/Pond & Interpretive Center A pond and short interpretive walking trail are available to enjoy. You may see ducks, frogs, herons, and turtles in the pond. Prairie grasses and wildflowers are in full bloom by mid-summer. Interpretive signs tell about Native American culture, wetlands and wild rice. This pond and trail were cooperatively built by the U.S. Forest Service and 1854 Tribal Authority. LaCroix Ranger Station/Lake Vermilion Visitor Center 320 Hwy 53 N, Cook (218)666-0020

Elbow Lake - The Edge 18 holes and 460 feet of mini golf madness. Located on Elbow Lake at Elbow Lake Lodge. $5/person/game 3975 Kennedy Road, Cook (800)441-1620 Web Site

Ely - Dorothy Molter Museum Dorothy Molter was the last resident of the Boundary Water Canoe Area. Drawing on her days as a nurse in Chicago, Dorothy "treated" her BWCAW visitors with first aid and a homemade root beer-as many as 12,000 bottles a year! Come see how this remarkable woman lived. You may even find her root beer recipe in the gift shop! Open Memorial Day - Labor Day + weekends in Sept. and the first 3 Saturdays in Oct. Mon - Sat., 10 AM - 5:30 PM, Sundays noon -5:30 PM Adults, $6; Seniors, $5; Children 6-17, $4; Children 5 and under, Free. 2002 Sheridan St, Ely (218)365-4451 Web Site

Ely - International Wolf Center Come for a day, or stay for a week! You can tour the award winning "Wolves and Humans" exhibit, browse through the "Wolf Den" gift shop, and of course observe our five resident wolves in action. Ask about our educational studies and adventure vacations. 5 "wolf watch" cams are available on their website. Open year 'round. See the website for current hours and daily program schedule. Adults, $8.50; Seniors, $7.50; Children 3-12, $4.50; Childen under 3 and Members, Free. 1396 Hwy 169, Ely (218)365-4695 Web Site

Ely - North American Bear Center Live bears in a 2-acre forested enclosure with pond and waterfalls may be observed through windows or from the outdoor observation deck. Hands-on activity and education area, video clips reveal intimate details of wild bear life in the woods, theatre features the best in bear films, gift shop. Web cams are available on their website. Open year 'round, check the website for current days/hours and program information. Adults and teens, $8.50; Seniors 60+, $7.50, Children 3-12, $4.50, Children under 3 and Member, Free. 1926 Hwy 169, Ely (218)365-7879 218-365-7879 Web Site

Ely-Winton History Museum Located in the Fine Arts Building of the Vermilion Community College, the museum houses exhibits dating back 12,000 years. Learn about Ojibwe culture, early logging, mining and fur trading, and a North Pole expedition. Open Mon-Fri, 10 AM - 4 PM Adults, $3; Youth 6-15, $1; Children 5 and under, Free. 1900 E Camp Street, Ely (218)365-3226 Web Site

Embarrass - Sisu Pioneer Homestead Tours This three-hour long, caravan-style circle tour covers 15 miles of pioneer log structures, artifacts and implements dating back to the early 1900's. The tour includes a stop at the Sisu Tori gift shop and the Finnish Heritage Homestead. Memorial Day through Labor Day, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 1 PM. Adults, $6; Seniors, $4, Children 12 and under, Free; Large Group, $5 Begin from Visitor Center located at the intersection of Hwy 135 & County Rd 21, Embarrass (218)984-2106 Web Site

Eveleth - Leonidas Overlook Named for Leonidas Merritt, one of seven brothers who discovered the Mesabi Iron Range, the Leonidas Mine began production in 1908, shipping nearly 19 million tons of ore before its closure in 1978. The overlook was created by mining overburden (surface materials that covered the ore body). From here, visitors will see former mine sites, as well as the active mine, UTac, in Eveleth. This is the largest man-made point on the Iron Range. You will be able to view over 15 miles of breathtaking scenery from here. The water towers of several communities are also visible from here, as well as the Laurentian Divide, visible on the horizon as a low range of hills. (Water on the north side of the Laurentian Divide flows to the Hudson Bay, while that on the south finds its way to Lake Superior or the Gulf of Mexico.) Closed in winter Admission is free Hwy 101, Eveleth (218)744-1940 Web Site

Eveleth - United States Hockey Hall of Fame Located in "The Capital of American Hockey," the Hockey Hall of Fame houses exhibits honoring everything from the sport's early origins to Olympic winners and "Wall of Fame" inductees. Find official US Hockey Hall of Fame merchandise in the gift shop. Includes a new Olympic Legacy exhibit. Open year 'round - check the website for current hours and exhibit information. Adults, $8; Seniors 55+ and Juniors, 13-17, $7; Children 6-12, $6; Children under 6, Free 801 Hat Trick Avenue, Eveleth (218)744-5167 info@ushockeyhallmuseum.com Web Site

Hibbing - Paulucci Space Theatre Visit the largest planetarium in Northern Minnesota, where you can enjoy night sky shows, multi-media programs, and large format films that draw you right into the heart of the action. There's something for the whole family-from the gift shop to the Kid's Corner! Open year 'round, check the website for current hour and exhibit information. Adults, $4; Seniors and students, $3; Children 4 and under, Free. 1502 E 23rd Street, Hibbing (218)262-6720 Web Site

Orr - Vince Shute Bear Sanctuary Thousands of visitors come to the VSWS every year to see the black bears that inhabit the area and learn about and view their behavior, habitat and life cycles. Around 80+ black bears visit the sanctuary each season, including large boars, sows with cubs, yearlings and sub-adults. From the bear viewing deck visitors can observe bears feeding, playing and interacting in the surrounding meadow and woods. Courtesy buses run every 15-20 minutes from the parking lot to the viewing platform and visitors will receive a short talk on the history of the sanctuary and the bears. On the viewing deck, visitors will be free to walk around and view the bears and other wildlife and take photographs. There will be volunteers on deck to answer any questions you may have about the bears. Also throughout the evening there will be talks about the bears and the sanctuary from experienced naturalists. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day, Tuesday - Saturday, 5 PM until dusk Adults, $7; 6-17, $3; 5 and under, Free County Rd 514, Orr (218)757-0172 Web Site

Orr Bogwalk The Orr Bog Walk's half-mile long boardwalk surface provides nature enthusiasts of all ages and abilities with easy access to a wide variety of wetland types -- including spruce bog, ash swamp, cattail marsh, and tamarack swamp. In the bog, look for the carnivorous pitcher plant. In the ash swamp, look for purple fringed orchids in July. Along the Pelican River, be on the lookout for otters, muskrats, eagles, osprey, pelicans, and a wide assortment of other wildlife. Open daily, year 'round Hwy 53, Orr (behind Visitor's Center) (218)757-3932

Soudan Underground Mine State Park Take a 2,400 ft deep ride underground to a waiting rail car tour; explore hiking trails, an engine house, drill shop, and other displays aboveground; or even catch a glimpse of wildlife native to this 1,300 acre park. For the mine tour, visitors don hard hats and enter a "cage" for the descent into the mine. The 1 1/2 hour mine tour will take you half a mile down into the earth. Once underground you will be treated to a 3/4 mile trail ride to the last and deepest area mined. The mine is 50 degrees F year-around, so remember to bring a warm jacket or sweater and sturdy shoes. Also home to a high-energy physics lab, where tours are offered. The Soudan Underground Laboratory is the leading deep underground science and engineering laboratory in the United States today. Scientists from around the world have been working at Soudan for 25 years trying to answer basic questions about the Universe in which we live: Is matter completely stable? What is the nature of the fundamental forces? Can we identify the Dark Matter that seems to permeate our Universe? Tours meet at the visitors center. Open daily, May 29 through Labor Day, with tours hourly from 10 AM - 4 PM. Limited hours after Labor Day (see website). No state park sticker required. Ages 13 - adult, $10; ages 5-12, $6; children 5 and under, Free PO Box 335 Soudan (218)753-2245 Web Site

Virginia - Mineview in the Sky View the Rouchleau group of mines from this 20-story overlook. The 200-ft observation complex allows visitors to scan a three-mile long, 450 ft deep open pit. Nearby stands the "King of the Lode," a 240-ton mining truck, or check out the visitor information center. Open daily, Memorial Day through Sept 30, 9 AM - 6 PM No admission charge, donations accepted Hwy 53, Virginia (218)741-2717

Virginia Heritage Museum Located in beautiful Olcott Park, the museum complex consists of the former park superintendent's residence, a Finnish log house and a depression-era tourist cabin. Permanent exhibits depict logging and lumbering industries, Virginia's fires of 1893 and 1900 and the interurban electric railway system (trolley). The museum houses the Virginia Area Historical Society's archival and artifact collections. Summer, Tues - Sat, Winter, Thurs - Sat, 11 AM - 4 PM Admission by donation 800 9th Ave N, Virginia (218)741-1136 Web Site