AKELEY
F-2 Paul Bunyan's Statue
The Paul Bunyan statue on Hwy 34 in Akeley is the world’s tallest of the legendary woodcutter. The adjacent Memorial Park is also home to a regional historical museum.

F-2 Woodtick Theater
This theatre was established in 1992 in a historic turn-of-the-century brick building in downtown Akeley. It offers a venue of music and comedy in a family-friendly environment. Matinees and evening shows are offered in the summer only. For reservations call 1-800-644-6892.

BACKUS
H-4 Town of Old Backus
Located west of an old logging camp, Old Backus is actually the historic site of E.W. Backus & Brooks Lumber Camp that began business in 1885.

BENA
B-6 Boulder Hill
An impressive 40 to 50' high kame (short ridge of sand and gravel deposited from melted glacier water) rises above the generally flat area of the Chippewa National Forest. Trails access the quarter mile forest and a lookout tower allows visitors a splendid view.

B-6 Winnibigoshish Grocery
Built in 1933 and at one time the Bena Standard Oil and Gas Station and Motor Court, this well preserved convenience store exemplifies a commercial complex of buildings directly related to early automobile travel.

CASS LAKE
A-3 Indian Burial Grounds
Drive 2 miles west on Hwy. 2, then north onto Hwy 75 approximately 3.5 miles, turn right on Hwy 33–these can be seen on a high point on the left side of Hwy. 33, just before the bridge.

B-3 Museum and Logging Camp
The old Soo Line Depot houses a life size display of the logging era, mounted native wildlife set in natural settings, as well as American Indian and Early American artifacts.

A-3 Star Island
Star island is on Cass Lake and inside Star Island is another lake named Lake Windigo, which is featured in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” as a “lake in the island in the lake.” The island is both public and private. There are homes on the island under a lease arrangement with the federal government, but the Forest Service manages the island for scenic and recreational use. There is a primitive USFS campground and six miles of hiking trails.

DEER RIVER
B-9 1798 White Oak Fur Post
Experience the life of a fur trader and take a ride in a birch bark canoe – Wednesdays,
mid-June to mid-July.

FEDERAL DAM
D-5 Sugar Point Battle Site, Leech Lake
The last Indian War in the United States (October 1898) is commemorated at this location, eight miles southwest of Federal Dam.

GRAND RAPIDS
D-12 Forest History Center
Visit a recreated turn-of-the-century logging camp where you’ll find the camp blacksmith, saw filer, clerk, cook, and lumberjacks. Then board the moored river “wanigan” – a floating cook shack used when both logs and men, headed downstream to mills.
 

Jump forward to the 1930s and take a tour of a Minnesota Forest Service patrolman’s cabin.  Climb the 100-foot fire tower to learn about the rangers’ important work protecting the Minnesota woodland resource. The Forest History Center has three nature tails to enjoy a picnic and colorful views of the Mississippi River, as well as an Interpretive Building for information on forestry, regional history, gifts and souvenirs.

D-12 Itasca County Historical Society and Judy Garland Historical Center
The Itasca County Historical Society is located in Central School and displays artifacts from the early days of logging, mining and papermaking. See how fur traders and early homesteaders lived. This year round museum exhibits a collection of photographs, artwork and maps. It also houses extensive memorabilia from the “Wizard of Oz” and the woman who played “Dorothy” in the Judy Garland Historical Center and Yellowbrick Road.

HACKENSACK
H-4 Deep Portage Conservation Reserve
This 6,100 acre reserve serves as a wilderness classroom offering the best that Minnesota has to offer. The all-season conservation center offers one to five day educational sessions and overnight programs. Teachers select from a wide range of curriculum. Staff and volunteers conduct programs for individual adults, families, senior citizens and groups who are interested in outdoor education, conservation, recreation, and crafts.

PINE RIVER
J-6 Driftwood Family Resort and Minnesota Resort Museum
Both resort and museum, the centerpiece of this unique destination is a 6,500 sq ft building displaying early resorting life. It is open May to September.

I-5 Pine River Dam and Power Plant
This impressive structure was built by Webber and Hill in 1910 and operated by Tom Arvig. Later, Arvig formed the Pine River Electric Power and Light Company with his brothers.

J-4 Pine River Logging Dams
This series of sluice dams on the south fork of Pine River was built during the peak Minnesota lumbering period of the 1890s and demonstrates the method used by loggers to move material downriver.

REMER
F-8 Mpls/St. Paul and Sault St. Marie Railway Company Depot
This well preserved two story depot in Remer constructed around 1910 is typical of the many standard second-class depots constructed by the Soo Line.

WALKER
F-3 Ah-Gwah-Ching Nursing Home
This was established as a tuberculosis hospital in 1907 and served as the Minnesota State Sanitarium from 1907-1962. It is located three miles south of Walker on Hwy 371.

E-3 Cass County Courthouse
Built in 1902 and dedicated in 1908, this courthouse was named after Louis Cass, the Governor of Michigan Territory, of which we were a part.

E-3 Cass County Historical Society
Artifacts, photographs, and archives preserving the history of Cass County are displayed. May 15 - September 30, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

E-3 Huset Pioneer Log School
Early settlers built this one-room schoolhouse in 1912 and used it as such for twenty-five years. It was later moved to Walker, then restored and rededicated June 9, 1968.

E-3 Indian Agency
The first Indian agency was established in Onigum, east of Walker in 1849 and was replaced in 1899. In 1922, the Leech Lake Indian Reservation Headquarters moved to Cass Lake. The Onigum Indian School, still in use, was built in 1886.

E-3 Museum of Natural History
Located next to the Chamber of Commerce in Walker, the Museum of Natural History features wildlife in their natural settings as well as a collection of artifacts depicting everyday activities in Native