As I mentioned briefly last night, we went up to the end of the trail for a preview of the new Chik-Wauk Museum, on Lake Saganaga. Words to describe it are hard to find, as it certainly surpassed my expectations. I knew that the team of volunteers had been working hard for five year, and that Chris and his crew were doing a fantastic job, but to see it all come together into such a beautiful place was astounding. If this isn't on your vacation-to-do-list yet, write it down immediately! It is so worth the trip.
Because it was dinnertime, and I hadn't yet made dinner, we didn't spend a lot of time there. But one definitely could do so, as the exhibits alone are finely detailed and contain paintings, photographs and artifacts galore. They cover the full range of Gunflint Trail history, from geology and voyageurs, to pioneers and modern-day folks. In addition to the displays, books and collections line the shelves waiting for perusal. It is not an exaggeration to say that you could spend a whole week there, and still find new things to see.
One activity that we didn't venture to are the hiking trails right on site. They are marked, and I imagine a map is available to guide you. Last year, Greg and I were assigned to plant trees at Chik-Wauk for the Gunflint Green-up. Someday when I am hiking up there, I plan to check on the progress of the little seedlings. The bay that the museum overlooks is quite picturesque, and it looks like it would make a terrific picnic spot.
The museum also hosts a lovely little gift shop, with a wonderful selection of shirts and handmade gifts. I recognized the work of some of my fellow fiber guild members, so you can definitely find items that are locally produced.
The grand opening is Sunday, July 4th. That also happens to be the eleventh anniversary of our blowdown storm. How lucky for us that we are all still here, able to acknowledge the history, both old and not-so-old, in such a great manner. It will be an amazing legacy for years to come.
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