Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center wishes you and yours the happiest of summer solstices. We’re a little shocked that midsummer is upon us already, but we’re so pleased to be drawing ever closer to our grand opening on July 4.

Outside the museum, the natural world has been busy, busy. Not only are there tons of strawberries out there so ripe they’re falling off the bushes, we also have birds flitting all over the place, not to mention some visits from Mr. Bear! A loon family’s been hanging out on a nearby lake.

Keep your eyes peeled for Bicknell’s Geranium on our Big Sag Trail. This petite wildflower with frilly foliage often appears in areas that recently experienced wildfire.

This week we start training in volunteers. We’re putting on finishing touches on the gift shop and this morning, we got in the very last piece of furniture for the museum: a burl table and chairs that once belonged to Chik-Wauk owners Ralph and Bea Griffis.

Chik-Wauk’s very grateful to have been awarded a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Fund grant from the Minnesota Historical Society. You can read the WTIP story for more details. The grant helped the Gunflint Trail Historical Society finish up the installation of all the museum exhibits.