Date December 29, 2010Comments
Snowshoeing has been a form of winter travel in the Gunflint Trail region for as long as there have been people in the area.
Snowshoeing traces its origins back 6000 years to central Asia, where “shoeskis” were developed. These shoeskis probably came to North America when the first people crossed the Bering Land Bridge from Asia and were eventually adapted into the various types of snowshoes associated with individual Native American groups.
Traditionally, the native people of the Gunflint Trail region, the Ojibwe, wore unique snowshoes fashioned with a doublepoint.
Although the Ojibwe snowshoes may now look a little clunky when viewed with a modern lens, they have several things going for them. The points on each end of the shoe mean each shoe uses two bent pieces of wood: much easier to make than other models which require a curved piece of wood. The points also help the wearer maneuver through brush and deep, crusty snow. The large size of the shoes means each step packs down a considerable amount of snow, allowing the wearer to move quickly through the winter world.
Even as the Gunflint Trail developed into its current tourism driven economy, snowshoeing remained a primary means of travel in winter. It was how treks to town were made before the Gunflint Trail was maintained in the winter. Surveyors and foresters wore them while performing their day’s work. Likewise, snowshoes were also an indispensable piece of equipment for trappers checking on their trap lines.
Today, snowshoeing has changed a little bit. Most people use small, lightweight aluminum snowshoes. Although people frequently use snowshoes while ice fishing or winter camping, the majority of snowshoeing is done on designated snowshoe trails. Snowshoeing’s no longer the primary way to get from point A to point B in the North Woods, but instead is an enjoyable way to move with ease through snow.
Snowshoeing is just one more example of a survival skill turned into recreation. You can learn about other survival skills that have been transformed into recreation at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center where an entire exhibit is devoted to the topic. But until Chik-Wauk reopens in spring, you can hit the snowshoe trails, knowing you’re an active participant in Gunflint Trail history.
Date December 22, 2010Comments
Date December 15, 2010Comments
Stumped on what to get the Gunflint Trail enthusiast on your holiday gift list who has everything “outdoorsy” imaginable and just doesn’t need another pair of wool socks? You can create a warm, fuzzy feeling akin to new wool socks, by giving them a gift membership or making a contribution in their name to the Gunflint Trail Historical Society.
The Gunflint Trail Historical Society (GTHS) is a 501 (C)3 non-profit which oversees daily operations at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center. Although the museum is located on national forest land, the GTHS receives no financial assistance from the U.S. Forest Service or other federal agency. The museum is funded by donations, memberships, grants, and revenue generated from admissions and gift shop sales.
Chik-Wauk’s grand opening on July 4, 2010 celebrated the culmination of five years of planning, renovating, and fundraising. But the grand opening didn’t mark an end of hard work, it signaled a beginning! The GTHS is continually striving to expand offerings at Chik-Wauk and advance public knowledge of Gunflint Trail history.
Since the museum’s opening in July, nearly 11,000 visitors have toured the museum and nature trails. Meanwhile, GTHS volunteers have also constructed an ADA accessible boardwalk and erected a new flagpole. This coming summer will see the reconstruction of a historic Chik-Wauk Lodge cabin on the museum’s property, which will not only provide more exhibit space for the museum but also preserves another slice of Gunflint Trail history.
You can help keep Chik-Wauk strong and check off someone on your gift list by giving them a membership to the GTHS. Memberships start at $25 annually and included GTHS email updates, GTHS newsletters, and free entrance to Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center for members and their guests. Click the “join the society” button below to download printable membership and contribution forms.
Thank you for your support.
Date December 8, 2010Comments
Visitors to Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center next spring will be greeted by a brand-new flagpole. This autumn, Gunflint Trail Historical Society volunteers purchased and installed a flagpole. It’s one of the most recent ways the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center has restored another little piece of Chik-Wauk history.
Historically, Chik-Wauk Lodge has always had a flagpole outside its front porch.
When Ralph Griffis, last owner of Chik-Wauk Lodge, heard that the Museum and Nature Center hadn’t installed a flagpole, he thought that ought to be amended. But since Ralph also has lots of stories of climbing up onto the lodge roof to retrieve the flag back in the day, the Gunflint Trail Historical Society volunteers moved the newest flag pole just a little farther away from the porch roof. This will hopefully prevent too many “flag retrieval” projects on blustery autumn days, while still preserving the historic “viewscape” of the lodge property. Although it’s hard to see in the picture below, the flagpole is located near the top of the little rise as you near the Museum and Nature Center, just before the picnic table area in front of the porch.
The flagpole will definitely fly an American (USA) flag come spring, but since Chik-Wauk is located on an international lake, there’s been some discussion of also flying a Canadian flag. What are your thoughts? Should the Chik-Wauk flagpole fly both an American and a Canadian flag? Let us know!
Date December 1, 2010Comments
The first commercial Christmas cards were produced in 1843, but it took a couple decades before holiday cards really became a trend. Now the sending and receiving of cards at the holidays is tradition for households around the world. While these warm greeting remind us of friendships and the spirit of the season, in these busy times, holiday cards, and especially those lengthy holiday newsletters, can seem a little trivial and like just one more thing to feel guilty about not getting around to yourself.
Image courtesy of Google Images
But before you dismiss writing holiday cards this season, consider the fact that those holiday greetings are actually historical documents. A well-written, succinct holiday letter detailing the past 12 months’ events not only spreads holiday cheer, but also captures a slice of personal history for posterity. Little factoids like your summer trip up the Gunflint Trail and your visit to Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center during its first season might seem like no big deal this December, but you (and your children and grandchildren) might feel differently in December 2030.
The Minnesota Historical Society recently posted about writing good holiday letters on their blog. The post includes an excellent list of links which can help you sharpen your holiday letter writing chops.
Here at Chik-Wauk we often remind people that “today’s events are tomorrow’s history.” We want to encourage you to share your story no matter how big or small you think it is. If you are a resident of the Gunflint Trail, part-time or full-time, don’t forget to fill out a personal history form so we can share your history in the Residents’ Pages book in the Reading Corner of Chik-Wauk Museum.
It’s those telling details found in holiday letters or Chik-Wauk’s residents’ pages which will keep Chik-Wauk relevant through the passing years.
