Chisholm, our hometown, is the geographic heart of Minnesota’s Iron Range—which, you might have guessed, is famous for its abundance of iron ore. Both the land and the people who occupy it have been shaped by the mining industry, which has been active for more than a century. The result is 130,000 acres of land that have been deforested, excavated, and blasted for raw ore that has then been extracted, crushed, milled, sifted, pelletized, and shipped around the world. To say that the mining process causes significant environmental disturbance is an understatement. But the land doesn’t die when the digging stops.

In 1969, the state legislature passed the Minnesota Mineland Reclamation Act to “control possible adverse environmental effects of mining, to preserve the natural resources, and to encourage the planning of future land utilization, while at the same time promoting the orderly development of mining, the encouragement of good mining practices, and the recognition and identification of the beneficial aspects of mining.” Mineland reclamation is the process by which mined areas are restored to functional state, usually through reforestation, habitat recreation, or waterbody development (although there are places where mineland has been repurposed for industrial and residential uses).

In Chisholm’s case, mineland has been reclaimed for educational and recreational functionalities. The Minnesota Discovery Center is built upon reclaimed mineland and uses historical mining structures, equipment, and artifacts in its Museum exhibits. Just beyond our campus, the former Glen Mine’s main pit has had its walls carved to create the Redhead MTB Park’s trail system, and its bottom has been filled to create a faux lake. Additionally, Chisholm is connected to the rest of the Iron Range via the Mesabi Trail, an enormous mineland reclamation project that spans miles and decades.

So, how does this all relate back to recreation at the Minnesota Discovery Center? We’ve put education into motion, inviting folks out onto the trails and water with “interpretive tours” that explore the natural and human history of the land as they trek through it. What makes these recreational opportunities so special is the reclaimed mineland itself; the banded red rocks—polished by wind, eroded by water, warped by ice, anchored by roots, molded by human hands, scraped by massive machines, and pattered with animal prints—are truly unique.

In the summer, we offer hiking tours that examine Redhead MTB Park’s geoscience, mountain biking tours that investigate the area’s labor history, kayaking tours that explore the Old Glen Mine Pit Lake’s limnology, and shuttle van tours that review the area’s industrial history. Additionally, we offer kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and life jacket rentals (plus shuttle service) for those who want to adventure independently, and we house the 30West Bike Shop in our lobby, which offers bike and helmet rentals.

In the winter, we offer child-focused snowshoe hikes that impart folk mythology and immigrant stories, making use of our on-campus collection of historical buildings that harken back to old Scandinavia and pioneer days. For adults, we run moonlit snowshoe hikes that take participants out to a simulated mining location while our guides share interesting tidbits about small-town Iron Range culture. We also offer snowshoe, downhill sled, and kicksled rentals, as well as groomed areas on our campus to use them.

So, come discover reclaimed recreation at the Minnesota Discovery Center. Whether you are a recreation rookie or a seasoned adventurer, we have the tools and expertise to help you actively engage with the world around you. As the seasons change, we’ll update you with dates, times, prices, and freebies related to our services.

Interested in learning more about mineland reclamation? Pick up a copy of Minescapes: Reclaiming Minnesota’s Mined Lands by Pete Kero in our Gift Shop. (Fun fact: The author consulted materials at the Iron Range Research Center while writing the book.)