forest history center

Travel back in time to a lumber camp near the turn of the century. We learned so much from this tour of the lumber camp. Guides in period clothing are very knowledgeable of the subject and have a great ability to impart this knowledge to you. Our family group was literally from 6 to 60 and all felt educated and entertained by the afternoon. Plan 2 to 3 hours.

We decided to add the Forest History Museum to our schedule at the last minute. It ended up being one of the highlights of our already fabulous Minnesota vacation. Our kids (10 and 13) loved it - especially getting to try their hand at running a crosscut saw.

We had a great time visiting the logging camp, the history center is fantastic and they always have special events. Don't miss this when you are in town.

We enjoy visiting to get some hands on fun, and learn about the local history. Many fun activities for adults and children alike.

Our family went over MEA weekend and we reached later than expected. We had originally planned for 3 hours but got there about 4 pm. With less than an hour to closing, we skipped the building and headed directly to the camp area. We expected to be herded through the guided tour of a 1900s era logging camp as it was pretty late. However we were pleasantly surprised that the person giving the tour (he also took care of the horses there) explained everything in detail and actually encouraged our kids to think and ask questions, even though we were the only ones on the tour. We learnt a lot and even our 6 year old really enjoyed the visit.We had hoped to climb the tower when we planned the visit but since it was already half an hour past closing time, we could not do that. However, another staff member allowed us to watch the movie and exhibits as they were anyway open and waiting for a private party. It was really nice of him to start the movie exclusively for us and it was a very good movie too.What was going to be a rushed affair after a long drive from the Twin Cities turned into something really good. We came back feeling really good and wanting to go back. The staff is very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. And they are truly passionate about history.

This place is just wonderful. A large group of us just visited the Forest History Center in Grand Rapids, MN. They are closed for the season, but because we had two full motor coaches they opened for us. How Great!! I have visited many history villages where they show you things from the past, but this was so different. This showed us how the logging camps in northern Minnesota ran in the early 1900's and what a hard life it was. Most of the tree cutting and hauling was done in the winter because the giant white pines were easier to move on snow and ice once they were cut down. Many other kinds of trees were also harvested, but the white pine was the most desired. Sadly, they were over harvested, but even today, we forget our natural resources may not last forever. Sorry, did not mean to get on my band wagon. The history of logging in Minnesota involved many people. I believe in the early 1900's there were 800 logging companies in the northern part, now there are only about 80. We traveled back in time with all the workers and learned the very important positions of the cooks. They were paid more than the loggers. Horses also played a major part in the logging business. We enjoyed a delicious loggers meal, but we were not sure what we were going to be given because all the food items had "loggers" names. Coffee was called swamp water, etc. etc. Don't want to give anymore away, but what fun!!

Nice clean well put together presentation greets you as you enter, with well informed staff to assist you, plenty of information of area and the forest. Enjoyed our visit there.

From the parking lot, it doesn't appear there will be much to do apart from taking a walk in the woods. However, the Visitor Center is larger than it looks from outside, and it's chock full of interesting exhibits about the boreal forest and the history of the logging industry. The 15-minute (or so) looping film is a nice history lesson on the life of the lumberjack in 1937. The tour of the logging camp is really well done. "Period docents" try their best to take you 100 years back in time. It was fun to learn about the technology that was available to the lumberjacks then. At the end of the tour, you can climb the 180-odd steps to the top of the watch tower.

Well maintained State Historical Sight that gives very good insight into the logging era in MN. This is a living history museum with docents acting in character portraying someone in the early 1900's.

Just back from Grand Rapids taking a grandson to the Elite hockey tournament there, and as we had some time to kill between games and I also had a logging artifact that I wanted to show them, we stopped at the Forest History Centre. I had spent a lot of time here before, but have never reviewed this museum, and like my other visits, I was most impressed. Staff always so informative and friendly and the gentlemen who helped me Saturday was most helpful, and was not rushed at all when we talked.I have a special love for forest history and logging, a collector myself, and we were Tree Farm of the year a few years back and came in second in the nation as to a working tree farm. And I have logged all my life so know the ins and outs of that.The museum is well laid out and so tastefully done, and while not extremely large, it covers many areas and is just a delight to stroll thru and observe and the captions and explanations are to the point and most interesting. The total layout of items with many being freestanding and not all cased makes for a museum that is so user friendly and makes one feel connected to what is being shown and what they are trying to accomplish.First rate in all respects and if in the Grand Rapids area, you would be most wise to put this museum on your radar and make a visit.Jim RichardsMaplelagCallaway, Minnesota

The history, the Fort, and the in costumed workers are the making of memories. Our grandchildren loved it and asked lots of fun questions of the people working there, they only answer the questions as people would have 100 yrs.ago, very interesting.

Very well done and not to be missed if you are in the area. A Minnesota historical site with enactors doing the roll playing bit.

Fun place to go with the family or if you just want to learn a little history of the area. Make sure to go here at least if you are passing through the area. They have a fun gift shop too.

This is a must see for history buffs. It includes a 1900 logging camp typical of this area. Many hands on activities for children.

My husband and I had an exceptional experience. We arrived about 45 minutes early for the tour to the recreated logging village and I thought I would be bored, but we had a great time looking at the exhibits in the main building. The folks working there went out of their way to engage us. Not sure how my husband ended up there but I found myself with him as one of the staff showed us several specimens of frozen owls (yes, real owls) that they had in the freezer. They explained that they had starved to death over the winter due to the long period of deep snow. We see real ones at home some times but there is nothing like seeing them that close. The recreated logging village was equally engaging. I usually hate recreations of this type but this was very well done. The actors did a great job of giving you some sense of what it was really like, mixing fun facts with the more big picture details. They responded in kind to my teasing scepticism about their statements that the two of them - female "cookies"- never went to the male bunk house. My husband even wished for more time to ask questions. If you have any degree of curiosity about the great northwoods this is a great way to spend 2 hours.