Grand Portage (community), Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grand Portage
Unincorporated community
Grand Portage (community), Minnesota Location in Minnesota Show map of Minnesota Grand Portage (community), Minnesota Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Cook
Elevation	630 ft (190 m)
Population
• Total	120
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	55605
Area code(s)	218
GNIS feature ID	644330

Grand Portage is a small community in Cook County, Minnesota, United States. It sits right on Grand Portage Bay, which is part of the North Shore of Lake Superior.

This community is about 34 miles northeast of Grand Marais. It is also just five miles southwest of the border between Canada and the United States. Minnesota Highway 61 is the main road that goes through Grand Portage.

Both the community of Grand Portage and the nearby Grand Portage Indian Reservation are part of the larger Grand Portage Unorganized Territory. This area has a total population of about 565 people.

The Grand Portage National Monument is right next to the community. You can also find Grand Portage State Park nearby. This park is located on the banks of the Pigeon River.

Mount Josephine is a tall peak located northeast of Grand Portage. It reaches an elevation of 1,315 feet. Grand Portage itself is at an elevation of 630 feet.

A Look Back: Grand Portage History

In the 1600s, Grand Portage became a very important place for the fur trade. This was a time when people traded animal furs, like beaver, for other goods. It was a key stop on the Canadian canoe routes.

The name "Grand Portage" comes from a long, nine-mile path. Traders called voyageurs had to carry their canoes and supplies over this land. This was because the path helped them get around rough parts of the river.

The French first traded furs with Native Americans here. Later, in the 1700s, the British took over after a war called the Seven Years' War. The North West Company made Grand Portage its main office for the region. It became one of Britain's four most important fur trading posts.

After the American Revolutionary War, the United States gained control of this land. However, British traders kept working in the area for a while. In 1796, the Treaty of Paris and later the Jay Treaty set the border between Canada and the US.

British traders wanted to avoid new taxes from the US. So, they decided to move their operations. In 1802, they planned a new center called Fort William in Canada. By 1803, after the US bought more land to the west (the Louisiana Purchase), the British finally left Grand Portage. The North West Company moved its main office to Fort William.

After the British fur traders left, the economy of Grand Portage slowed down. But in the 1800s, fishing and logging became popular. This helped the area grow again.

Exploring Grand Portage Geography

Grand Portage is located in a beautiful natural area. It is 34 miles northeast of Grand Marais. It is also six miles southwest of the Canada–US border. Larger cities like Duluth are 146 miles southwest, and Thunder Bay in Canada is 43 miles northeast.

Grand Portage is home to the Grand Portage Lodge and Casino. This is a popular spot for visitors.

Just 15 miles east of Grand Portage, in Lake Superior, is Isle Royale. This large island and about 450 smaller islands around it make up Isle Royale National Park. Isle Royale is about 45 miles long and nine miles wide.

You can take passenger ferries from Grand Portage to Isle Royale. The Sea Hunter, Voyageur II, and Wenonah ferries travel to Windigo. This is on the western end of Isle Royale. The ferries also pass by the Rock of Ages Lighthouse near Windigo. The Voyageur II ferry also goes further to Rock Harbor on the eastern side of the island. These ferry services run from May to October each year.

Grand Portage Climate

Grand Portage experiences a climate with cold winters and mild summers. Here is a summary of the weather data for the area:

Education in Grand Portage

All schools in Cook County, where Grand Portage is located, are part of the Cook County ISD 166 school district. This means students in Grand Portage attend schools within this district.