Iron Range Historical Society facts for kids
The Iron Range Historical Society is located in the McKinley City Hall
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| Established | 1973 |
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| Location | 5454 Grand Avenue McKinley, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA |
| Type | History |
The Iron Range Historical Society is a special place in McKinley, Minnesota. It's like a treasure chest filled with stories and items from the past. This group works hard to collect, keep safe, and share the history of Minnesota's Iron Ranges. They want future generations to learn about this important area. It's a non-profit group, which means they rely on donations and amazing volunteers to keep history alive!
Contents
Discovering Iron Range History
The Iron Range Historical Society started in 1973. Before finding its home in McKinley, the Society moved around. It was once located in Gilbert, Biwabik, and Aurora. Today, you can find the Society in the McKinley City Hall. Its address is 5454 Grand Avenue in McKinley, Minnesota.
What You Can Find There
The Society has a huge collection of historical items. They have more than 20,000 photographs. These pictures are organized into over 90 albums. You can also find old newspapers and city directories. These books list people who lived in the bigger Iron Range cities. They date from 1899 up to recent times.
More Historical Treasures
The Society also keeps many books about Iron Range history. They have cool photo displays to look at. You can see a few old tools and items from logging and mining. There are also family stories and recorded interviews. These tell about people's lives in the past.
School Memories and Maps
If you're curious about schools, you can find high school and college yearbooks. They also have books celebrating city and township anniversaries. Old maps of the Iron Range are available too. These show how the area changed over time.
Special Records and Documents
The Society has some important records. These include limited birth, marriage, and death records. They also have some old mine records. A few hospital records are there, but they have limited access. You can also find many personal documents.
Sharing History: Publications
The Iron Range Historical Society publishes newsletters four times a year. These newsletters are called Where History Comes Alive. They share interesting stories and facts about the Iron Range. It's a great way to learn more about the area's past.
Saving Important Landmarks
In 1976, the Iron Range Historical Society worked to save something special. They tried to protect the last remaining smokestack at the Corsica Mine. This mine was near Elcor, Minnesota. The smokestack was very important because of how it was built. Cornish miners built it in 1901. It was the last one of its kind on the Iron Range.
