Minnesota Discovery Center facts for kids
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The Minnesota Discovery Center summer entrance
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| Location | 1005 Discovery Drive Chisholm, Minnesota, USA |
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| Type | History, industry |
The Minnesota Discovery Center is a fun and educational place located near Chisholm, Minnesota, in the United States. It first opened in 1977. This center helps visitors learn about the history and future of northeastern Minnesota, especially the Iron Range area. It has a museum, a place for shows and events, a research library, and a big park. You can enjoy many activities here, like Polka festivals, concerts, and fairs. The center also has a special memorial for Rudy Perpich and keeps important old papers and items about mining in the Iron Range.
Exploring the Center's History
The Minnesota Discovery Center is a large museum complex that covers about 660 acres. It first opened its doors in 1977. Back then, it was called the Iron Range Interpretive Center and had 34 different exhibits. In 1984, its name changed to Ironworld USA. Then, in 2009, it became known as the Minnesota Discovery Center.
Why the Center Was Built
This special place was created to celebrate the many immigrants who came to build the Iron Range mining region in Minnesota. These included people from countries like Italy, Finland, and Yugoslavia. The goal was to attract tourists from all over Minnesota and other parts of the United States.
Fun Things to See and Do
The Minnesota Discovery Center offers many exciting attractions for visitors.
- Trolley Ride: You can ride a 1920s trolley along a beautiful 2.4-mile railway. This ride goes around the old Pillsbury mine pit and the Glen mine. It stops at the Wilpen Train Depot.
- Historic Boarding House: Explore a restored 1905 Hill's Finn Boarding House. This shows what life was like for miners and their families long ago.
- Mini-Golf: Have fun playing a round of mini-golf at the Pellet Pete 19-hole course.
- Museum Exhibits: The museum has two floors filled with exhibits. You can learn about the history of workers, geology (the study of rocks and earth), mining, and how immigrants shaped the region. There are also displays about the taconite mining process and how the mining industry changed over time in the Iron Range.
See also
