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 place to learn about the history of northeastern Minnesota. It's located near Chisholm, Minnesota. This center is more than just a museum. It's also an entertainment spot, a research library, and a big park.
You can find many cool things here. The center hosts events like Polka parties, concerts, and fairs. It also has a special memorial for Rudy Perpich. Inside, you'll see old documents and items that tell the story of mining in the Iron Range.
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A Look Back: The Center's History
The Minnesota Discovery Center is a very large place. It covers about 660 acres. It first opened in 1977. Back then, it was called the Iron Range Interpretive Center. It had 34 different exhibits to explore.
In 1984, its name changed to Ironworld USA. Then, in 2009, it became the Minnesota Discovery Center. A group called the Ironworld Development Corporation helps run the center. This group took over in 2007.
Why the Center Was Built
The center was created to celebrate the people who came to Minnesota. These immigrants helped build the Iron Range mining area. Many people from Italy, Finland, and Yugoslavia came here. The center wanted to show their stories.
It was also hoped that many tourists would visit. People from all over Minnesota and the U.S. were expected.
Fun Things to See and Do
The Minnesota Discovery Center has many exciting attractions. You can ride a 1920s trolley. This trolley travels along a beautiful 2.4-mile railway. It goes around the Pillsbury mine pit. The ride ends at the Wilpen Train Depot.
You can also visit a restored 1905 Hill's Finn Boarding House. This house shows what life was like long ago. For some outdoor fun, there's the Pellet Pete mini-golf course. It has 19 holes!
Inside the museum, there are two floors of exhibits. These exhibits teach you about many things. You can learn about how people worked in the past. There are displays on geology and mining. You'll also learn about different groups of people who came to the area. The museum shows how the taconite mining process works. It also explains how the mining industry changed over time in the Iron Range.
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