The moose has long been an iconic image associated with Minnesota. These creatures used to be quite common in the northern part of the state, although a sighting is quite rare these days as significant numbers have died off in the last couple decades. Much like bears and wolves, moose remain elusive, mysterious, and an icon of Minnesota’s northwoods. Here are some statues commemorating them.
Highway 61, one of Minnesota’s most storied and classic byways, spans the length of the state from north to south along the eastern border. And the northern leg of the thoroughfare, a 150-mile stretch from Duluth up to Grand Portage, follows the rocky, rugged cliffs that hug Lake Superior. There is a lot of history and beauty along this jaunt, and here are ten of the most iconic sites present today.
There are two cave systems in southern MN’s rocky bluff country: the privately owned “Niagara Cave,” named for an underground waterfall, and the state-owned cave system “Mystery Caves.” The latter of the two has 13 miles of developed tunnels, but may span up to 50 miles or more. The cave system is operated by Forestville-Mystery Caves State Park under the Department of Natural Resources, and there are several different difficulty level tours available.
The Cabin of the Root Beer Lady, also known as the Dorothy Molter Museum, tells an interesting tale of the last remaining resident of what is now known as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. Dorothy Molter lived on the Isle of Pines on Knife Lake near the Minnesota/Ontario border for more than 56 years, roughly 15 miles from the nearest paved road.
Honk the Moose is a statue of a life-size moose in the Iron Range town of Biwabik, MN. The moose is a depiction of a real life moose who made his winter home in town during the winter of 1935. He stands in a city park in the middle of town, easily visible on the main drag.
