Ely MN Area Museums and Exhibits
Bois Forte Heritage Center and Cultural Museum
A two-story building celebrating the history, life and ways of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe. 3,000 square feet of exhibits, including a mural on the migration of the band into the Great Lakes area; maps; artifacts; a Waaginogam -- or wigwam -- fur trading post and school re-creations; a wall on spirituality and beliefs; a lifeways exhibit that includes education on topics such as ricing, bead work and basketing; a constellation ceiling; and a veteran's wall that pays tribute to Bois Forte band members who served in the U.S. armed forces.
10:00 am to 5 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays, and until 8 pm on Thursdays; noon to 4 m Sundays. The museum will be closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Bois Forte Heritage Center and Cultural Museum
Fortune Bay Casino
1500 Bois Forte Road
Tower,MN 55790
(218) 753-6017
Dorothy Molter Museum
The Dorothy Molter Museum is a memorial to the legendary last resident of the BWCAW, who died in 1986 after living most of her 79 years on Knife Lake near the U.S.-Canada border. Canoeists often stopped at Molter's home to enjoy her hospitality and famous homemade root beer (she was often referred to as "the Root Beer Lady") The museum's two log cabins were transported out of the BWCAW piece-by-piece and reassembled in Ely. The Winter Cabin is now an interpretive center with pictures and documents. There is also a small gift shop and a video telling the story of her life. Open 10:00 - 5:30 Mon-Sat, and Noon - 5:30 on Sun. Open weekends in May and September.
Located east of Ely on Hwy. 169
Phone: (218)365-4451
Ely-Winton History Museum
Located on Ely's Vermilion Community College campus, this center shows the local history of logging and mining through artifacts, photographs and displays. Memorial Day to the Week after Labor Day, 10 am to 4 pm Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday.
1900 East Camp St., Ely, MN 55731
Phone: (218)365-3226
International Wolf Center
Ely is home to the International Wolf Center's flagship interpretive facility, a multi-million dollar complex that examines one of the most elusive and misunderstood animals in the world. Center visitors learn about the natural history of wolves by observing the resident wolf pack and touring the "Wolves and Humans" exhibit. Program participants can track wolves by plane, go on evening howling expeditions or put on snowshoes and follow the predator's winter tracks. Videos, talks, demonstrations, family day programs and other adventures round out a visit to the IWC. 9 am - 5 pm daily, May-Sept. (until 7 pm July and Aug.). Winter Hours: November through April, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Located east of Ely on Hwy. 169
Phone: (800) ELY-WOLF
Sisu Heritage Homestead Tours
About 30 miles southwest of Ely - near Embarrass - you can see actual pioneer homesteads, saunas, a rare housebarn and more representing the Finnish heritage of the entire community. Several of these buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. Open daily Memorial Day - Labor Day; tours begin at 10 am and 2 pm.
Soudan Underground Mine
This Minnesota State Park features the first, deepest, and richest underground iron ore mine in Minnesota. Tours of the mine lead visitors through the world of underground mining. The 1.5 hour guided tour will take you 2,341 feet down and more than 100 years into our past. Historic mine tours are available from Memorial Day through September (weekends in October through the 22nd), 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Visitors can also tour the underground physics lab and learn about experiments involving neutrinos and WIMPs. Tours of the high-energy physics lab are available from Memorial Day through September (weekends in October through the 22nd), at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. only (noon only beginning September 5th).
Educational and group tours are available by special arrangement. The park hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Located west of Ely off of Highway 169 in Soudan, MN.
Phone: (218) 753-2245