Bemidji, The First
City on the Mississippi, Minnesota USA
|
|
|
|
Great Northern Depot Museum
- (Research Library) - Bemidji's
Gold Coast - Camp Rabideau -
Lost Forty
- Red Lake - Buena Vista
- Lyle's Logging Camp - Ancient Excavations
- Saum School -
Beltrami
County History - Beltrami
County Courthouse - Bemidji
History - Chief
Bemidji - Mississippi
River Bridge - District
132 School - Power
Dam - Park House |
| |
|
| Bemidji's natural beauty and bounty as a meeting or group tour
destination is also enhanced with historic character. From world renown statues and
architecture listed on the National Register of Historic Places, to ancient earth mounds
and burial grounds, the past takes an interesting turn in Bemidji. |
|
|
| The National Register of Historic Places in
Beltrami County |
|
|
 Bemidji's waterfront is home to
the world-famous statues of
Paul Bunyan
and Babe the Blue Ox
built in
1937, placed on NRHP in 1988.
|
 In addition to
Paul Bunyan memorabilia, the adjacent Tourist Information Center
features the Fireplace of
States, built with stones from every state in the United State
s and Canadian provinces.
|
|
|
 A
block north of the TIC, you'll encounter Library Park and the statue of Bemidji's
founding Chief Bemidji
as well as the Community Arts Center
in the
Carnegie Building, 426 Bemidji Ave, placed on the NRHP in
1980. It is Classical Revival brick with limestone trim, built in
1909.
|
The Mississippi
River Bridge, between Lake Irving and Lake Bemidji, built in
1916, was listed on the NRHP in 1989, as
one of the earliest examples of a steel- reinforced concrete bridge. The
2004 re-alignment of the south entrance into Bemidji,
necessitated a new bridge to handle the traffic flow over the
river. The original bridge is currently used for city maintenance access only.
|
|
|
Other examples of historic
architecture
include the Beltrami County Courthouse 619 Beltrami Ave NW, built in 1902, Beaux
Arts-inspired, brick and stone with domed tower. Placed on NRHP
in 1988.
|
Across the
street from the courthouse, you'll find the 1917 Colonial Revival-style former Post Office,
now being used as a realty
office.
|
|
The 'Park House' is an art deco classic built in 1937,
with
a semicircular glass projection. Placed on the NRHP in 1988. Located at Bemidji State University, the only
lakeshore campus in the state with architecture dating back to 1919.
|
|
The Commercial Building at 403 Third Street, is a 1910 structure
cited in the Architecture of Minnesota Guide as a successful prairie-style solution for a single-story building.
|
At
the south end of Lake Bemidji is Nymore Beach, site of the Crookston Lumber Co. The burning of the mill in 1924 marked the end of
the county's logging era.
|
|
|
|
|
| Great Northern Depot
Museum |
|
 The Great Northern Depot is of
historical significance since it was the last depot built by
"empire builder" James J. Hill. It has been on the
National Register of Historic Places since 1988. Built in
1912, the arched framework of the Depot windows represents a
neo-classic design. The depot is also associated with two
statewide historical events: Agricultural Development and
Railroad construction and the Northern Minnesota Lumbering era,
all of which took place between 1870 and 1920. The depot
represents a broad diversity of people who lived and continue to
live in this area. The depot has been restored to house the
Beltrami County History Center and Museum.
|
|
|
| Beltrami County
History Center Research Library |
|
Since 1952, the Beltrami County Historical Society
has been dedicated to collecting and preserving the heritage
of Beltrami County. Included in the BCHS collection:
* More than 100,000 photos
* 2000 historic maps
* Letters, diaries & township history
* Micro-filmed reels of census reports, naturalization
papers and newspapers
* Bemidji City Directories 1904-present
* County-wide school and church histories
* State history
Archivist/volunteers are available to assist with research needs
Monday-Fridays.
218-444-3376 depot@paulbunyan.net
|
| |
| Bemidji's "Gold Coast"
|
|
Perhaps Bemidji's best-known historic district is the eight-block section of Lake Boulevard. Once known as Bemidji's "Gold Coast," among
the many venerable domiciles to be viewed is the Dr. Johnson House built in 1910 with a
showcase garden. The Bacon House was also built in 1910, later used for a Catholic
convent. An unusual log structure, the Fisk House was reconstructed log-by-log at the
present site. Judge Fisk enjoyed entertaining many distinguished guests, including writer
F. Scott Fitzgerald. Further along you'll find Warfield House, the 1912 home of the man
who built Bemidji's electric light plant. Two lady teachers resided at the 1930s Parker
& Mangelsdorf House, also known for its large, informal gardens. |
|
| Historic Locales
Around Bemidji |
| |
| District No. 132 School |
| District No. 132 School on
County Rd 500 in Roosevelt Township built by local contractors ca.
1915 in the Classical Revival frame schoolhouse design.
Placed on NRHP in 1988. |
| |
| Saum School |
| Saum Schools on County Rd
23 in Woodrow Township. One-room log school (1903) and
two-story frame schoolhouse (1912) built as on of Minnesota's
first consolidated schools. NRHP 1980. |
| |
| Lake Bemidji State Park CCC/NYA Rustic Style
Historic Resources |
| Lake Bemidji State Park CCC/NYA/Rustic
Style Historic Resources off County Rd 20 in Northern
Township. Log recreational facilities constructed in 1937-39
by NYA workers. NRHP 1989. |
| |
| Camp Rabideau |
 Take a step into the past at
historic Rabideau CCC Camp. The camp is located 6 miles south of Blackduck on County
Road 39. Camp Rabideau is one of three remaining Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC)
camps being preserved out of the two thousand six hundred that were established in 1935.
Camp Rabideau was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.Camp Rabideau is located on a 112-acre tract purchased in 1934. The
buildings set about 100 feet apart, surrounded by tall trees forming a large glade in the
center. The open area was once the location of the mess hall which burned down in
the 1930s. Benjamin and Carls Lakes are visible from the barracks. An open air
picnic shelter is located at the camp. The shelter was built by the CCC and moved
from the Cut Foot Sioux area to Camp Rabideau in 1986. Today, 15 of the original 25
buildings remain and 4 will be maintained to honor those who served as CCC corpsman.
Camp Rabideau's first enrollees, company 3749 from Bennett Springs,
Missouri, built and occupied the camp from August 1935 to January 4, 1936. The crew
was relocated in California and Minnesota company 708 was moved from Bena to Camp Rabideau
by truck in 45 degrees below zero weather.
Company 708 remained at Rabideau until the end of the program in 1941.
Work projects ranged from building the Blackduck Ranger Station and two fire towers
to doing deer census and searching for lost persons during the berry picking and deer
hunting seasons.
A one mile trail runs through Camp Rabideau. Interpretive displays
highlight the buildings and history of the area. Tours are conducted Sunday and Wednesdays, 10:00
to 5:00. Call 218-835-4291 for arrangements.
|
| |
| Power Dam |
| The Warfield
Electric Company of Bemidji constructed a power dam on the Mississippi
River, four miles from the east outlet of Lake Bemidji. Opened
in 1909, this plant provided power to the fourteen wood product
factories and all of Bemidji. Located on Beltrami County Road
12, it is still referred to as the "Power Dam Road" |
| |
| Buena Vista |
| North of Bemidji is Buena Vista,
which means "good view" describing the beautiful country along the Continental
Divide. Count Beltrami landed here in September 1823, Believing he discovered the source
of the Mississippi, he named the lake "Julia" in memory of a friend. A
historical marker honors his efforts. The standing 1898 one-room
schoolhouse is currently in use as the townhall. Placed on NRHP in
1996.Buena Vista Logging Village and
Lumberjack Hall of Fame is also located here. Buena Vista Ski
Area, hosts downhill and cross-country skiing at this beautiful sight
as well. |
|
| Red Lake |
| North of Bemidji is the Red Lake
Indian Reservation, site of many significant events. The Chippewa (Ojibwe) Tribe settled
here in 1750 after driving out the Sioux (Lakota). The first and largest of three
settlements on the reservation is Red Lake. This was the site of the first county
post office (1875). A Northwest Fur Trading Post was established in the early 1800s, and a
mission and school as early as 1843. Just east is Redby village, known as the old
Chief's Village after Chief Madwaganonint. Today it is the home of the reservation's
fisheries and maple grove. The oldest and most primitive village is Ponemah. Meaning
"hereafter," it is the site of the early Cross Lake Boarding School. The
Narrows, or "Ponemah Point," is nearby, site of the traditional village and
burial grounds. |
| |
| Lost Forty |
|
 Experience the forests of old at the Chippewa National Forest's
"Lost Forty." The original Government Land Survey in 1882 described the
land of the Lost Forty as part of Coddington Lake. This mapping error caused the
virgin pine of the area to be left behind by loggers at the turn of the century. The
Lost Forty is actually 144 acres.
Most of the mature red and white pine is found on the
east end of the Lost Forty. These trees are up to 350 years old and between 22 and 48
inches in diameter. Old growth such as the Lost Forty is valuable for wildlife,
including bald eagles, a number of hawks and woodpeckers, red squirrels, weasels and
numerous other species.
The Lost Forty is located Northeast of Bemidji about 35 miles. From
Blackduck, take County Roads 30/13 to Alvwood, travel north on State Hwy 46 for 1/2 mile
to County 29. Follow 29 to Dora Lake and County Road 26. North on 26 to Forest
Road 2240. 1 1/2 miles west of this intersection you will find a sign for the Lost
Forty.
A quarter-mile trail loop winds its way through the majestic pines of the Lost Forty.,
For Tours call: 218-835-4291
|
|
| |
| Lyle's Logging Camp |
| The old Soo Line Depot in Cass
Lake is a testament to the area's logging heritage. Inside you'll find a replica of an
early logging camp, complete with bunkhouse, cook house, blacksmith shop and
wanigan. |
|
| Ancient Excavations |
| The Bemidji area has been the site
of thousands of years of habitation by Native American people. Archaeological digs are
periodically scheduled. Evidence of primitive village sites, some 500-900 years old, have
been uncovered. |
|
|
|
| |
