Forest History Center

For the past three days we have been just outside Grand Rapids, Minnesota at a Corps of Engineers campground. It was a little noisy right off US 2, but the campground is right on the Mississippi River. Ron, rebel that he is, had no problem pulling in, rather than backing in like everybody else, so we had a great view of the river out the front window.

We had some cold and rain early on. I have to wonder if we came north a bit late in the year. I snapped this of our hardy neighbors - it made me laugh seeing them all bundled up determined to enjoy their fire. Of course I bet they were talking about us staying inside.


Ron even had to break out his 'cookie monster' slippers to stay warm.


But we did have a nice sunset.


Saturday was still cool, but a gorgeous day and we headed out to the Forest History Center. Besides a nice visitor center, they have a recreated turn-of-the-century logging camp populated by colorful characters.

We saw the bunkhouse - two to a bunk.


And the outhouse - just line up on the log.


I loved the cook - never trust a skinny cook.


And this guy was in charge of caring for the all-important saws.


He had the kids demonstrate the two-man saw. These two were really cute.


We happened to attend on 'Real Horsepower Weekend' so we got to see lots and lots of horses. They demonstrated how valuable these horses were in the 1900 lumber industry.


There was a serpentine course to demonstrate how the horses could drag the logs through the woods. Somehow I don't think the work horses were quite like these gorgeous matched Percherons.


Ron tried his hand at freeing a log jam.

Interestingly enough, logging was only done in winter. They would freeze the logging roads and use sleds to move the logs. Ron had a uncle who went up to the 'North Woods' and participated in this industry.

Here's a picture from the visitor center.