The Dorothy Molter Museum in Ely replaced the flooring in its Interpretive Center, which is the first point-of-contact for museum guests. The center is the guest services headquarters and houses the admission check-in counter, gift shop, public restroom and several mini-exhibits. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $3,270 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $6,540.

Leading up to the flooring project, the museum made several other improvements to the Interpretive Center with revenue generated through fundraising events. A new service counter, staff workstation, and interpretive displays and signage were added. Repairs were made to the building’s entry and exit points, electrical and heating systems, and energy efficiency.

The museum is a community landmark and has been part of Ely’s economy and culture for 28 years.

Dorothy, a licensed nurse from Chicago, first visited Isle of Pines resort on Knife Lake with family members in 1930 at age 23. As her annual visits with family continued, she developed a friendship with resort owner Bill Berglund based on their mutual love of the wilderness. Eventually Dorothy would reside on the island year-round to assist Mr. Berglund with resort operations and maintenance. He passed away in 1948 and his family deeded the resort to Dorothy.

She began making homemade root beer in 1952 and sold it to thousands of canoeists and visitors to her resort earning her the name Root Beer Lady. Dorothy gained attention from media and tourists due to her unorthodox lifestyle. She was an unmarried, female sole owner-proprietor of a wilderness resort.

The attention culminated with the passing of the 1964 Wilderness Act when her Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) property was purchased by the United States government. A successful petition resulted in Dorothy remaining on her property through a temporary lease until her death. She passed away at age 79 and was the last living occupant of the 2 million-acre BWCAW.

Read her full biography. 

“We are very grateful for the support from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation,” said Jess Edberg, museum executive director. “The Culture & Tourism grant program has had a significant impact to our museum, not only for the recent flooring project but for other projects in the past. Our operation relies on grants, fundraising and other philanthropic support so that we can keep delivering a quality cultural and historical experience to local residents and tourists.”

The museum, located on the east end of Ely, features an interpretive center and gift shop and three of Dorothy’s original cabins housing a variety of exhibits including her root beer making equipment. It is open daily May 28 through Labor Day. For Culture & Tourism grant information email Danae Beaudette or call her at 218-735-3022.

Finland is an unincorporated village of 200 people along Minnesota’s North Shore. Small, very rural and off-the-beaten-path, Finland is six miles inland from Lake Superior along Highway 1. It is part of the North Shore and Boundary Waters tourism industry.

Local nonprofit organization Friends of the Finland Community purchased audio-visual equipment to record and livestream community events to make them accessible from home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $5,000 Culture & Tourism grant.

Several community volunteers were trained to operate the equipment and recorded events including the Finland Checkpoint of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, the St. Urho’s Day parade, local softball games, Finland Historical Society’s Tori and Music Fest, and many smaller events in the area. The volunteers were taught how to capture, edit and digitally share content. 

“At a time when community members were feeling emotionally and physically disconnected, the livestreaming brought people together virtually and provided a sense of community during a difficult time,” said Honor Schauland, Friends of Finland director. “The volunteers were not only trained to operate the new technology, but they also honed their skills at amateur sports and event announcing.”

An abundance of community footage was captured with the new equipment that can be used to make promotional videos for Finland’s tourism purposes. In addition, when the Greenwood Fire occurred in the fall of 2021, the equipment was used to provide live coverage of community informational meetings and assist the United States Forest Service with their livestreaming and technical needs. The fire burned nearly 27,000 acres in the Superior National Forest over the course of about two months, and 400 firefighters were called to help contain it. 

“What began as a project to sustain our community traditions and engagement during the pandemic, became a multi-purpose initiative that will be used for tourism related economic development and public emergency services,” said Schauland.  

Finland tourists enjoy visiting the 100-year-old Finland Cooperative which is Minnesota’s oldest continuously operating co-op. Guests may shop for groceries, organic food, hardware, housewares and camping/fishing/hunting supplies. Finland offers a community center with a farmer’s market and recreational programs, four unique restaurants, and two annual festivals: St. Urho’s Day in March and Harvest Booya and Car Show in September. Also in Finland is Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, the first of its kind in America to be accredited as a K-12 school. It is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in environmental education, and more than 15,000 children, teachers and parent chaperones visit the campus each school year.

For Culture & Tourism grant information email Danae Beaudette for grant information or call her at 218-735-3022.