World's Tallest Indian
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| There's little or no tie-in between this 53-foot-high fiberglass Indian and local Native American life. The statue was built to promote tourism as the area grappled with its iron mines' closing. . |
This fiberglass-covered Hiawatha was part of the area's energetic campaign to promote tourism as the iron mines were closing. The huge eight-ton statue, 52 feet high, takes the form of the stereotypical Indian chief in headdress. The giant statue was built in Minneapolis in 1964 and has been repainted and refurbished, with new illumination. Hiawatha offers some good photo-ops for connoisseurs of roadside Americana. Pose the family in front of one of his giant moccasins! But no, this is not the world's tallest Indian, points out an amusing entry on RoadsideAmerica.com. That honor belongs to a skinnier Native American statude in Skowhegan, Maine.
The Norrie Mine, the area's most productive, formed a dramatic episode in the Oliver Mining Company's consolidation of the mining interests of Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. Carnegie wanted only to lease mining properties. He was interested in making steel, not developing and managing mines. But he really needed the Norrie Mine. The 300 stockholders of the Norrie Mine, however, only wanted to sell because their equipment was becoming obsolete. Charles Schwab, the president of Carnegie Steel, favored making an exception; chairman Henry Frick did not. Henry Oliver, dealmaker extraordinaire who had little money to invest personally, finally convinced Carnegie to buy the mine outright. "The purchase made Carnegie Steel 'self-sufficient,'" wrote one mining historian. "Never again 'would it have to buy a ton of Bessemer ore on the open market. Oliver's victory was complete, but never did a man have to work as hard to present a fortune to others.'"
From downtown Ironwood, go south on Suffolk/Bus. Route 2 up the hill about 1/4 mile. Wheelchair-accessible.
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POINTS OF INTEREST
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| A glorious explosion of colorful items awaits the visitor to Dan's Antique Mall. And it has all been collected by Dan himself. |
Two large floors are crammed with a colorful assortment of interesting things. One of U.P.'s top antique shops. A visual treat and a fun place to browse. Lots from 1940s and 1950s.
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| Inndustrious owner Joanne Kuula looks up a design on her computer at the front of the Fabric Patch. |
3,500 bolts of fabric make this a paradise for quilters, from beginners to experts. It has an eclectic selection of fabrics for many tastes including traditional; bright and contemporary; northwoods; Civil War, 1930s and 1950s reproductions; and two walls of hand-dyed Indonesian batiks. The shop's roomy home is a four-square doctor's house/office from 1898. There's space for displays of vivid quilts, hangings, and quilted accessories made by 10 or so area quilters.
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Little Girl's Point and vicinity. On a high Lake Superior bluff, a tucked-away park with swimming beach, camping, boat launch, and long views to the Porcupine Mountains and Apostle Islands. ... more
Stormy Kromer store & tour. Stormy Kromer hats, designed for cold, blowy U.P. days, have become legendary. Here's the company store and how to tour the manufacturing plant ... more
Bald Mountain, Lake Superior Overlook, and the Powers Trail System. Little-known spots with nice views for motorists and mountain bikers ... more
Superior Falls. Little publicized, this thundering 40-foot waterfall in a deep gorge of the Montreal River settles into a quiet pool ... more
Interstate Falls. A couple miles northwest of Ironwood the wide Montreal River plunges 25 feet ... more
Saxon Falls. One of Gogebic's outstanding waterfalls 12 miles north of Ironwood ... more
Whitecap Kayak Company, Steep Creek Outfitters, and Steep Creek Cafe. Interesting shoreline trips for beginners and experienced kayakers alike give a fresh perspective of the region ... more
Ottawa National Forest Supervisor's Office and Book Shop. The place to get good individualized info on this vast forest (almost one million acres) dotted with lakes, rivers, wonderful waterfalls, stretching Champion, Baraga, and Iron River west to Ironwood. ... more
Mount Zion Scenic Overlook. This rock overlook close to Ironwood gives a fine view of surrounding hills, forests, and farms ... more
Depot Antiques & Gifts. In an old railroad warehouse, this unusually appealing shop offer a variety of items old and new, from gourmet foods to vintage toys ... more
Nature's Picks Rock Shop. Owned and run by a seasoned local rockhound, this shop carries rocks and minerals from all over. And you can get advice on where to look locally for interesting rocks ... more
Black Bear Sports. A veteran guide runs this well-stocked outdoors shop, with fishing gear and good advice ... more
Ironwood Memorial Building. A lavish Beaux Arts civic building, recently restored, features stained glass, murals, original light fixtures, and interesting local history exhibits ... more
Scenic back road to Ramsay. A pleasant ride on a country lane through hills and overarching trees and a fine vista ... more
World's Tallest Indian. What did they do to pump up the economy when the mines gave out in the 1960s? Attract tourists by building an 8-ton, 53-foot-high Indian chief and calling him Hiawatha, the "World's Tallest Indian" (actually Maine has a taller one) ... more
Norrie Park. Picturesque 1920s park along the Montreal River with paths through wooded areas and meadows, a fine picnic spot with playground ... more
Mountain biking in Gogebic and Iron counties. One of the country's great mountain biking regions, here's an overview of the vast number of trails in the area ... more
ABR Trails (Active Backwoods Retreat). 600 acres of meticulously groomed ski trails with lodgings, a warming cabin, sauna, and ski shop ... more
Wolverine Nordic Trails. Loops for serious cross-country skiers and mountain bikers from 3k to 7k ... more
Hunt's Map Guide to the Upper Peninsula
• 13 detailed U.P. maps
• Full color, on sturdy, water-resistant paper
• Folds out to 12”x38”
• Only $6.95
To learn more & buy online, click here
