Group Seeks to Establish a Gunflint Trail Museum

A group of Gunflint Trail residents and business owners are interested in the possibility of turning the old Chikwauk Lodge building into Gunflint Museum. Located on Saganaga Lake, the building was acquired by the USFS following the passage of the 1978 BWCA Act. The USFS has trying to figure out what to do with the building ever since. According to Terry Eggum, from the Gunflint Rangers District such a museum would be a good fit.

The project was first suggested by Sue Prom at a Scenic Byways committee meeting. The Byway's committee thought it was a "great." idea and decided to consider it. A Museum Committee is currently being formed by Sue Kerfoot to work on this project. According to Kerfoot, if the committee is successful in negotiating an agreement for the use of the building from the USFS, they would then set-up a non-profit corporation to develop and administer the property.

It is expect that renovating the building will require a major fund raising effort. Gunflint summer home owner and Edina resident, Betty Hemstad who has consider fund raising experience with the Edina Historical Society has agreed to serve as chairman of the Fund Raising sub-committee.