This summer check out the West Red Lake Mining Museum. We found out about the site last fall from our friends Dan & Brenda at Bow Narrows Camp. It’s definitely worth a visit if you find yourself fishing the west end of Red Lake.
Directly after traveling west through the West Narrows, hang a left and you’ll see the museum with its own dock. The musuem is actually a cabin from the 1920s gold rush that was a part of Bow Narrows Camp at one time. Volunteers took it apart, moved the pieces, and reassembled the cabin at its present location. It is free to visit and features some very interesting pieces about the gold rush on the west end of Red Lake. There is also a huge glacial erratic behind the cabin.
The Heritage Center is also an interesting stop in the town of Red Lake, but it doesn’t focus much on the history of the west end of the lake. Hundreds of people once inhabited the west end of Red Lake at the height of the gold rush. The cabin that now serves as the museum was even the home of the postmaster for the western population. The west end of the lake is one of the rare areas that once was bustling with activity and now has been largely reclaimed by nature. The scenery is gorgeous and it’s well worth the trip!
Some people may wonder why I’m always popping up in the photos on the blog and you don’t see too many of Carrie. She may be somewhat camera shy, but she is excellent as a photographer and certainly beats me trying to do self-portraits.