Dec 21 2007
Ironworld Discovery Center
Ironworld Discovery Center
Just off Highway 169, Chisholm, MN. 218-254-7959. www.ironworld.com
$8 adults, $7 seniors, $6 students, 6 and under free. Free parking. Stroller accessible. Restrooms available.
While in northern Minnesota, we decided to see as much as we could during the weekend, so we drove up the road to Chisholm for Ironworld’s Festival of Lights.
We were confused from the start. Since we parked near the entrance, we didn’t feel the need for our full winter gear. Little did we know that after paying our admission, we’d head out for a walk to the actual museum.
Along the way, we did get to meet some real reindeer before ducking into the museum entrance, which included the library/research area. The photocopier in the hall led me to wonder if we were lost, although the sign clearly said “museum entrance.”
A display of many uniquely decorated Christmas trees and gingerbread houses greeted us as we made our way to the museum. The actual museum exhibits about the people and history of the Iron Range looked interesting, but I didn’t see a lot of it since I was busy following the kids, who were looking for the Perpich room, where we’d been told children’s activities were taking place.
When we left the museum building, there was a horse and wagon outside, so we climbed aboard hoping for a ride back to the main building. Instead we got a ride around the complext that deposited our colder selves back where we had started, and then we had to walk back to the entrance building and our car.
I think Ironworld would be more fun during the summer. We didn’t realize from the website that it’s a whole complex of buildings and activities, including miniature golf, of which many are closed in the winter.
For our wintry visit, we were just glad the kids’ admission was free.
I liked doing the stencil and I liked seeing the man’s light go on when it was night.
I liked the sleigh ride.
