While much of Minnesota is agricultural, the northeast part of the state has its history and economy based on iron ore mining.  The “Iron Range,” with towns like Hibbing and Chisholm, has a strong cultural heritage as well.  The United States has benefited from Iron Range inventions like the Greyhound Bus, which was begun to get miners to and from their jobs at the mines.

Hibbing, Minnesota, is home to the Hull Rust Mahoning Mine, which is a sight to see.  During its peak years, it supplied as much as 1/4 of the iron ore in the United States.  The mine is 1.5 miles wide and 3.5 miles long.  This size is hard to visualize until you look from the observation area and see the tiny little trucks–and then see how big those trucks actually are.

The Hull Rust Mahoning Mine was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966.  A small visitor center and observation area are open to the public. A walking tour of the area, including North Hibbing, which was moved a few miles south in the 1920’s, is outlined on Hibbing’s website.

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