Grand Rapids Minnesota
Grand Rapids Minnesota |
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The view below of the Mississippi and Grand Rapids is taken from the south atop the fire tower at the Forest History Center. As you can see, the Blandin paper mill dominates the town. The river here is dammed; the dam is hidden in this view behind the trees at the east end of the mill complex. 
Just the FactsNOTE: The data that follows derives primarily from the 1990 U.S. census and as such is a decade out of date. Comparative data for the U.S. at large and for the St. Louis metro area are presented to establish perspective. St. Louis was chosen because it is the largest city on the river as well as smack dab in the middle.
Now those of you that have driven by paper mills are starting to remember the noxious stench they usually give off. For example there is a paper mill on the Mississippi just south of Wickcliffe Kentucky that can be smelled in three different states if the wind is blowing the right way. The stink comes from the chemicals used to prepare the wood pulp. Blandin uses different processing methods and fortunately for the people of Grand Rapids it doesn't smell at all. The statue pictured above is titled "Papermakers," and is located across the street from the mill's main entrance. (I could not find the artist's name on the statue and if anyone can provide it I would be grateful). This statue is a tribute to the trade and it's practitioners that has always been Grand Rapid's primary reason for existence. Grand Rapids began as a logging town in 1870. In 1891 the town was incorporated and in 1902 the Itasca Paper Mill went into production. That mill has operated continually ever since and is now Blandin Paper Company.
Like all of the towns located in the headwaters region of the Mississippi, Grand Rapids relies heavily on tourist trade. Grand Rapids claim to tourist fame: it is the birthplace of Judy Garland who played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. On the outskirts of town and on the banks of the river is Schoolcraft State Park. Along the entire length of the river there are only a handful of state parks; this one is quite a delight provided you don't visit during mosquito season. One final attraction that I can't personally vouch for as I didn't visit it, is the Grand Rapids showboat. Go back to the photo at the top of this page and you can see it docked on the river bank. It's on the left edge of the photo. The rapids in the river that gave the town it's name are long since gone. The logging dam took care of that. The dam is still there and is owned and maintained by the paper company. There's a good view of it as you cross the bridge over the river. By the time the Mississippi has reached Grand Rapids it is heavily tannin stained and pours over the dam looking like a river of tea.
Smaller than it's neighbors on either side, Bemidji, Brainerd and Little Falls, Grand Rapids feels more comfortable and friendly to me. Maybe that's because I was raised in Pittsburgh and I'm accustomed to having a steel mill in my backyard. There's less tourism in Grand Rapids and I like that as well. Walking along the river in the park you're more likely to meet and chat with a native than another tourist. It's a nice town situated right at the spot in the far north where the river is most beautiful. |
The town of Grand Rapids Minnesota is dominated by the Blandin paper mill which is nearly as large as the town itself. Pick up a magazine or catalogue you have lying around the house--Newsweek, Time, PC Week, JC Penny, etc. and examine the good quality coated paper it's printed with. Chances are that paper was made in Grand Rapids. Typically major industries the size of Blandin are located on the outskirts of a town or even a few miles out of town. Not in this case. The front entrance to the mill is right in the middle of downtown Grand Rapids.
The Mississippi runs right through the center of the town and beginning in the town center, and following the river south along the west bank is River Park. The park is a delight, especially for river enthusiasts like myself and Isaac. There is a wonderful display map in the park of the entire Mississippi river.
Although it's nothing at all like Kansas, in Grand Rapids you can follow the yellow brick road right to a mini mall of little tourist shops where the color of Uncle Sam's green backs takes on an emerald glow as you unload some of your excess tourist cash. Then you can visit the Judy Garland museum. Her actual birthplace is a few miles out of town should you for some reason want to take the drive. The other big tourist attraction in Grand Rapids is the Forest History Center which I suggest is worth a stop. There is a fire tower at the center which you can climb. The view from the top will amply reward your effort. Some of the educational displays inside the center are well done and worth examining. The big attraction at the center however is the outside displays. They have model period displays of logging camps, a ranger's cabin, et cetera. During peek season they keep them staffed with folks in period costume who will demonstrate various tools and the like. I imagine it's a hit with the youngsters.
Isaac and I have enjoyed our visits to Grand Rapids. We especially like the river at this stage both entering and leaving town. The water is crystal clear, but dark from the tannin. The river is still small enough not to be grand and intimidating. As much as I love the Mississippi, I also respect and fear it, especially in some of it's southern reaches where falling in could prove tragic. In Grand Rapids when I watch Isaac playing at the river's edge I don't tense up like I do when he's standing on the river bank at say "Chain of Rocks" in St. Louis where a mistake could cost his life.