NEWS FROM THE MUSEUM OF THE IRON RANGE |
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March in From the Cold and Discover History
From snowshoe adventures to research center tours and fossil experiences, March is the perfect month to stop by the Minnesota Discovery Center!
SCROLL DOWN FOR THIS MONTH'S HISTORY HIGHLIGHT!
1.) MUSEUM : Open Tuesday-Saturday. NEW EXHIBIT, Never Dry: The Rise of Prohibition on the Iron Range.
2.) IRON RANGE RESEARCH CENTER: Open Tuesday-Saturday. NEW TOUR, "I'm New Here" Research Center Orientation Tour March 11th.
3.) MINER'S DAUGHTER GIFT SHOP: Open Tuesday-Saturday. The gift shop is located inside the winter admissions entrance.
4.) REDHEAD MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK: All trails open for snowshoeing. Groomed trails open for fat-biking. Youth & adult size snowshoes available for rent inside MDC!
5.) RUSTIC PIG RESTARAUNT: The Rustic Pig is available for private venue rentals. Call 218-254-7959 and ask for a Sales and Events Manager.
Looking for a fun field trip activity? From snowshoeing to museum exploration, we offer exciting hands-on learning experiences! Contact our education department to learn more - educationscheduling@mndiscoverycenter.com
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WINTER CAMPUS HOURS:
Tuesday: 10 am - 5 pm
Wednesday: 10 am - 5 pm
Thursday: 10 am - 8 pm
Friday: 10 am - 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday: CLOSED
Monday: CLOSED
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WINTER RESEARCH CENTER HOURS:
Tuesday: 10 am - 5 pm
Wednesday: 10 am - 5 pm
Thursday: 10 am - 5 pm
Friday: 10 am - 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm
Monday - CLOSED
Sunday - CLOSED
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MARCH MEMBER PERK & UPCOMING EVENTS |
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Moonlit Guided Snowshoe Hike (LAST ONE OF THE YEAR)
March into adventure and discover history at the last guided snowshoe hike of the season!
Join our trained guides as they embark on a snowshoe adventure across the wintered landscapes of the Minnesota Discovery Center. Complete with bonfire, s'mores, and hot cocoa in front of the Thompson Homestead Cabin Exhibit.
Call 218-254-7959 to reserve a spot (prepaid reservations required). Discover more information on our website.
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Iron Range Research Center Offers New Tour for First Time Researchers
Offered on the 2nd Saturday of every month through 2023 - tours will be offered on March 11th.
Never heard of the Iron Range Research Center? Or, if you have, do you wonder what we’re all about? We invite you to come see for yourself who we are and what we have to offer.
You'll discover one of the largest records repositories in the Upper Midwest. Plus, you can ask our experienced team questions and try out our new research center equipment.
No appointment needed. No admission charge. Stop in for a tour between 10am-5pm.
The Iron Range Research Center is located on the campus of MDC (visitor service staff will point you in the right direction upon arrival). Reminder, we are now using the winter entrance in the back parking lot.
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Family Discovery Day: Fossils, Fossils, Fossils!
Stop by the first Family Discovery Day of 2023 and enjoy hands-on learning experiences!
Fun for KIDS and ADULTS, come discover 90-million year old Minnesota fossils at the next Family Discovery Day! At the event, explore and enjoy fossil displays, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and themed games. While you wander and wonder, enter for a chance to win fun paleo prizes and a year of paleontology membership.
Plus, learn about MDC paleontology programming, the Hill Annex Paleontology Project, volunteer opportunities at our fossil excavation site, and meet and mingle with two paleontologists, John Westgaard (Minnesota Discovery Center) and Dr. Alex Hastings (Science Museum of Minnesota). Dr. Hastings will be around between 11am-4pm to answer kiddo questions before giving a lecture from 5-6pm in the theater (see below)!
Regular admissions apply.
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Late Night in the Research Center March 2023
Our experienced staff are ready to assist you with your family research needs
Can’t make it in during the day? No problem, stop by in the evening. The Iron Range Research Center (IRRC) will be open from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm on Thursday, March 30th. Don't forget, it's free to visit the research center!
Future Late Night in the Research Center: April, 27th 2023
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Minnesota Media Arts School at MDC Announces April Workshops in New Creative Lab
Explore upcoming filmmaking workshops starting this April in the newly renovative MDC Creative Lab
Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking: MDC Creative Lab
Tuesday's (8 weeks) – 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16, 5/23, 5/31
Times: 6:30pm-9:00pm
Capacity: 10 Students
Editing Workshop: MDC Creative Lab
Thursday's (8 weeks) 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 5/25, 6/1
Times: 6:30pm-9:00pm
Capacity: 8 Students
Screenwriting Workshop: Virtual Workshop
Wednesdays (8 weeks) – 4/12, 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, 5/31
Times: 6:30pm-9:00pm
Capacity: no capacity limit
To view more information about upcoming film workshops and/or the Minnesota Media Arts School click the button below.
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EXPLORE THE MUSEUM
Discover our newest temporary exhibit, Never Dry: The Rise of Prohibition on the Iron Range. On display Tuesday-Saturday.
Take advantage of free museum admission on Thursday's from 3-5pm.
Schedule a private museum tour or inquire about field trip opportunities by calling
218-254-7959 Tuesday-Saturday. Ask for the Education Department.
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DISCOVER SNOWSHOE RENTALS
MDC offers youth & adult snowshoe rentals available Tuesday-Saturday.
Try our history snowshoe hike in Heritage Park, designed for kids and families.
Experienced hikers, try our 3-mile round trip snowshoe trail to the Glen Location. Sign up for a guided hike or rent snowshoes for a self-guided experience on-campus or off-campus.
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RECENT HISTORY: FEBRUARY MEMORIES |
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ELY ROTARY CLUB: Last month, the Minnesota Discovery Center 's (MDC) Research Center Archivist Christopher Welter (left photo) and Museum Curator Allyse Freeman hit the road to Ely to speak at the February Ely Rotary Club meeting as guest presenters. If your organization, school, and/or business would like to schedule Christopher or Allyse or our Paleontologist or Education Department for a speaking/presentation event, contact us at 218-254-7959 or email info@mndiscoverycenter.com. We'd love to come visit!
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HIBBING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL DINNER: The Minnesota Discovery Center (MDC) is a proud Hibbing Chamber Member and was happy to support and attend the Hibbing Chamber Annual Dinner last month with administrative staff and a couple of MDC Board Members. It was a great opportunity to network with area community and business leaders and hear from city officials and chamber leaders about all the wonderful things in the works to make the Iron Range a better place to
live, work, and play!
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DULUTH CHAMBER & ST. LOUIS COUNTY DAYS AT THE CAPITOL: Last month, Executive Director Donna Johnson and Marketing and Development Director Jordan Metsa hit the road to St. Paul for the Duluth Chamber and St. Louis County Days at the Capitol event. This year the Minnesota Discovery Center sponsored the event and was able to show off the new tradeshow booth and tout our 2023 State Bonding Proposal to fix failing state owned infrastructure and rebuild the Minnesota Discovery Center into a museum, recreation, and entertainment destination. We made many great connections, had many great conversations, and received lots of support for our bonding project from state legislators.
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FIRST ANNUAL ELY FILM FESTIVAL: Last month, we were up in Ely making history at the first-ever Ely Film Festival! Marketing and Development Director, Jordan Metsa, was promoting upcoming April filmmaking workshops at the Minnesota Media Arts School at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm and Zeitgeist Arts Building in Duluth, Filmmakers from across Minnesota and the country were showcasing their films and connecting with other content creators to share their stories and experiences.
Shoutout to Jacob White and all the event volunteers for putting together a fantastic festival full of inspiration. We are lucky to have had Jacob participate as an instructor for our filmmaking workshops, offered by the Minnesota Media Arts School. Jordan is pictured with MDC Film School Director Matthew Koshmrl and Upper Midwest Film Office Chief Production Officer Riki McManus. We cannot wait to be back next year with an even bigger presence!
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FAMILY DISCOVERY DAY SPIN A YARN WEAVE A RAINBOW: February marked the launch of our 2023 Family Discovery Day educational programming. Spin a Yarn, Weave a Rainbow invites families to discover the fascinating example of human invention that is weaving and spinning. Kids and adults also enjoyed fun fiber arts demos and craft activities. Even in our modern life, woven cloth and spun fibers are everywhere, and we often don't think about them much - this event gives attendees a better understanding of how these seemingly old traditions still play a vital role in our world today.
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SNOWSHOE ADVENTURE HIKE: February warmed up just enough for a snowy adventure! Last month, we hosted a 'Snowshoe Adventure Hike' complete with a cozy bonfire, tasty s'mores, and a warm cup of hot cocoa as a part of the MDC 'Discover Snowshoeing' winter event series. March 9th, will be the last guided hike of the season - Moonlit Snowshoe Hike. We are so excited to be able to provide this winter experience, it is a wonderful way to explore the rich history of our region and enjoy the beautiful property! Thanks to snowshoe adventure hike guest, John Rian (pictured bottom right), for capturing the adventure and sharing the photos with us!
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EXPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM CONFERENCE The Minnesota Discovery Center and the City of Chisholm are proud to be Ride The Range partners! Growing this brand from a brilliant billboard slogan into a full blown multi organizational marketing effort has been an amazing experience that has inspired many to realize the endless possibilities that exist right beneath our feet on the Iron Range. Congratulations to all of the #ridetherange partners for this well earned recognition!
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DISCOVER THIS MONTH'S HISTORY HIGHLIGHT |
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HISTORY HIGHLIGHT: March means spring is just around the corner. So, we wanted to give you once last blast of winter! Pictured above, is a group of four men using battering tongs to move heavy sections of rail so that ore trains could be loaded by the shovel (seen in background). This photo was captured in the South Leonidas Mine Pit in Eveleth Minnesota in January of 1923. It looks like a cold, windy, snowy day, not much has changed in that respect. This photo is part of a large collection of photos housed at the Iron Range Research Center, located on the campus of the Minnesota Discovery Center.
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FINALLY...New Partnership, Music to Our Ears!
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Minnesota Discovery Center Partners with The Reif to bring Concerts Back to the Amphitheater
The partnership aims to utilize one of Minnesota’s top open-air concert venues, the architecturally iconic amphitheater. Seating 1,600, the amphitheater was forged into the red rock mining landscapes of the Minnesota Discovery Center’s award-winning museum campus in Chisholm, Mn.
The Minnesota Discovery Center and The Reif Arts Council (Grand Rapids, MN) are pleased to announce a summer partnership for 2023. The Reif, with 40+ years of experience presenting touring arts events, is joining forces with the Minnesota Discovery Center, which now enters its 46th year of operations, to feature amazing artists in the Discovery Center’s iconic open-air concert venue, the amphitheater.
“This partnership creates a unique chance to present amazing talent right here in northern Minnesota at a truly stunning venue,” says Shantel Dow, Reif Executive Director. “We do have two beautiful indoor theaters in Grand Rapids, but we are missing a dedicated space for large outdoor concerts, so the Discovery Center is a perfect fit. With 1600+ seats, ample parking, full concessions, and a fully functional stage and tech area, it allows us to up our game in terms of the artists we present.”
MDC Executive Director, Donna Johnson stated, “We couldn’t have a better partner to work with to bring a consistent line up of musical performances back to the amphitheater stage. The Minnesota Discovery Center’s 660-acre campus is well suited to accommodate large crowds and the amphitheater has a long history of wowing concert goers and musicians alike with its unique setting and architecture. As a nonprofit, this partnership will help us maximize our ability to bring back large concerts to the amphitheater by utilizing the industry experience of the Reif and combining the promotional resources of both organizations to amp up the entertainment opportunities we offer, starting June of 2023.”
The Minnesota Discovery Center plans to reinvest any proceeds generated from the concerts into repairing amphitheater infrastructure and upgrading outdated technical components such as lights, sound, and visuals.
This summer’s events will include Mason Dixon Line/Born On The Bayou: A tribute to the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival on Saturday, June 3, 2023, platinum selling country supergroup Blackhawk on Thursday, June 15, 2023, and rockers and fan favorites Hairball will close out the summer on Friday, September 8.
Tickets for all concerts are on sale now at www.reifcenter.org (buy tickets to all three and save 10% on your order, use code SAVE10).
Stay tuned for additional amphitheater concert announcements as well as our summer line up of bands for the popular Bands, Brews, & BBQ event hosted every Thursday in The Rustic Pig Food Court starting June 1st through the end of August!
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