Mountain Iron in Saint Louis County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Leonidas Merritt

1844-1926

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2010

1. Leonidas Merritt Marker

Inscription. Pioneer Prospector
Number One
of the
Seven Iron Men

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1844.

Location. 47° 31.958′ N, 92° 37.31′ W. Marker is in Mountain Iron, Minnesota, in Saint Louis County. Marker is on Main Street (County Road 708) just east of Mountain Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Marker and monument are located in a small plaza on the south side of the Mountain Iron Public Library. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5742 Mountain Avenue, Mountain Iron MN 55768, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. This is Magnetic Taconite (here, next to this marker); Mountain Iron (here, next to this marker); 1910 Baldwin Locomotive (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gunnar Peterson (approx. 3.4 miles away); Oscar Hokka Log House (approx. 3½ miles away); The Laurentian Divide (approx. 4.8 miles away); John Mariucci (approx. 6.1 miles away); Paul Wellstone Memorial and Historic Site (approx. 11.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mountain Iron.

Also see . . .
1. Merritt Brothers. Leonidas and Alfred Merritt began hunting in the

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1880s for iron ore in the area known to Native Americans as the "Mesaba." They became the first to meet with success when they found rich, marketable ore on the west end of what would become the Mesabi Range. (Submitted on September 2, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Seven Iron Men (Wikipedia). The Seven Iron Men, also known as Merritt Brothers (actually five brothers and two nephews), were iron-ore pioneers in the Mesabi Range in northeastern Minnesota and the creation of the city that is now known as Mountain Iron. In the late 1800s, the Merritt family founded the largest iron mine in the world and initiated the consolidation of the American railway system into what would ultimately become the United States Steel Corporation. (Submitted on September 2, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Mountain Iron Mine (Wikipedia). By 1893 the "Seven Iron Brothers" had claims on a significant portion of the Mesabi Range and had built the Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway (DM&IR). Their stock suffered during the Financial Panic of 1893, forcing them sell their shares to John D. Rockefeller. Rockefeller later sold his interests to Andrew Carnegie. (Submitted on September 2, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

4. Seven Iron Men - The Merritts and the Discovery of the Mesabi Range

Leonidas Merritt Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2010

2. Leonidas Merritt Monument

. In the tradition of great American rags to riches stories, Seven Iron Men weaves together the history of how the seven Merritt brothers discovered iron ore on the Mesabi Range. In 1890 they were poised to become one of the wealthiest families in America—but then they lost it all to industrialist John D. Rockefeller. (Submitted on September 2, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2010

3. Leonidas Merritt Marker

(Mountain Iron Public Library in background)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 283 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 2, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.